The table saw, also called the bench saw is a precision wood cutting machine. It is one of the first and the most important investments in a production shop. It is used to cut solid wood or plywood to desired lengths and widths accurately. The blade can be tilted to various angles (upto 45 degrees) to achieve bevels and mitres. The blade housing can go up and down to increase or decrease the cutting height capacity. This is especially useful to cut slots and grooves called dados.
A sliding table saw is a variant of the standard cabinet table saw in the sense that it has a long table to the left of the blade. This table slides along the blade on precision rollers. This ensures that the operator is not directly behind the blade – this increases safety for the operator. Additionally, a sliding table saw can be used to cut a straight edge without using a jointer, as well as make cross cuts accurately without using a sled. Overall, the precision and safety of a sliding table saw is unmatched.
We have a sliding table saw in the studio. It is made and exported by the SCM group based out of Italy. This particular machine is fitted with a 3-phase 5hp motor and a 12” blade. It has a 4” dust extraction port at the back. This saw can has a travel length of slightly over 5’ and a cross cut capacity of about 4’.
Read about the saw in the below articles:
