Replies

1. 
   JMartinsky | May 18, 2009 02:29pm | #1

   I'm jealous.

   John

1. 
   dmdnk | May 19, 2009 06:44am | #4

   Me too- it's not my saw!  I'm just helping set it up.

1. 
   JMartinsky | May 19, 2009 11:54pm | #10

   Still jealous.John

2. 
   RickL | May 18, 2009 03:27pm | #2

   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.

1. 
   dmdnk | May 19, 2009 06:50am | #5

   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

1. 
   RickL | May 19, 2009 02:50pm | #7

   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.

1. 
   dmdnk | May 20, 2009 02:48am | #11

   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

    

2. 
   polarsea1 | May 19, 2009 09:48pm | #9

   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.

    

1. 
   dmdnk | May 20, 2009 02:50am | #12

   I believe this is a parallel guide.  It has a scale and moveable guide.

   David 

3. 
   flairwoodworks | May 18, 2009 08:15pm | #3

   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

1. 
   dmdnk | May 19, 2009 06:51am | #6

   That was my initial thought as to it's intended use.

4. 
   cigarmike | May 19, 2009 05:35pm | #8

   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.

5. 
   dmdnk | May 20, 2009 03:18am | #13

   Here's an image of the part.

   
1. 
   flairwoodworks | May 20, 2009 06:01am | #14

   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

2. 
   polarsea1 | May 20, 2009 07:27am | #15

   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.

3. 
   ring | May 20, 2009 08:21am | #16

   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

1. 
   dmdnk | May 21, 2009 07:21am | #17

   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