Buying a Sliding Table Saw

A second-hand, high-quality slider is a good investment. Here are tips on tuning it up and getting the best out of it. February 16, 2012

Question
I'm looking at investing in a sliding table saw but really don't have a huge budget. Can anyone give me some advice on what to look for?

Forum Responses
(Cabinetmaking Forum)
From contributor J:
I went too cheap on my first and paid dearly for the experience. I got a lightweight, and about every time an employee banged a 4x8 sheet it went out of square. Eventually went much heavier and loving it ever since.


From contributor M:
Look for a used saw such as an Altendorf, SCM, etc. You can have these at the cost of a new entry level saw.

From contributor K:
When looking for a sliding table saw, accuracy and repeatability is the name of the game. A sliding table saw is useless if it isn’t absolutely accurate, and will waste your time if it isn’t repeatable too. This is really important if you are processing panels to go through an edgebander and/or a boring machine either now or down the road as you grow your business. All automatic edgebanders rely on a perfectly squared cut so that the end trimming works properly. A boring machine will also rely on a squared panel so that your holes line up accurately, especially on a single row unit where you have to flip the panel.

The scoring found on sliders is also important. This provides a nice, clean cut so that your product looks pleasing, and your edgebanding adheres properly.

If you buy used, be sure all of the safety components are still with the machine, especially the guard and the riving knife (splitter), which should sit behind the blade and is incorporated into the blade group. This is a standard safety feature offered on most, if not all, sliders to prevent kickback.

One last thing, since sliding table saws are a European design, many don’t have dado capability, especially if you are looking at an older machine. Dado capability is outlawed in Europe because it is a non-through cut. Manufacturers have started to incorporate this feature into newer units, but you will want to confirm which machines in their lineup have it if you definitely want this feature.

Some people can be a bit apprehensive about going to a slider, but I’ve never heard from anyone who has made the switch to a sliding table saw and regretted it looking back.


From contributor L:
I bought a new SCMI SI16WA in 1988. Ran the hell out of it until we were running it two shifts a day and couldn't keep up. Bought a Schelling beam saw but kept the slider because there are so many things you can do with one. It still runs true today. We have made an assortment of jigs and fixtures that clamp to the slider for all manner of otherwise difficult cuts.

If you buy one, the first thing to do is go over it and adjust everything to make a near perfect cut. Chances are the last guy never bothered. Their website has manuals and parts pages for most of their saws that you can download if needed.

For sure I'd buy an industrial level saw over the cheapies. My saw is over 2,000 lbs and rock solid. If I was going to use it for production panel cutting I'd put a powered fence on it. It will save you a lot of time and steps and be well worth its price. Digital stops on the squaring fence are also a nice feature. Both of these are available as aftermarket items. Look at Martin's web site for lots of other optional features that can be adapted to sliders. I had a powerfeed socket made for mine that fits below the table surface.

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