small panel saw?

malky boi · 17 Sep 2016

Does anyone have any recommendations for a small sliding table saw?
In a previous life I had both the 3.2m Griggio and Altendorf machines. I have
been looking at the likes of the Record power machine at about £1300 but am wondering
about the accuracy and quality. I haven' actually seen one in the flesh yet.
I want it to handle 8' x 4' boards. The machinery in my last workshop was fairly heavy duty 3 ph kit. I am now
semi-retired and want to stay in the woodworking game on a hobby/ semi professional basis.
Any advice would be appreciated.

MattRoberts · 17 Sep 2016

The equivalent axminster seems cheaper http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-tr ... saw-508339

Have you discounted getting a non sliding saw and using a track saw to handle the initial cut? Or will you use the sliding table often?

custard · 19 Sep 2016

Using a panel saw to break down full 8' x 4' sheets on your own is hard work, a full sheet of 18mm MDF at over 40kg is a handful for anyone. Unless you're Superman you'll bash the saw around while loading the sheet and, unless the saw's built like a tank, it'll be out of square before you've even begun.

My advice, do the initial cut some other way, then load up part sheets on something like a smaller, well used Hammer. That's the only way you'll get anything remotely approaching Altendorf performance from a £1300 budget, especially as if you're talking sheet goods you might well want a scoring saw as well. Cheaper new saws, with a sliding table and a scoring blade bigging up the spec sheet, will feel like wobbly bits of junk after a 3.2 metre Altendorf.

Good luck!

MBcarpentry · 21 Sep 2016

I have a Hammer k3 winner and it's a real solid piece of kit and very accurate mine only has the 1200mm sliding table so I break sheet goods down with my festool Track saw before moving over to the Hammer, I picked mine up second hand but they don't come up that often. Depending on your budget you could pick up a new one and spec it up to your needs the same model is available with a lager sliding table and out rigger to handle full sheet goods and scoring unit can be addded, they often have offers on higher spec machines if buying new.

paulrockliffe · 22 Sep 2016

The alternative is to buy the sheet goods from somewhere that has a big expensive saw (and the space for it!) that'll work to your cutting list, leaving you with a manageable pile of bits and them with the boring prep work and expense of the saw. Works for me, but obviously does add a small lead-time to jobs.