Panel Saws

[LiefStevens]

I am thinking about making or building a panel saw. Seems like it would make cutting down full sheets of plywood fast, easy and safe. Are any of you guys using one? Do you find it worth while?

I'm looking at the DIY plans in Shopnotes 88 http://plansnow.com/dn3099.html Has anyone built this? Seems like a good design. I have also found a used Safety Speed Cut 6400 for a really good price so I might just buy that.

[Tom Smit]

The reason that I posted panel saws is that it seemed to me that it made sense when there was little floor area to cut down a full 4x8 sheet. Once the sheets were cut down, then a table saw became more friendly. I noticed on some of the DIY plans that the "panel" can be disassembled by removing lock pins of sorts, and stored elsewhere. Another plan that I saw had one remove lock pins at the bottom and the whole bottom of the panel could be pulled out for cutting, and then the pins locked back in. IOW, it stores flat against the wall. Weave the web to find the plans.

[LiefStevens]

I have found 3 different DIY designs. The Shopnote's 88 design still looks the best to me. I like that you can move the saw for horizontal cuts instead of moving the wood. Seems like it would use a lot less space. On other hand it looks like it would be time consuming to build so buying a used one might be the way to go. Here is the used one I found. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5miuoedDgGg

[Harley]

...Here is the used one I found. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5miuoedDgGg

That looks damn nice. Warped sheets? - how does it handle those I wonder ( probably better than a std table saw anyways )

[AntonZ]

Here is the used one I found. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5miuoedDgGg

If I could afford that, AND have the shop space to install it, I'd love to have a saw like that. Man, I'd be building cabs all day just for the fun of it.

[LiefStevens]

If it's still available I'm going to go take a look at it this week. I don't have a place for it at the moment but it's a really good deal.

[Jon Barnhardt]

I'm in the process of building the shopnotes saw you linked to in the original post. The only thing is I raised the height to accommodate 5' x 5' sheets.

I thought I would beat the supplies estimate by about $100, until I finally found the t-track and bearings needed (amazon) and now I'm right at their price estimate ($350).

Should have it done by the end of the week if the bearings arrive on time...

[LiefStevens]

Let us know how it turns out! Oh and lot of pictures.

[LiefStevens]

I didn't manage to get the used panel saw so I'm going to build one. Jon would you mind telling me what parts you used for yours?

[Jon Barnhardt]

I'm pretty much following the shopnotes plans so far except the fact that I added 14 inches to the height to accommodate for 60" sheets. I also plan to add a second 2x6 in the middle of the grid with dowel holes for when I'm working with smaller sheets I don't have to be bent over to the floor.

I bought all the supplies locally at Menards except for the t-track and bearings which I had to turn to amazon for.

Progress has been slow as I've had a really busy week with other things and haven't touched it since Tuesday and don't plan to get back to it until Monday

https://s3.amazonaws.com/allnightproduc ... l_saw1.JPG

https://s3.amazonaws.com/allnightproduc ... l_saw2.JPG

[LiefStevens]

Looks good so far. Which t-track and bearings did you get?

[Jon Barnhardt]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I6LW1W

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012JCWMC

t-track came Wednesday and looks good. Bearings are to arrive today.

[Rick Lee]

Definitely keep us updated with pictures! It's on my short list to build so I'll be standing by for a review also!

[Jon Barnhardt]

Finally got back to it tonight since USPS didn't bring the bearings until today. Got the sliding header piece built tonight so all I have left is the saw carriage and sled. Hopefully more progress tomorrow evening.

[Jon Barnhardt]

Lots of progress tonight. I think it may make its first cut tomorrow night!

I did find that my idea to add another 2x6 with removable pegs in the middle is not going to work as the pegs drive in pretty tight in order to keep them aligned... I might revisit this with other ideas in the future but for now I added a 2x2 to move along with the build.

I did take another pic with updated progress and will post tomorrow as I'm too lazy to resize it tonight...