Panel Processing Machine Setup and Maintenance at WOODWEB's Knowledge Base

Advice on choosing and setting up dado blades for a sliding table saw. January 9, 2015

A question about choosing a panel saw slips into familiar territory: would a slider be better? That all depends, of course; cabinetmakers here share experiences they've had with both. November 23, 2012

Table Saw Safety Accessories

A long discussion on the utility and practicality of guards, splitters, and automatic blade brakes. November 26, 2007

Table Saw Blade Height Above Material

Here's a long, thoughtful discussion of the practical and safety aspects of setting blade height when working with a table saw. November 13, 2009

Machinery Choices for Slab Door Production

A discussion of which machinery will best optimize productivity: a beam saw, a panel saw, or a CNC? May 15, 2014

Sliding Table Saw Accuracy

Cabinetmakers discuss how to tune up a slider and provide tips for accurate cutting. January 13, 2009

Capabilities of a Point-to-Point Router

If you're buying older used equipment, be aware of its limitations and its condition. August 17, 2006

Using the Rip Fence as a Stop on a Sliding Table Saw

There are calibration and accuracy issues when using the rip fence as a work stop on a slider, but they are minor ones. November 20, 2008

Compensating for Material Thickness Variations

Thickness differences between pieces can cause trouble when machining parts out of sheet goods. But a savvy operator can work around the problem. August 29, 2006

Radial Arm Saw Cut Tolerances

After a discussion of the inherent roughness of radial arm saw cuts, a woodworker gets his unit tuned up for fine cuts on melamine. October 14, 2009

Squaring up a Vertical Panel Saw

Here's advice on tweaking a second-hand vertical panel saw into square (with the proviso that a trained tech will do it faster and better).February 16, 2014

Fence Considerations with a Sliding Tablesaw

Here's a lot of detailed advice for getting the most out of the fence on a European-made sliding table saw. May 11, 2011

Eliminating Melamine Chip-Out

Suggestions for blade choice and equipment tweaks that will help reduce chip-out when cutting melamine on the table saw. May 6, 2010

Comparing Sliding Table Saws

A discussion of the merits of competing brands of sliders. July 28, 2012

Squaring Up a Sliding Table Saw

Pros walk a newcomer through the steps of getting a slider trued up for accurate rips and crosscuts. February 20, 2008

Melamine Chipping on a Sliding Table Saw

A cabinet shop goes through the learning curve cutting melamine on an entry-level slider. The discussion covers blade choices, sharpening, setup, adjustments, and technique. August 8, 2008

Boring Machines

Casework assembly methods that rely on evenly-spaced 32-mm holes are most efficient when you have high-volume precision equipment to bore the holes. Here's a rundown on the options in machinery for that purpose. September 18, 2008

Ripping Accuracy with Vertical Panel Saws

Tips for making accurate panel rips, and a discussion of equipment tolerances and various quirks. March 25, 2007

Shopping for a Slider

Comparing and contrasting two makes of sliding table saw, with comments about the fine points of user-friendliness. February 2, 2011

Choosing Table Saw Blades

Thoughts on table saw blade selection for cutting plywood and for ripping hardwood. March 26, 2010

Buying a Used Beamsaw

Input from users and maintenance techs on what to watch out for when buying a pre-owned beamsaw, and advice about teardown, transport, and re-assembly.July 29, 2011

Sliding Table Saws — New Versus Used

When the budget is tight, a used high-end slider can be a better value than a brand new low-end machine.November 15, 2011

Aligning a Sliding Table Saw Carriage

Another good discussion of ways to tune up a slider for accurate, precise cuts. February 28, 2012

Shopping for a Used Slider

Cabinetmakers discuss the desireable and undesirable attributes to consider in purchasing a previously owned sliding table saw on a budget. November 15, 2011

Table Saw Cutting Out of Square when Set on the Bevel

A little help with the problem of a table saw that cuts out of square, but only when the blade is tilted over to 45 degrees. November 16, 2010

Determining Square for Machine Setup and Q.C.

Here's advice on shopping for reliable squares, checking for square on machines or cut parts, and setting up machinery to be true and square. April 6, 2011

Shop-Built Sliding Table Saw Sled Decisions

Advice on whether to build a shop-rigged table saw sled, buy a sliding table attachment, or step up to a professional-grade slider. January 19, 2011

Mounting a Digital Scale on a Sliding Tablesaw

Advice on the purchase, installation, and use of a digital scale on a sliding table saw. March 22, 2013

Efficiency of nested-based manufacturing

How much time can be saved? January 16, 2002

Upgrading the Table Saw

Where do you go when you step up from that old table saw? February 8, 2008

CNC Equipment for MDF Door Production

Advice on choosing the right CNC setup for milling doors from MDF. October 9, 2006

Squaring a Sliding Table Saw

Advice on how to adjust the fence on a slider to restore its ability to make accurate, precise cuts. January 13, 2015

