Shopsmith Forums

don't they have a similar operation at Lowes and Home Depot. the big different is the table is so small while L & HD have that big rack keeping everything in line.

farley wrote:don't they have a similar operation at Lowes and Home Depot. the big different is the table is so small while L & HD have that big rack keeping everything in line.

When those first 'came out'(1950's?) they were a 'skill saw' and adjustable guides and were called a panel saw. They were also knockdownable and therefore 'portable'. The difference here is the saw was moved, not the workpiece as in #1.

Todays are much more sturdy, and still do not have an exposed blade like in post#1.

As I see it, the panel saws, such as the ones at Home Depot, are nothing like the picture above.

The panel saws I have seen cut vertically, not horizontally. Also, the wood does not move, the saw does. The wood sits immobile on a rack while a counterbalanced circular saw on a track is pulled down across the wood to make the cut. Everything is supported at all times.

JPG40504 wrote:I be standing WITH you on this! Bet Farmer does also!

I already did the last time this picture was posted and discussed.
I would look for the thread but have no idea of what to look under and am working on an article right now that needs to get done.

paulrussell wrote:As I see it, the panel saws, such as the ones at Home Depot, are nothing like the picture above.

The panel saws I have seen cut vertically, not horizontally. Also, the wood does not move, the saw does. The wood sits immobile on a rack while a counterbalanced circular saw on a track is pulled down across the wood to make the cut. Everything is supported at all times.

Yes, the panel saws at Home depot etc. do exactly that, but the saw itself can also be rotated 90 deg. to the horizontal position and fixed at the required height while the sheet is passed through it.

Paul M

shipwright wrote:Yes, the panel saws at Home depot etc. do exactly that, but the saw itself can also be rotated 90 deg. to the horizontal position and fixed at the required height while the sheet is passed through it.

Paul M

Thanks! I didn't know they could do that!

Other opinions not withstanding, the operation pictured scares the H*** outta me!:eek:

Gene Howe wrote:Other opinions not withstanding, the operation pictured scares the H*** outta me!:eek:

Dropping large trees in a dense stand where the tops lock together scares me... Hugging a tree trunk 30 feet off of the ground while cutting another 20 feet off of the top near power-lines scares me... Holding on to a 1,000 pound horse that is just sure it is probably about to be attacked by 12 lions scares me... The possibility of rolling over in the middle of a dream and punching my wife (again ) scares me... This little board cutting project is just a little risk management exercise.

robinson46176 wrote:Dropping large trees in a dense stand where the tops lock together scares me... Hugging a tree trunk 30 feet off of the ground while cutting another 20 feet off of the top near power-lines scares me... Holding on to a 1,000 pound horse that is just sure it is probably about to be attacked by 12 lions scares me... The possibility of rolling over in the middle of a dream and punching my wife (again ) scares me... This little board cutting project is just a little risk management exercise.

What scares the hell out of me is that guy in the bathroom mirror.

paulrussell wrote:What scares the hell out of me is that guy in the bathroom mirror.

Is he in your bathroom mirror too??? I don't feel so lonely now!