Safety Speed Cut Thermwood Corporation ECabinet Systems

Cabinetmaking

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw

3/20/15       
Nick Cook Member

Website: http://www.cedarrivercabinetry.com

Hello fellow craftsmen/businessmen,

What do you prefer for cutting plywood panels to size for face frame cabinets? We currently have a Powermatic and an SCMI Slide saw (older one) We're considering a vertical panel saw or a newer slide saw like an Altendorf. We cut through about 2 to 3 units of Ply per month. Any opinions would be great to hear, Thanks

3/20/15       #2: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Gary B.

Nick,

Are 90% of these panels rectangular? Do you have another saw in the shop capable of handling miters or bevel cuts? If so, I'd really look hard at the vertical panel saws. I much prefer them over a slider for rectangular parts. Easier on the back, and more productive.

3/20/15       #3: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Nick Cook Member

Website: http://www.cedarrivercabinetry.com

Hi Gary,

Yes most is rectangular. I can cut angles for corner cabinets when needed on my Power Matic with a jig. So you'd recommend a vertical. Thanks

3/20/15       #4: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
dustin orth

Website: http://customwood montrose.com

Go with the vertical! We have a Holzher 1265 and I wouldn't trade it for anything! Our main saw guy can cut a decent size job in about 3-4 hours, maybe 20-30 sheets of 3/4 prefinished plywood. Lots less floor space than a slider and lots easier on the back. We store our sheetgoods vertically on edge right next to the saw so you just pull a full sheet and start cutting.

3/20/15       #5: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Jim Herron

I have a Striebig vertical (older model).
I park a unit of 3/4" at a right angle to the saw and just turn/slide the top sheet onto the rollers and flip it up. I can easily process 15-20 sheets and detail them on the ptp in a shift.
Much safer than TS or slider. Handles angles with templates fabbed from 8020 extrusions.

3/21/15       #6: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Rich Kuban Member

Website: http://closetexperts.com

If you can plan your cutting to be mostly cross cuts, I echo the votes for a vertical. Before I made the decision, I struggled with the thought of loading sheets from horizontal storage to vertical positioning. To elaborate on Jim's point. I would slide the sheet off the pile, and use the rollers on my Striebig as a pivot point for the sheet, never having to handle all the weight. That was the best saw I ever used. The only downside was ripping 7 - 9' partitions.

3/21/15       #7: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Larry

Two things seem to point to a vertical, light wt. plywood and low volume. I'd go for the quality of a Striebig over the others I've had any personal dealing with. If, in the future, you start cutting much melamine or heavy material you can always get a vacuum lift that allows you to pivot the panel. The advantage of a slider is all the things it can do, miters, odd angles, jigs that can allow about any cut you can dream up, etc. But it can't match a vertical for simple rectangles.

We started with a nice slider, grew into a beam saw, now most of our cutting is done on two routers. If your volume moves up some the routers are the best solution. Jack of all and master of most.

3/22/15       #8: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Brian T

If your planning on spending the money it would take to get a altendorf or a good vertical then I would say don't waste your money. Go with a router. It does all the cutting, drilling, dadoing etc. while your busy doing something else. You can band parts, assemble cabinets, mill lumber or # of other things while your parts are being cut out ready for assembly.

3/23/15       #9: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Pdub

....but you have to learn how to use it, learn the software that runs it, pay for the software, dust collection, compressor, wiring, tooling.....

3/23/15       #10: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Nick Cook Member

Website: http://www.cedarrivercabinetry.com

I plan on spending 5-8k for a used panel saw. I'm not ready for the router yet. Thanks for the input on my question. I'm looking at good clean used saws. What generally fails on these saws?

3/23/15       #11: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Rich Kuban  Member

Website: closetexperts.com

The key with a vertical is that the frame has not been twisted. Pretty straightforward machine. You can get an older Striebig for that kind of money, although I would go a bit more and try to get a Compact TRK. They hold their value pretty well.

I share Pdub's perspective. If volume grows, I would consider a router before a beam saw for all the flexibility, AFTER I had all my software and optimizing figured out. Then deal with vacuum, dust collection, power, programming, and all the other fun stuff that comes with a router. And then I would look at an offload station to double productivity.

3/29/15       #12: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Harold morantz

Website: http://morantzcabinets.com

My experience has been the opposite of everyone else. We have had a great slider for many years with a tiger rip fence. We needed a second saw and bought a used streibig. My guys hated it. It did not have any digital fences and they could not get used to the scales. We also need scoring and a good vertical that can score is not cheap. We use our forklift for cutting and actually find the forklift/slider combo easier and faster for one man. We have the room and sold the vertical and got a second new slider which is a Chinese knock off of an altendorf for less than 9k. Added a new tiger rip fence and we love it. They are lined up one behind the other and we sometimes use first to rip and second to cross cut.

3/30/15       #13: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Rich Kuban Member

Website: http://closetexperts.com

Harold brings up a couple of points that can be addressed. A vertical can still score without a scoring blade. On a Striebig, the riving knife can be adjusted to act as a stop for the blade to make a scoring cut on the upstroke of the saw carriage. Because it is using the same blade, the scoring cut is then same width as the full cut, resulting in no offset.

Regarding the scales, there are two points. One is the vertical axis benefits greatly from a digital readout since the scale is read going down first and the going up for rip cuts. I had one and could not imagine not. Second, on the horizontal axis, for pieces longer than forty inches, I made up a chart to convert metric dimensions to be able to set the stop. I used metric for vertical parts based on 32 mm construction, and imperial for horizontal parts. I had a digital stop on the horizontal axis that went bad and realized it was not necessary to repair.

My issues with a slider is the ability for material to move when cutting, and having to reach out to remove each cut piece, along with the greater potential for kickback.

3/30/15       #14: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Harold morantz

Website: http://morantz cabinets.com

Points well taken Rich. I see that you do a lot if clisets. Our jobs are always different and we have to match veneers a lot and use slot of 81x110" textured melamine sheets. My stewing could not handle these sheets although there are taller verticals that can. Guess is a matter of what fits best for your shop. Do not have much computer experience and so never went the CNC route. Harold.

3/30/15       #15: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Rich Kuban  Member

Website: closetexperts.com

I remember a thread about those wide panels Harold, and you knew a lot of your material was too wide for the Striebig. I can definitely see ripping those on a slider. I would have thought the Striebig would have been better for cross cutting your ripped lengths.

I think the OP is doing mostly cabinet parts, and that the vertical is ideal for him if he can cross cut mostly first, then turn to crosscut his widths.

1/20/16       #16: Vertical or Horizontal Slide Saw ...
Ivan Member

Website: http://www.brightonmachines.com

I have a Holzher 1270 Supercut for sale right here on this site if you are interested. It's a good time to advantage of the low Canadian dollar.
Let me know if interested and I can send details.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Limtech Industries, Inc. Lamello