Shopsmith Forums

I am considering a vertical panel saw for breaking down plywood. Any recommendations either store boughten or homebrew would be appreciated. Please include why you recommend it over others.

Jim

Here is one version. Do NOT try it.

This is the Model 10, in decapitation mode.

steve

kablerj wrote:I am considering a vertical panel saw for breaking down plywood. Any recommendations either store boughten or homebrew would be appreciated. Please include why you recommend it over others.

Jim

For the same or less money than a panel saw, I'd be buying one of the Festool guided track saws. http://www.festoolusa.com/power-tools/track-saws/

They are incredibly accurate, totally portable, take up far less space than a panel saw and when hooked up to a a Festool dust extractor (or any shop vac) are virtually dust free. It will also give a splinter free edge (cleaner than a panel saw) and has a riving knife. Toss the plywood on a piece of rigid foam insulation, thrown the Festool track saw on it and you have the ideal set up for breaking down sheet goods.

I don't have one but I have a Festool random orbit sander and the thing is dust free, as advertized. Really well engineered tools.

skou wrote:Here is one version. Do NOT try it.

This is the Model 10, in decapitation mode.

steve

Gotta love the 50's.

algale wrote:For the same or less money than a panel saw, I'd be buying one of the Festool guided track saws.

I hear ya. But I already have a track saw. I'm looking for a vertical solution.

Jim

If you want to rip plywood vertically, then EurekaZone's Universal Edge Guide might suit your needs. There are a couple videos on YouTube showing this.

Crosscutting would be harder, but not impossible, with good track.

I break down sheet goods on a cutting table with a EurekaZone guide. The table goes together or comes apart in a couple minutes and is easy to throw in the car for off-site work.

Just curious, because I've never used one what are the advantages/benefits of a panel saw?

berry wrote:Just curious, because I've never used one what are the advantages/benefits of a panel saw?

In my case, I have a hallway that is useless for a SS or any stand alone machine. But a panel saw would fit the space, and always be ready to set in a sheet and cut it to size.

A good panel saw is expensive. One like used in the big stores is cheap and produce cuts equal to how cheap they are.

I had the pleasure to use a $30,000 panel saw and it was a thing of beauty.
I was guaranteed accurate to .001 over the 8 by 16 foot frame. The supports moved by air pressure depending on where the saw was, so you could never cut into a support.

The finish of the cut was polish smooth and it cut laminate to 4/4 stock thickness with equal ease.

To be that accurate it had to be bolted to a 6 inch concrete floor. And it had a frame work that was about 4 to 6 feet deep behind it.

Frankly for a home owner/hobbyist the track saw is the way to go.

kablerj wrote:I am considering a vertical panel saw for breaking down plywood. Any recommendations either store boughten or homebrew would be appreciated. Please include why you recommend it over others.

Jim

Don't have one, but have also been looking. Woodcraft has a reasonably priced one. Not sure how good it is though. Thanks for posting this...I to would like to know if anyone has tried it.