If you are trying to save space. can you run one machine into another? my first shop was a postage stamp and stuff ran into the next machine which was support. My slider bar will go down the side of the radial, fence that far can rip 53" or more, in that case the saw fence is on the radial table. Takes a bit of mcgiver in any cases but since I started that way its still in my thought pattern.
just to close the loop on this... the "next step up" after the minimum of 33" of rip capacity is 44". perhaps that's the wiser choice. i still save a little floor space, but also lower the range of sizes i cannot crosscut. tricky decision, but maybe that's a safer compromise.
That is a nice compromise, will it be going against a wall? I only ask because I was going to go with a 33” but the only place it works for me is against a wall, having the wider rip actually made more since to me (in my case) because with the limited wall space in my small shop the 33” wouldn’t really allow other equipment/workbench a bandsaw perhaps against the wall…I could see regretting getting the 33” but if you don’t have the space you don’t have it…
Last edited by Mark e Kessler; 08-28-2021 at 11:01 PM.
David, that's about what I effectively had with the S315WWS slider I had in my old shop, taking into account a stairway that interfere with material to the right. It didn't come into play that much so if your space is comfortable with the ~44", I agree it's a good compromise between the narrower and wider options.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
thanks guys, i think that's what i'll do. the saw is not next to a wall, it's next to my jointer. one day i'll post a picture of the configuration of that part of the shop. the main issue is that i have a lumber lift through the ceiling to the second floor, and i have to extend the slider all the way forward in order to lower/raise the lift. even a few more inches of clearance with the new slider will be helpful.
thanks for everyone's feedback.
--- dz
When I ordered my slider in 2009 I was working in a 3 car garage and narrow rip was the only way I could fit the slider in. I assumed that one day when I moved to a bigger shop I'd add the longer fence rail and a wider table. I moved to the new much bigger space and I did not even think about getting costs for the parts to make it wider. I just rarely use the saw to rip. I can easily get the fence out of the way when using the slider to cut bigger parts and do this frequently. If ordering new and with the huge shop I'd get a wide rip but the 32" rip has not really been an issue. I do however use the parallel guides to rip whenever possible. I love the slider for ripping.
joe, this is helpful. the only situation i see having issues with is when i'm trying to crosscut a wide part to ~48" wide. the support post is ~33" forward of the center of the blade. so, if i want to crosscut a relatively narrow "rip," i'm fine, it'll land behind the post. if i want to crosscut a 40" wide rip, i can't do it, as it'll contact the support post. now, i think that practically speaking, it's a non-issue. most of my material is cut on the CNC, and the vast majority of rips are obviously far, far narrower than 33"... and, i own two track saws. so, yeah, my gut feel is to regain the floor space and live with the 33" rip capacity. but then, as stated, i think about resale... i know for sure i won't get a unit with the same 56" rip i have on my current slider, but i also don't want to regret going with 33". not a trivial decision on such an expensive saw.
all that said, your feedback is helpful, thanks.
--- dz
I like using the fence as a bump stop so for me the longer fence rails are useful for more than ripping. Removing the fence on my saw requires sliding it off the rail end- as that is against the wall it's not happening.