Troubleshooting Chip-Out with Melamine

Blade characteristics and plunge depth are factors to consider. February 18, 2011

Clamp Retrofits for Sliding Table Saws

Here's a discussion of site-built clamp setups for the slider, with some instructive photos. June 17, 2009

Squaring Up a Cross-Cut Sled

Getting a cross-cut table-saw sled jig squared up just right is a finicky and time-consuming process. June 30, 2007

Troubleshooting Blade Chip-Out with Melamine

Advice on checking the blade for imperfections and the saw setup for inaccuracies. December 28, 2014

Throat Plate Tweak for Laser-Guided Sliding Table Saw

Advice on a shop-rigged throat plate for a sliding table saw to augment the laser guide, and tips on zeroing in the laser for accuracy. June 18, 2010

Wide Belt Sander Choices

More advice on selecting a widebelt sander. April 27, 2011

Vertical Panel Saw Score and Cut Accuracy

Advice on adjustments to keep the score cut and the through cut aligned on an older vertical panel saw. October 13, 2012

Resetting the Sliders on a Sliding Table Saw

A detailed description of the process for fixing a sliding table saw slider mechanism that has gone out of adjustment. January 3, 2014

Shopping for a Sliding Table Saw

Cabinetmakers recommend top-grade equipment with large-panel cutting capacity. February 13, 2009

Bit Selection for a CNC Router

A shop owner gets advice on what bits he'll need for his new CNC router, along with tips on bit care and re-sharpening. August 30, 2005

CNC V-grooving

Suggestions for tooling and techniques. March 23, 2002

Beam Saw Cut Quality

Assuming the saw is well set up and in tune, you rarely see chipout when cutting stacked panels on a beam saw. March 26, 2012

Good Things to Have on a Sliding Table Saw

Are independently-powered scoring blades or extra-long length important? January 8, 2007

Blade Life when Cutting Melamine

Melamine tears up saw blades. Here are some observations on blade life expectancy, some thoughts on blade choice, and a success story involving diamond blades. August 14, 2007

Sawblades 101

Select the right blade for the job with this quick rundown of blade characteristics. January 7, 2007

Is a Motorized Sliding Table Saw Fence Worth It?

Cabinetmakers describe the benefits of upgrading the fence on a slider. June 15, 2009

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

Grinding a Warped Cast-Iron Table Saw Top Flat

It's not unusual for machinery tables to get deformed out of their proper flat shape, but the problem is correctable. March 25, 2007

Vertical Panel Saw Choices

Information on capabilities and setup details for different vertical panel saws. May 2, 2011

Blade Life in Melamine

Cabinetmakers discuss triple chip blades, hollow ground blades, blade sharpness, and equipment adjustments to get long performance from blades. January 26, 2009

Cleaning Sander Belts

Shop owners share their methods for cleaning wide-belt sander belts. November 14, 2009

Chip-out on HPL panels

Solving problems with chip-out during CNC machining. August 12, 2001

Aftermarket Dust Collection for a Sliding Table Saw

Product suggestions and a look at a shop-rigged example of a dust collection saw blade shroud for a slider. April 15, 2013

Setting Up a New Slider

Nine out of nine doctors agree: have the supplier's tech set up your brand new sliding table saw for you. Do not do it yourself. January 23, 2014

Pneumatic Clamps for Sliding Table Saws

Info on aftermarket and shop-built pneumatic setups for clamping material to a sliding table saw. March 26, 2009

Vacuum Lift Versus Scissor Lift

A discussion of equipment options for moving panels onto the sliding table saw. October 26, 2007

Beam Saw Versus Sliding Table Saw

Which to buy, slider or beam saw? Versatility, productivity, and ease of maintenance are issues to consider. August 24, 2008

Do I Need the Scoring Blade for a Vertical Panel Saw?

Many users get along fine without a scoring blade. February 11, 2010

MDF and Shaper Cutter Life

How much wear and tear does MDF cause for knife edges? August 31, 2010

Dressing the Rollers on a Wide-Belt Sander

Tips on getting the sander drum true again by running it over flat sandpaper. July 29, 2011

Choosing a Slider Blade

Advice on blade choices for a sliding table saw. March 27, 2012

Getting Straight Table-Saw Rips

Tips on tuning a table saw for straight ripping. May 23, 2007

Cleaning Wide-Belt Sander Belts

Tips for getting the gum and dust out of a wide-belt sander belt. April 14, 2010

Best Saw Blade for Melamine?

Woodworkers recommend tablesaw blades for cutting melamine. June 16, 2010

Sharpening Schedule for Scoring Blades

If you cut a lot of melamine, how often does the scoring blade need to be sharpened? January 19, 2012

Adjusting a Wide-Belt Sander

Tips for fine-tuning a belt sander for smooth operation and good control. February 6, 2007

Three Phase Current, Demand Charges, and Phase Converters

Shedding some light on ways to minimize power company "demand charges," with an in-depth look at the way phase converters function. December 3, 2010

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