Sliding table saws are a great way to make accurate
cuts, because they take one of the main variables
out of the table saw cutting process; namely,
your control over how firmly the material stays
in place against the fence. A sliding table saw
makes table sawing easier, because the saw
table itself moves with the material secured to it.
This means that materials placed on sliding table
saws will be cut more precisely than is possible
with the operator or helper feeding them into
the blade.
History and benefits of the sliding table saw
Sliding table saws have been around for almost
a century, and have been shown countless times
to be the best way to produce several pieces
of exactly the same size. The sliding table saw
was invented in 1906 by Wilhelm
Altendorf, and
the Altendorf
Tool Company still makes some of
the world's best sliding table saws. Many other
manufacturers also make sliding table saws, including
Holzma. While these saws were once restricted
(mostly by cost) to professional cabinetry and
furniture manufacturing shops, do it yourselfers
and home woodworkers can now buy aftermarket
sliding table saw attachments for many of the
most popular table saws on the market today.
Using table saw sleds
A similar device which can be purchased or made
at a much lower cost is a table saw sled. Table
saw sleds are designed to fit into the miter
grooves on your table saw and carry your material
through the saw evenly and accurately.
Table saw sled: buy or build
There are two ways to get a table saw sled:
you can either buy a commercially available table
saw sled or make one yourself using plans found
on the Internet or in woodworking magazines.
Store-bought table saw sleds typically come with
a few more features than those you make yourself,
such as movable (and calibrated) miter gauges.
You can realize some cost savings, however,
by making your table saw sled yourself. Many
woodworkers have built their own table saw sled
to try it out, and then moved up to a more accurate
commercial table saw sled as their confidence
in this table saw accessory increased. Whether
you buy or build your table saw sled, however,
you will quickly find that a table saw sled gives
you many of the features and accuracy available
from sliding table saws.
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