sliding table saw

[b_m_hart]

I am curious to know what the benefits of having a (very) long slider on a sliding table saw are.  Clearly, it would help for making very precise cross cuts, but are people really using it as a sled for things like sheets of plywood?

 

[Sparktrician]

Look at the slider as a conveyance for the material being cut.  It supports the material making cutting accuracy far easier.  Sheets of plywood and MDF are heavy as you no doubt know, so anything that allows the sawyer to concentrate on the cut rather than how to support the material as it interacts with the blade is a benefit.  Some sliders come with a scoring blade which is great if you deal with melamine-coated MDF (as in closet conversions).  One just has to ensure that the two blades remain aligned. 

 

[polarsea1]

I am curious to know what the benefits of having a (very) long slider on a sliding table saw are.  Clearly, it would help for making very precise cross cuts, but are people really using it as a sled for things like sheets of plywood?

A long slider can do a lot of things, for instance straight lining lumber, but it's primary purpose is processing sheet goods.

 

[suds]

On some of the other forums there seems to be a lot of conversation about the slider and whether to get one or get a cabinet saw.  It seems to me the Festool system is a much faster and more convenient way to cut sheet goods.  It's as if they are completely unaware of the benefits of a track saw system.  Nobody ever addresses getting the sheet goods onto the slider.  I'm sure I must be missing something but for me the Festool system is a much easier/faster accurate setup. 

 

[firepilot]

In a production shop I have seen lift tables or a fork lift parked near the slider. It makes sliding flat sheet goods over to the slider a snap.

Loved the Altendorf F-45 I had. Sold it when I sold my shop still miss that thing.

Cross cutting material you just squared up was a snap.

Phil

 

[stvrowe]

I currently have a 3.3m slider and a track saw.  If I am in my shop, unless the bandsaw is the better choice, 100% of the time I will opt to use the slider for cutting hardwoods or sheet goods.  I seldom use the track saw in my shop.  Why?  Simply put, the slider is faster, more accurate, and provides a cleaner cut in sheet goods because of the scoring attachment.  I can also adjust the miter table to within 0.01 degrees and have very repeatable and accurate results.  Crosscut fence stops and the rip fence are both adjustable to the nearest 0.1mm.   It is faster because you simply set the stops to the settings you want and then cut.  It is more accurate since there is no layout, measuring, or aligning a track with your marks.  Further, with the slider you can gang cut multiple sheets at the same time.  Handling sheet goods are easily addressed with a shop cart and don't forget, even track saw users have to get the sheet goods to whatever surface you cut them on.  

A slider has pros and cons as do the cabinet saw and track saw systems.  The advantages of a Festool track saw over a slider are cost, portability, small size, and IMO slightly better dust extraction.  Other than those, a quality slider is far superior in every other respect.

 

[junk731]

I have a 126" slider and like Steve it's my go to in the shop. I also have a TS75 and access to a TS55. The Festool saws are rarely used in the shop, more on site. I process both sheet goods and hardwood lumber, the slider with scoring makes it faster and easier.

John

 

[WPeters]

We have the F-45 standard.  We use it every day.  Its great for cutting up sheets, and precise cross cuts.  Much faster than using the track saw.  However we no longer use the angle jig on the F-45 for cutting angles  The ts55 is great for that job!  I guess it comes down to the right or best tool for the job (that you have available). My 2 cents.

 

[Jalvis]

Sliding table saws are an amazing tool for sheet goods or Solid timber.  Its efficient and accurate.  The real negative is the amount of space one needs to operate.  I have a Felder 700 slider with 9' table and scoring blade.  My saw allows for Dado blades as well.

Check out this video for the mother of all sliders, Martin T75!

 

[Jalvis]

This is my saw working some solid timber.

http://instagram.com/p/dS_LTvun6Q/

Strate line ripping.

http://instagram.com/p/dijAfTun4u/

 

[r cash]

Nice saw Jalvis

 

[Timtool]

On some of the other forums there seems to be a lot of conversation about the slider and whether to get one or get a cabinet saw.  It seems to me the Festool system is a much faster and more convenient way to cut sheet goods.  It's as if they are completely unaware of the benefits of a track saw system.  Nobody ever addresses getting the sheet goods onto the slider.  I'm sure I must be missing something but for me the Festool system is a much easier/faster accurate setup. 

Getting the sheet goods on the slider is as easy/hard as getting it on a table, you would need to anyway if you used a track saw. It's no big deal in reality, i have both track and panel saw and would never use the track saw over the panel saw. Just like i would never use the miter saw for accurate cross cuts.
The panel saw does it all very rapidly with an insane precision and repeatability. A simple example, ripping a panel in 3 400mm wide strips would take less than 20 seconds an a slider. With the tracks saw it would take from a couple to many more minutes depending on whether you have a long enough rail or need to connect two.
I don't see the panel saw as a different tool compared to a cabinet saw, it's simply the logic evolution of it. Cabinet saws are table saws that stopped evolving 60 years ago.

To answer the OP's question, the longer the table, the longer the sheets you can rip. I currently have a 2500mm slider, but in two weeks i will finally be getting a new 3200mm Felder. The 2500mm is good for simple sheet goods, but many veneered sheets or formica and such come in lengths of 2500 and longer. So i couldn't rip those in full length on mine.
You can set the cross cut fence where you want along the slider so that you don't always have 3m of table to walk around.

 

[r cash]

I bought a entry level panelsaw almost 20years ago.Sometimes I only use it once a month or less .
One of the benefits is not lifting sheets off the floor. With this saw I can cut all my case parts for a large kitchen in a day.
And the parts are square. Would love a slider with a tiger stop fence sys but can't give up floor space.
Stationary tools for me all have some trade offs .
Have a great day.
Rc

 

[cgmojoco]

Sliding table saws are an amazing tool for sheet goods or Solid timber. Its efficient and accurate. The real negative is the amount of space one needs to operate. I have a Felder 700 slider with 9' table and scoring blade. My saw allows for Dado blades as well.

Check out this video for the mother of all sliders, Martin T75!

Weird. Using the slider in conjunction with the rip fence on through cuts as shown in the 2nd video looks like a recipe for disaster...especially if they do that with hardwood...I mean with the slider virtually the only safety issue is kickback...and you have to be pretty dumb to initiate kickback...like using the slider and rip fence at same time...I digress someone correct me if Im.wrong here....

 

[cgmojoco]

On some of the other forums there seems to be a lot of conversation about the slider and whether to get one or get a cabinet saw.  It seems to me the Festool system is a much faster and more convenient way to cut sheet goods.  It's as if they are completely unaware of the benefits of a track saw system.  Nobody ever addresses getting the sheet goods onto the slider.  I'm sure I must be missing something but for me the Festool system is a much easier/faster accurate setup. 

Getting the sheet goods on the slider is as easy/hard as getting it on a table, you would need to anyway if you used a track saw. It's no big deal in reality, i have both track and panel saw and would never use the track saw over the panel saw. Just like i would never use the miter saw for accurate cross cuts.
The panel saw does it all very rapidly with an insane precision and repeatability. A simple example, ripping a panel in 3 400mm wide strips would take less than 20 seconds an a slider. With the tracks saw it would take from a couple to many more minutes depending on whether you have a long enough rail or need to connect two.
I don't see the panel saw as a different tool compared to a cabinet saw, it's simply the logic evolution of it. Cabinet saws are table saws that stopped evolving 60 years ago.

To answer the OP's question, the longer the table, the longer the sheets you can rip. I currently have a 2500mm slider, but in two weeks i will finally be getting a new 3200mm Felder. The 2500mm is good for simple sheet goods, but many veneered sheets or formica and such come in lengths of 2500 and longer. So i couldn't rip those in full length on mine.
You can set the cross cut fence where you want along the slider so that you don't always have 3m of table to walk around.

I have to argue your point on evoltuion stopping on cabinet saws  60 years ago.
Sawstop technology is an evolution if Ive ever seen one.
Wish it had scoring though...
Do panel saws come with scoring and if so at a conpetitive cost with similar in cabinet saw quality I think not.
Different strokes for different folks.  The track saw is great for mobile applications or for the hobbyist with little room or interest in hardwood projects...

 

[Timtool]

Weird.  Using the slider in conjunction with the rip fence on through cuts as shown in the 2nd video looks like a recipe for disaster...especially if they do that with hardwood...I mean with the slider virtually the only safety issue is kickback...and you have to be pretty dumb to initiate kickback...like using the slider and rip fence at same time...I digress someone correct me if Im.wrong here....

In fact it's not dangerous, sliders always have have riving knives so kick back is not an issue as long as you don't cross cut parts that are much longer than wider.
Cross cutting with both the cross cut fence and rip fence is more accurate as you can see when the material is parallel to both fences that your piece is perfectly square.
the cross cut fence also acts like a "stop" against which you press your material while ripping, this immobilizes it while you slide it forward.

 

[junk731]

Sliding table saws are an amazing tool for sheet goods or Solid timber.  Its efficient and accurate.  The real negative is the amount of space one needs to operate.  I have a Felder 700 slider with 9' table and scoring blade.  My saw allows for Dado blades as well.

Check out this video for the mother of all sliders, Martin T75!

Weird.  Using the slider in conjunction with the rip fence on through cuts as shown in the 2nd video looks like a recipe for disaster...especially if they do that with hardwood...I mean with the slider virtually the only safety issue is kickback...and you have to be pretty dumb to initiate kickback...like using the slider and rip fence at same time...I digress someone correct me if Im.wrong here....

Its only weird to those that don't understand the operation, mechanics and setup of the slider. The slider when properly setup has the rip fence set with a .002 to .003 allowance from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the blade. The effect is you are only using the rip fence as a bump stop. There are a lot of subtle differences between a cabinet saw and a slider that most don't become aware until they have and use one.

John

 

[cgmojoco]

Sliding table saws are an amazing tool for sheet goods or Solid timber. Its efficient and accurate. The real negative is the amount of space one needs to operate. I have a Felder 700 slider with 9' table and scoring blade. My saw allows for Dado blades as well.

Check out this video for the mother of all sliders, Martin T75!

Weird. Using the slider in conjunction with the rip fence on through cuts as shown in the 2nd video looks like a recipe for disaster...especially if they do that with hardwood...I mean with the slider virtually the only safety issue is kickback...and you have to be pretty dumb to initiate kickback...like using the slider and rip fence at same time...I digress someone correct me if Im.wrong here....

Its only weird to those that don't understand the operation, mechanics and setup of the slider. The slider when properly setup has the rip fence set with a .002 to .003 allowance from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the blade. The effect is you are only using the rip fence as a bump stop. There are a lot of subtle differences between a cabinet saw and a slider that most don't become aware until they have and use one.

John

That isnt enough to account for movement of wood when tensions are released during a through cut. MAYBE sheet goods wouldnt move from tension being released as much...but never for hardwoods...even with sheet goods... if the piece you are cutting isnt already in a perfect square with regards to the.edges.meeting both rip fence and slider fence... the rip fence could end up pushing the wood against the side of blade with enough force to cause kickback......am I the only one here that thinks that? Sheesh...wow...if that is true I'm amazed...

 

[darkstar]

I was taught to slide the fence back so the fence ends before the blade starts. I even do this on a unisaw when using a miter gauge. My personal reason for liking the unifence rather than a bismire style.

 

[WPeters]

Sliding table saws are an amazing tool for sheet goods or Solid timber. Its efficient and accurate. The real negative is the amount of space one needs to operate. I have a Felder 700 slider with 9' table and scoring blade. My saw allows for Dado blades as well.

Check out this video for the mother of all sliders, Martin T75!

Weird. Using the slider in conjunction with the rip fence on through cuts as shown in the 2nd video looks like a recipe for disaster...especially if they do that with hardwood...I mean with the slider virtually the only safety issue is kickback...and you have to be pretty dumb to initiate kickback...like using the slider and rip fence at same time...I digress someone correct me if Im.wrong here....

Its only weird to those that don't understand the operation, mechanics and setup of the slider. The slider when properly setup has the rip fence set with a .002 to .003 allowance from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the blade. The effect is you are only using the rip fence as a bump stop. There are a lot of subtle differences between a cabinet saw and a slider that most don't become aware until they have and use one.

John

That isnt enough to account for movement of wood when tensions are released during a through cut. MAYBE sheet goods wouldnt move from tension being released as much...but never for hardwoods...even with sheet goods... if the piece you are cutting isnt already in a perfect square with regards to the.edges.meeting both rip fence and slider fence... the rip fence could end up pushing the wood against the side of blade with enough force to cause kickback......am I the only one here that thinks that? Sheesh...wow...if that is true I'm amazed...

As I mentioned in an earlier post I use the slider daily. Mostly to cut up sheet stock, but we occasionally straight line rip board stock. I straight line rip one edge and then rip the widths I need on a cabinet saw. The slider is one of the safest saws in the shop in my opinion. There is a short learning curve, but the precision and ease of use is unparalleled. It's also a back-saver! In our shop the plywood is in racks beside and behind the slider. we simply slide a sheet on the carriage and go to work. The plastic piece you put your backside against is a must for shorter pieces and cross cuts. However for full length rips I find it unnecessary and rarely use it. It comes down to the right tool for the job. If you have never used a slider it may be hard to understand how well they work IMO.