Replies

1. 
   chairmake1 | Jul 10, 2002 05:59pm | #1

   Hello-

   I bought a slider from Grizzly about 5 years ago -

   It took my a day to install and have it slide properly-

   I think it was $249 and the shipping was free at the time-

   I use it everyday and I check the alignment weekly, sometimes it is loose-

   I'm happy with it and it does what I ask of it all the time-

   Robert

2. 
   gweisenburge | Jul 10, 2002 06:33pm | #2

   I suggest you buy a sliding tablesaw, like a Hammer or Felder. I tried an Exaktor on my Delta, which took up too much room and never seemed to remain adjusted. Add-on sliders are too far from the blade. I bought a Felder and couldn't be happier.

1. 
   badoyn | Jul 10, 2002 07:21pm | #3

   Sorry for the nucklehead question, but why would one use a sliding table instead of stationary tables?

   Michael

1. 
   sschefer | Jul 10, 2002 07:50pm | #4

   With a sliding table the wood can be held securely in place and the table moves the board into the blade. This is much the same as using a sled but should be more accurate. In a stationary table, the wood is slid over the saw table into the blade. With this method it is difficult to manage wide or long boards.

   Add on, after market, sliding tables seem to fall somewhere between using a sled and a saw that was built with a sliding table. The later being the best of the best.

   I've been inventing/expirementing with a left side roller table that uses three mitre slots and a long mitre type fence. It only works for straight cuts. As was mentioned before, my system and most sliders I've seen lack support near the blade like the bigger saws such as the Felders have.Steve - in Northern California

2. 
   gweisenburge | Jul 10, 2002 09:43pm | #7

   BADOYN,

   Steve Schefer says it all re: why a slider.

   I had better accuracy with my collection of sleds than I did with the Exaktor. One of them was a 5x5' sled for crosscutting plywood. I rolled a tablesaw height, slippery, formica-top worktable where needed to support long or heavy workpieces. Some of my sleds were heavy, though, and difficult to store. I also spent far too much time trying to re-invent my sleds, which is why I opted for the aftermarket slider. If I were to to that again, I'd probably get Felder's "Format" slider, mentioned in the link posted by MARKTRAV - a good read.

   I think the real question to ask is, "what will you be cutting?" I don't think any of the aftermarket sliders do well crosscutting 4x8' sheetgoods. That's where my Exaktor failed. I spent a lot of time realigning it and never trusted its settings. There are a number of smaller sliders, including the Delta, that would work fine for crosscutting small pieces. For that purpose, however, I much prefer my Dewalt sliding compound miter saw.

   My Felder sliding tablesaw remains as accurate as the day I set it up, and its always to be trusted - even though I occasionally check its accuracy. Mine is a combination shaper/tablesaw, and the slider is great with the shaper.

   Hope this helps,

   Gary

1. 
   badoyn | Jul 10, 2002 10:56pm | #8

   So I would guess, that if you have the room, it might be better to have a series of stationary tables instead of a sliding one?

   Michael

1. 
   gweisenburge | Jul 10, 2002 11:03pm | #9

   Actually, I like my worktables on wheels. I have two that are dedicated to the tablesaw - one on the infeed and the other on the outfeed side. When I used the crosscut sled, I put a table on the left side, to support the workpiece and the left end of the sled. I do have a few permanent workbenches, but wheel around tables (one with storage for tools) are pretty handy, because I can "redecorate" my shop floor to suit individual projects. I don't like wheels with built in breaks, but prefer to put pieces of wood beneath the wheels to stop movement - which usuallyh isn't necessary.

3. 
   marktrav | Jul 10, 2002 08:09pm | #5

   I bought the Delta sliding table attachment for my Unisaw, and I don't see how I could get by without it. A good review can be found at http://benchmark.20m.com/articles/SurveyOfSlidingTables/SurveyOfSlidingTables.html 

   It was a little bit of a pain to set up. I thought I had it set up properly, but I cut a dado into a 3/4" sheet of plywood, and noticed that my cut depth was 1/2" at the beginning and 3/8" at the end of the cut....it was riding high at the back....finally got it set up. I don't see a need to build any crosscut sleds.

   The stop block on the fence allows me to cut repeatable lengths, as well as simple tenoning, etc. I used it to cut a few 8' x 10" lengths of 12/4 Poplar into the base frame pieces for my Klaus-based workbench. Try that without a sliding table! Also used for 12/4 cherry and maple for the workbench top. I love it.

4. 
   sschefer | Jul 10, 2002 08:45pm | #6

   Here's a review of the Rockler Sliding Table.

   http://www.rockler.com/faq/sliding_table_review.cfm

   Steve - in Northern California

5. 
   3dog3 | Jul 10, 2002 11:23pm | #10

   Thanks all, for your input.  Unfortunately, a Felder is not in the budget right now. 

   Michael

1. 
   sschefer | Jul 10, 2002 11:43pm | #11

   O.K. then just let the air out of the tires on your truck, lay the wood across the hood and bungie it down. Then drive past the saw. Finally, use your compressor to air back up the tires, go to the store and get a six pack and call it a day.

   By the way, not many of us can afford a Felder.Steve - in Northern California

6. 
   MichaelLomax | Jul 11, 2002 12:47am | #12

   I have a Unisaw and I have since added an Excalibur sliding table.  I could not live without it unless of course I could afford a Felder or similar machine.

   It does take up space though.  You say you have small shop but not how small.  I have a two car garage size shop and still have to duck out of the way of the mitre fence when it is installed.

   There was a review recently in one of the WW magazines of the various tables.  It might have been FW but I don't remember right now.

   Good luck.

   lomax

7. 
   AlanTurner | Jul 12, 2002 01:12am | #13

   I have had the delta slider for 2 years now, and like another write stated, it is a paid to set up. About a full day, for me. Take your time as the initial alignment is critical.

   Mine works very well. Does take up some space. I don't use plywood to any serios extent. I do use it for cross-cutting 8/4 x 12 stock, 8 feet and longer. Not a problem with accuracy. I have not had to realign it, but I do check it often.

   Not a bad buy at about $300. I think the Felder is a bit more.

8. 
   Schenker12 | Jul 12, 2002 04:16pm | #14

   Another advantage of the Felder system is that you can also do rip cuts on the slider.  With Felder's clamping system (it's a hold-down at the end of the board) you can use the Felder saw as a jointer.  I saw this demonstrated at a woodworking show a while back and was very impressed.  After I saw that demonstration, I decided my next table saw will be a Felder for sure.

   I have an evil little thought of trying to make a deal on a Felder at the IWF fair on Georgia (http://www.iwf2002.com/).

   
   

   ---

   Edited 7/12/2002 9:17:32 AM ET by MattSchenker

1. 
   JoeCoty | Jul 14, 2002 07:59pm | #15

   Anyone have experience with the Jet sliding table?

   My local distributor can't keep them in stock. Price is more expensive $700- $800 as I remember, but the construction seemed much more industrial than the Delta model.

   Joe Coty