Sliding Table or Left Hand Extension Table?

[Chems]

I've been thinking about this for a while. I'm looking to buy a big table saw soon. I've had my mind set on the 10" SIP model with Left Hand Extension table and would buy an Incra Gauge or sled for precision cross cut. But sliding table does seem good but you need to buy a very big saw to get decent sized panels on the table. I'd be intrested to see what everyone votes.

 

[kityuser]

This is exactly what I`ve JUST done with my kity 419.
I could count on one hand the number of times I`ve used the sliding table, and come to think of it bumped into the extruded ali track it runs on every bloody time I`m in the workshop :?

So whilst I had it stripped down and was making mods for dust extraction.... I`ve replaced the sliding table with one of the extension wings and made a home-made panel cutter a-la-Norm.

So one extension wing on the left, one on the right, and planning on making a fold down table support for the rear.


Steve

 

[crazylilting]

I have a slider. Now that i have one I wouldn't go without. With mine it folds down nicely and i never bang into it at all. In the new shop i plan on having the table saw at the very back a long the wall so it is well out of the way but easily accessible. I have just enough room with 20 feet wide for the table, out feed table and enough room to push a full sheet. However if i want to rip something longer then 9 feet i'll have to use something else.

There is nothing wrong with a folding extension though. This is the first time i have had a sliding table and always used to have a folding extension and it served me well.

Room will dictate which is best i think. If you have enough room and you do a lot of sheet work a slider is very handy.

 

[devonwoody]

I have never needed the sliding table on my Axminster T/S, rail is fitted but table packed away somewhere. Built myself a sled for small crosscuts.

If you only use a sliding table only occasionally you would most probably take half a day to calibrate it each time it was going to be used.

 

[jasonB]

I get a lot of use from my sliding table but I also have an extension table that I can just slip onto the beam which then gives me a wider surface for ripping. Can be changes in about 15 secs.

The radial arm and Mitre saw rarely get used as all my cross cuts that are withiong the saws capacity (and a bit beyond) are done on the sliding table.

Jason

 

[JonnyD]

I have a big panel saw and 90% of the cutting gets done on the sliding table. The downside is you need a lot of room and a fairly expensive saw to get consistent accuracy. If you are squaring panels of a wide rip fence you will have to make sure that the panels you are cutting have square and straight faces. This isnt always the case and you may have to square the panels with a handheld circ saw.

Jon

 

[wizer]

I could not get on with my sliding table on the Super Saw. I'd go for extension table and use a 'Chariot' if\when I get a new TS.

 

[FogggyTown]

I had a slider (forget whether it was the Ryobi or the Draper) and I have to say that I don't think I ever found a need or use for the feature. And extension with a good mitre fence was much more useful.

A note of caution: I'm personally wary of SIP products since my experience with their inability to supply basic spare parts for one of their products.

 

[Chems]

Very even so far on the poll. I was half sure there would be a whole host of "my sliding table is the dogs danglies" etc so I'm surprised its so even!

@Foggy, I wouldn't buy SIP really for anything other than the 2 table saws as they have excellent reviews all over.

 

[PAC1]

I have a sliding table on a Big saw and find it to be the DB's. It is far easier and safer to use. For example when edging waney edge boards it is much easier to gently push the table with a 60kg lump of oak on it than it was to push 60kg of oak and steer it to a chalk line. Also SWMBO likes it as I can cut an 8' x 4' sheet of ply/mdf without asking for a lift. The downside is price and space, but if you build a left hand table you probably take as much space as my slider and unless the table extends back 6' would still need a lift to stop sheet materials falling of the back.
The other advantage of a good slider is accuracy of knowing that the slider always runs parallel to the blade. Can the same be said of a T slot in a casting?

 

[Chems]

I think thats the thing really, a sliding table on a big panel saw that can cut 8x4 wins hands down. But most sliding tables on the market for those of us starting out don't have any where near that much capacity. What model of saw do you have?

 

[wizer]

yes, don't under estimate the amount of room you need to operate and get full use out of a slider

 

[Chems]

Realistically wizer whats the biggest panel size you could get on your SuperSaw?

 

[wizer]

I don't have a good memory. The Supersaw had a 'mini' slider so can't be compared to the SIP really. From memory you could proably do a 4x4 board but not particularly easily.

What I meant, really, was the amount of room you need beside, in front and behind your saw for it to be fully usable.

I've seen sliders used properly and agree that they are fantastic if you're processing lots of sheet stock. But if it's wooden furniture you're making, then I fail to see the real benefit. Better to have a sled that can be hung on a wall when not in use.

If you use that left hand space as a router table then you've saved even more space.

 

[PAC1]

Chems

I have a Felder CF741 Combination. Ideally I need another 5' in width to my workshop as I cannot use the large crosscut fence in my workshop. But so far I have found it does everything I need.

 

[FrCollins]

I've been thinking about this for a while. I'm looking to buy a big table saw soon. I've had my mind set on the 10" SIP model with Left Hand Extension table and would buy an Incra Gauge or sled for precision cross cut. But sliding table does seem good but you need to buy a very big saw to get decent sized panels on the table. I'd be intrested to see what everyone votes.

This is a horses for courses question, Chems.
For example; if you were going to chose a horse to ride in competitive events that involved the horse running and jumping would you chose a steeple chase horse and a show jumping horse? Both types of horse are around the same size, have the same amount of power and they can both obviously run and jump fences, so how would you decide?
Well its not really a choice between the two horses you need to make, what you should of course be considering is the type of event you are going to compete in and pick the best type of horse for that event.

As with table saws that have extension tables or sliding tables; both can cut all types of materials, but they will perform at are best when used for the purpose the have been designed for. The main question you should consider is; what material will you be cutting most on the saw and how often are you going to cut it? Then chose the type and size of saw required.
All you need to do then is; decide on which make and model to buy, now that can be more confusing! Enjoy using which ever one you chose.

SAW SAFE

Regards, FRCOLLINS

 

[Chems]

Well I have to say, I love my tablesaw, if your a bandsaw or table saw person, I'm a tablesaw person. I've done everything on my saw, I've cut down sawn timber, and sheet material, I've made tenons and dado's so I'd like my saw to do all these. Whats the answer? I think its RH extension with crosscut sled.

 

[FrCollins]

I have to say I couldn't agree with you more, Chems, a circular table saw is (for me anyway) the only must-have tool in the modern woodshop, others are handy but can be done without until finance is raised, were as a table saw is the business.

I am fortunate to have both types and would say I use the slider more often particularly for sheet material, they other is smaller and better for more delicate work like making joints in fact either saw can be used for both purposes but I believe the slider just pips it.


SAW SAFE

FRCOLLINS

 

[houtslager]

maybe I am a lucky sob :lol: as I have a very old stsrtrite ta125 WITH slider,
though this is really only good for 1/2 sheets and smaller.
To get over this I build a VPS and used 18mm birch ply off cuts from a client to build it, the saw in the cradle was the FESTOOL 75, ehich gave me a DoC 55mm and I could cut full sheets of 3.1m x 2.5m
At tho' mo its in bits waiting for me to build its new home

HS in GREECE - not sunny Greece though :? :shock: