Harvey Slider on Unisaw?

[John Kananis]

All these slider threads got me thinking. Does anyone here have the Harvey compass st-1500 attached to their unisaw? Can you speak on the quality, ease of attachment, capabilities and shortcomings? Thank you in advance!

[Jim Becker]

John, one thing to keep in mind that the add on "sliders" for cabinet saws are not the same thing that a sliding table saw features, especially relative to the position of the blade relative to the sliding mechanism. I've not seen the Harvey, per se, but have seen many folks using the SS equivalent. My biggest concern would be if they stay dialed in. If so, they can be very helpful with many operations.

[John Kananis]

Hey Jim, oh I'm completely aware of the differences and limitations of cabinet sliders. (one day) I'll get a true slider but I'm keeping my uni for a while since I'd need to relocate to larger space, etc. I use a sled(s) currently but the specs on that Harvey are really attractive and I've looked at the different offerings through the years without any enthusiasm. I guess the Excalibur was the go to for years but meh.

[Julie Moriarty]

All these slider threads got me thinking. Does anyone here have the Harvey compass st-1500 attached to their unisaw? Can you speak on the quality, ease of attachment, capabilities and shortcomings? Thank you in advance!

I do and I love it. It slides so smoothly I slide it back and forth just to feel the quality. It's rock solid. The fence stays square. Haven't had any problems with dust buildup. No problem recommending it.

I modified the attachment because my saw is on a mobile base. I used the legs and some angle brackets to secure it to the mobile base. You can see it here at post #19 https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?291149-Harvey-Alpha-HW110S-36-Review
(https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?291149-Harvey-Alpha-HW110S-36-Review)
I also modified the fence attachment using cam levers instead of having to reach for an Allen wrench each time it's adjusted.

[John Kananis]

Hi Julie, beautiful saw and I really like how you organized blades, etc. Also, I have a similar base on my saw but two wheels stay on the ground with mine... your base is much better engineered but I don't think it was available when I got mine.

Thanks for passing along your experience. I'm still curious how it would "fit" my unisaw.

[Bobby Robbinett]

I cannot speak to the Harvey, but, a while back I had a buddy buy the largest Excalibur (I think that was the name) to put on his older pre 1960’s UniSaw and it was great. He was a machinist by trade and was able to dial it in perfectly so that it was as square and tuned up as any real slider would be. He modified his and was able to break down full sheets of plywood with absolute accuracy.

[Ronald Blue]

I cannot speak to the Harvey, but, a while back I had a buddy buy the largest Excalibur (I think that was the name) to put on his older pre 1960’s UniSaw and it was great. He was a machinist by trade and was able to dial it in perfectly so that it was as square and tuned up as any real slider would be. He modified his and was able to break down full sheets of plywood with absolute accuracy.

I have the Excalibur slider and it will take a full sheet as it sits. Crosscutting longer boards or something wide that would be a real challenge otherwise is where I really like it. I've not had any sheet goods on it.

[Mike Kees]

When I had an Excalibur on my Unisaw I found the problem of keeping it adjusted and square was the legs moving on the floor. Once I figured that out I used a sheet of plywood with the leg locations marked out and drilled holes for them to drop into. Once the plywood was fastened on the floor my problems of constantly adjusting were over and it worked very well. The sliding attachment like you are looking at seems like it would work very well. I have seen and checked out the Sawstop version like it at a store. Putting the sliding extension on a Cabinet saw is the first step or should I say leap into the "rabbit hole" of sliders.... BE CAREFUL :D

[Jim Becker]

Putting the sliding extension on a Cabinet saw is the first step or should I say leap into the "rabbit hole" of sliders.... BE CAREFUL :D
LOL

Rather than descending into a hole, I find it to be an elevation. :D :D :D Other than the balance in one's wallet, of course. ;)

[Kevin Jenness]

I had an Excalibur attachment on a Unisaw for about 20 years. Once I replaced the bowed guide rail and reinforced the angle braces it worked well for crosscutting sheet stock, lumber and large assemblies. The size of the table made it effective for supporting large pieces. Still, it lacked some critical features of a true format slider, specifically the length of cut to straightline a full sheet and close proximity of the carriage to the blade which facilitates a lot of operations, and the sliding action was not as precise and solid. It looks to me like the Harvey unit is well made and should serve well, but for handling full sheets you will want some outboard support and the crosscut fence is not as long as I would want. Perhaps the fence extrusion will accept an extension. A clamp would be a good addition as well.

[Warren Lake]

had two excaliburs on one saw for cross cutting only. A thing that worked excellent. Cross cut left, slide over to right stop and cut.

There are different generations of them and i had the first Gen. As sheet size increased accuracy decreased. You set up and cut square and the next cut might be off. Im sure they improved them each generation.

I bought a sliding table saw used for less than what those attachments cost.

[John Kananis]

Thanks, guys. Over the years, I've looked at the Excalibur products and they never really left an impression. I really like the design of the Harvey. However, speaking with them gave me some reservations:

The first person I some with (I was asking about compatability) asked what type of saw I had. I replied a unisaw. He asked who the manufacturer was (LOL) and I said delta. He said that he never heard of it and their product wouldn't fit saws such as mine because they were designed for light duty on the jobsite.. it took me a sec to gather my wits and ask to speak to a tech guy that's been around for a while - trying to give the benefit of the doubt to a new/young/inexperienced person...

He put me through to a tech that handles escalated calls. I asked if he familiar with my saw. He says absolutely. I confirm we're talking about the same product and ask if it fits. He says he thinks so and asks me to measure the width and depth of the miter slot on the left side of the blade. WTH is happening? I asked what that has to do with compatability. He said he wasn't sure and took a long pause. I chose to hang up at that point. I was honestly ready to place an order over the phone and didn't mind doing some minor modifying myself. Kind of turned off now.

[Ronald Blue]

Thanks, guys. Over the years, I've looked at the Excalibur products and they never really left an impression. I really like the design of the Harvey. However, speaking with them gave me some reservations:

The first person I some with (I was asking about compatability) asked what type of saw I had. I replied a unisaw. He asked who the manufacturer was (LOL) and I said delta. He said that he never heard of it and their product wouldn't fit saws such as mine because they were designed for light duty on the jobsite.. it took me a sec to gather my wits and ask to speak to a tech guy that's been around for a while - trying to give the benefit of the doubt to a new/young/inexperienced person...

He put me through to a tech that handles escalated calls. I asked if he familiar with my saw. He says absolutely. I confirm we're talking about the same product and ask if it fits. He says he thinks so and asks me to measure the width and depth of the miter slot on the left side of the blade. WTH is happening? I asked what that has to do with compatability. He said he wasn't sure and took a long pause. I chose to hang up at that point. I was honestly ready to place an order over the phone and didn't mind doing some minor modifying myself. Kind of turned off now.

In their defense that is sort of like calling the Ford dealer to see if their bed will fit on your Chevy. I wouldn't expect that they would be experts on what else they fit and they certainly won't warrant it to fit anything but a Harvey just as SawStop won't tell you how to fit theirs on a Grizzly. The best you can do and Julie might be the go to on this is to know where the mounting holes are located. It's likely you will have to drill new holes and possibly tap them in your saw or in the slider. Some onsite engineering will be required without a doubt. How much you can or are willing to do is in your wheelhouse. Julie already stated it works very well so that's probably as much of an endorsement as you can ask for. Good luck whatever you decide.

[John Kananis]

I would have respected them saying that they weren't sure about compatability and offering the specifications for the mounting holes, etc. If I called a Ford dealership and told them I currently drive a Chevy, I certainly wouldn't expect them to say they never heard of one... and regardless of make or model, if you ask the same dealership what size tires you need, you wouldn't expect them to ask my if you have cloth or leather seats... rim size maybe.

[Mike Kees]

Should not be too complicated. It will bolt to your existing extension wing holes. Worst case may include drilling a new hole or two on a bracket.

[Ronald Blue]

I would have respected them saying that they weren't sure about compatability and offering the specifications for the mounting holes, etc. If I called a Ford dealership and told them I currently drive a Chevy, I certainly wouldn't expect them to say they never heard of one... and regardless of make or model, if you ask the same dealership what size tires you need, you wouldn't expect them to ask my if you have cloth or leather seats... rim size maybe.

These days little surprises me though. It's an accomplishment that they can find people to talk on the phone. The fact that someone is clueless about what you have is no surprise. The miter slot comment might have been someone trying to come off as smarter than they were. Who knows? He didn't lol. I think there are many places you can find clueless employees these days. The worst thing is that many have no desire to learn either.

[John Kananis]

All true. And equally sad.

[Jim Becker]

I think that the miter slot comment came from the CSR thinking that the "sliding table" was their miter fence product which does use the slot...some of this could be language related confusion, unfortunately.

[John Kananis]

Jim I'm sure that's the case... it was a tech though, not a csr and I started the conversation by identifying the part number of their device. I think the tech just goofed but my patience was thin by then. I was honestly ready to purchase during the phone call. I may still get it but idk, the incident left me thinking that if I have issues, I may have to deal with the keystone cops and that doesn't seem all that appealing.

[John Kananis]

I do and I love it. It slides so smoothly I slide it back and forth just to feel the quality. It's rock solid. The fence stays square. Haven't had any problems with dust buildup. No problem recommending it.

I modified the attachment because my saw is on a mobile base. I used the legs and some angle brackets to secure it to the mobile base. You can see it here at post #19 https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?291149-Harvey-Alpha-HW110S-36-Review
(https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?291149-Harvey-Alpha-HW110S-36-Review)
I also modified the fence attachment using cam levers instead of having to reach for an Allen wrench each time it's adjusted.

Hi Julie, do you think you could possibly take a pic of how the legs connect to the slider (underneath)?

[Jim Becker]

Oh, I wasn't saying that the responses you got were appropriate...they were not and customers deserve better, especially from someone who is supposed to be a technical support resource.

[Julie Moriarty]

Hi Julie, beautiful saw and I really like how you organized blades, etc. Also, I have a similar base on my saw but two wheels stay on the ground with mine... your base is much better engineered but I don't think it was available when I got mine.

Thanks for passing along your experience. I'm still curious how it would "fit" my unisaw.
Oh, sorry.

I'm pretty sure the Unisaw has a shorter table than the Harvey. The depth on a Harvey table is 31". The Harvey slider comes with additional hardware and instructions to attach to a Sawstop. Hole orientation is compatible with Shop Fox and Grizzly too. Looking at mine, about the only other thing that I see that might arise from attaching it to other saws is the need to drill holes in either the slider or the saw table.

I don't see any issues with drilling additional holes on the slider other than possibly running into the situation existing holes are so close to where you want to drill as to create a problem getting the new hole started. There are a total of 14 pre-drilled holes on the slider. On mine, only 3 are used.

To install the slider, I had to cut the fence bar, reducing the ability to slide the fence to the left. Blade tilt on the Harvey is to the left. The reduced fence travel hasn't been an issue for me.

I previously owned a Delta contractors saw that had a Delta sliding table on it. My neighbor across the street now has it. I didn't see any issues with attaching the Harvey slider to that table.

[Julie Moriarty]

Hi Julie, do you think you could possibly take a pic of how the legs connect to the slider (underneath)?

I took the pictures but can't remember how to upload them here. But there's a channel running the entire length of the long length of the slider. That's where the legs attach, using T-bolts.

Page 8 of their instructions shows how the legs connect. https://harveymachinery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ST-1500-Instruction-Manual-Revision-A.pdf I attached Unistrut angle brackets using cap screws, nut and washer. I'll try to get the pics uploaded here if I can remember how to do it.

[John Kananis]

Fantastic, thank you for taking a minute to help out. A 31" table is absolutely awesome, not really worried about the space needed front to back though. Going to be a bit of a tight squeeze left to right with the 52" fence but I can swing that too, just going to be a little cramped on the left. I also have an extra set of biesemeyer rails that I can cut so not the end of the world there either.

[John Kananis]

Memorial day pricing is at $1149 so I went ahead and pulled the trigger. Shipping isn't until July 13 though (sadly). Once it gets here, I'll let everyone know how it fit up and post some pics.

[John Kananis]

I almost forgot I promised a pic. First off, totally loving the slider and really glad I pulled the trigger. Only one hole aligned properly and it held the slider a little proud of the top of the saw. I drilled that hole out with a 15/32nd bit and it took it right into alignment. I marked and drilled two subsequent holes and mounted it. The auxiliary table that bolts on the left had no mounting holes where the diagram showed so I drilled a couple of those too lol.

[John Kananis]

Sorry guys, not sure why the pic is sideways.

[Bob Falk]

Sorry guys, not sure why the pic is sideways.

John, I have that same problem with photos.....can anyone tell us what we are doing wrong uploading pics?

[Jim Becker]

There is a sticky thread at the top of the Forum Technical Support forum relative to photos and posting issues

[Troy Gamm]

I know this is an old thread but I just ordered a Harvey slider for my 1939 Unisaw. I rebuilt the saw 30 years ago when I bought it at a used tool store where it was rusty and nothing moved. It is due for a good cleaning and lube job. It will be a bit before I can get it installed but I wanted to take advantage of the slider being 30% off.

[John Kananis]

Congrats on the purchase. I had to drill mounting holes to fit my uni... also, if you don't need the full 4 feet, considering flush mounting as the slider gets in the way sometimes.


I know this is an old thread but I just ordered a Harvey slider for my 1939 Unisaw. I rebuilt the saw 30 years ago when I bought it at a used tool store where it was rusty and nothing moved. It is due for a good cleaning and lube job. It will be a bit before I can get it installed but I wanted to take advantage of the slider being 30% off.

[Troy Gamm]

Congrats on the purchase. I had to drill mounting holes to fit my uni... also, if you don't need the full 4 feet, considering flush mounting as the slider gets in the way sometimes.

Thanks. Not sure I will use the full 48" very often so I will most likely mount it flush. Would you happen to know off hand the max crosscut when it is mounted flush?

[John Kananis]

Troy, I believe it's 43 inches but I would double-check that.


Thanks. Not sure I will use the full 48" very often so I will most likely mount it flush. Would you happen to know off hand the max crosscut when it is mounted flush?

[Michael Zerance]

It's about 45" on a 12/14 so I would assume about 41" on a Uni.

519519

[Troy Gamm]

Troy, I believe it's 43 inches but I would double-check that.

Thanks! That will be plenty

[Troy Gamm]

It's about 45" on a 12/14 so I would assume about 41" on a Uni.519519

41" will still be good to go. Thanks for the info