I’ve been setting up a used Powermatic HPS-126 sliding table saw. Can anyone recommend a good all-around blade for this machine? It will be used mostly for plywood and occasionally for solid wood cuts that can’t easily be managed on a smaller saw. Also, I would like to know the proper function of the stock guide that mounts near the back of the sliding table.
Thanks,
David
Replies
I'm jealous.
John
Me too- it's not my saw! I'm just helping set it up.
Still jealous.John
http://www.southern-tool.com/store/media/wmh/pdf/m_1791288K.pdf
The part you are referring to is to hold panels againt the crosscut fence. Do you have a local saw blade supplier? Typically it's a triple chip with a matched soring blade for plywood. The split/shimmed scoring blade is better, or just buy a good combo blade. Robland made the PM sliders. Find a user group on Yahoo on Robland/sliders. The answers are already out there...just find them. Sliders are the best saws out there.
Thanks for the info and manual. I've already looked at that manual and it shows how to install the stock guide but doesn't show how to use it. It seemed to me that it has more of a purpose than to just hold a panel. I'll take your advice and check into a user group. I'm sure there are many uses for this saw that I don't know about.
David
It's basic use is to hold the panel against the fence for crosscutting. If you can come with other uses it's up to you. Having spent many years with industrial tools you will not find detailed instructions on how to use these saws. Take for instance shapers...one guy can spend a lifetime mastering it but there are only a couple of books on the subject. Most of the info gets handed down from user to new user. Edgebanders are even more of the same kind of situation. It's up to the imagination and initiative of the operator. Many of these things are considered secrets so they are not openly shared, silly as it amy sound. That's a fact of the industry. You could get fired in some places for divulging company procedures.
The descriptions I've been able to find describe it as a "long ripping guide with scale". I just haven't found the purpose of the rod that slides through the guide but doesn't lock in place. My best guess is - handle! At least that's what it will likely be used for. I contacted tech support at WMH / Powermatic and the tech guy said he wasn't sure what it was for but would find out for me!
David
If the 'stock guide' you are referring to looks like something you would wedge a board under then it is more commonly called a shoe and is most often used to straight-edge rip solid boards using the slider. Wedge the end of the board under the shoe, clamp the other end with the hold down clamp and rip a straight edge on it.
Some sliders have parallel guides as well which allow you to rip strips off boards without using the rip fence.
I believe this is a parallel guide. It has a scale and moveable guide.
David
David,
In the Felder demo DVD, they use the "stock guide" to rip a straight edge on rough lumber. They call it a shoe.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
and now www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
That was my initial thought as to it's intended use.
Having gone from a Unisaw to a Laguna slider, I can confirm that there is not much info out there on the use of sliding tablesaws. You have to just use your imagination or ask other users. I imagine some of the higher end companies such as Martin or Altendorf may offer classes on the use of their machines. But if you spend that kind of moolah on a slider, I had better get more than just a smiling thank you. Try going to the Felder owners group on Yahoo for some photos and tips on using these machines. Wish I had the room for a long-bed slider. Lucky rascal.
Here's an image of the part.
I agree with David - it is for ripping. The shoe is the angled "bracket" just to the right of your circle attached with two black knobs.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com and now http://www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
That looks like a parallel guide of some sort for sure. Maybe it's used in conjunction with a stop on the crosscut fence and the shoe. Nice saw by the way, you'll enjoy the slider far more than you realize.
Ripping stock on the slider you make a first cut to straighten one edge of the board. Usually this is just eyeballed, but the little fence you are referring to can help if you need to assure how much width you are leaving for the cut that will come afterwards. You can also use that fence as a rip guide if for some reason or other you don't want to use the regular fence to the right of the blade. The only occasion when I've found that this comes in handy is in making a beveled rip...it can be useful sometimes to index the piece to the left instead of on the right.David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1
Thanks for the info. Now that I realize there is a way to lock the sliding rod in place, it suddenly makes sense! We haven't started using the saw yet. Blades and a few missing parts are coming next week.
David
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