Hi Stan:

?

There are plenty of ‘solid wood people’ on this forum so I’m thinking you may well receive many relevant responses. I don’t know how big your space really is although a lot more machinery can be crammed and used in a ‘small space’ than some think. It might be useful for you to tell us how much space you actually have. Please include the ceiling height, and whether the space has to function for other things like laundry, gardening equipment, cars, cellared wine (LOL), etc.

?

I am almost exclusively a solid wood person. The question of how long a slider you should purchase has a couple of considerations of which manufactured-board processing is only one. A more important question is about the typical size of projects you make. Do you see yourself making Krenov-sized cabinet-on-stand projects, or do you see yourself making king-size bed frames and large dining room tables? Volume is also important. If you only have one large dining room table project to make that’s one thing. But if you see yourself making several dining room tables that’s another. As a solid wood person, the key reason to want a longer slider has to do with straight line ripping. I like to face plane solid timber to 70-80% dressed, then straight line rip, then thickness to 100% on both sides, then select project components on the basis of colour, grain, working around cracks and defects, etc. For that process, I use my sliding tablesaw with 3200mm (10ft) slider all the time for ripping and crosscutting.

?

If I had a 1550mm slider, I’d exceed that ripping length on almost every project I make. This would greatly reduce the usability of the slider as I’d have to rip on the bandsaw more often, and use a track saw, with associated losses of efficiency, satisfaction, accuracy, etc. But short sliders can and do work for many. Maybe you can now see why I’ve asked about the size of your projects because this scenario (of needing a longer table) may not happen ‘on almost every project’ for you.

?

So then, my vote would be to get the longest slider you can afford and fit into your shop. I understand that a 1550mm might be all you can fit. All good. There are NO downsides in my opinion with longer sliders. I came from a long-term user of a Unisaw, to a Kappa 400 sliding table saw with 3200mm slider. Standing to the side is safe and excellent. The table is really not in the way. I perform conventional rips all the time without issue and it is safe to do so (in my opinion) because of the robust overhead saw guard. And the additional weight of the sliding table saw is no big deal. I feared it would be, but using your body to push the outrigger and slider forward, and then your body to pull them back again (using a ‘butt’ bar) is very efficient. If I’m doing a larger amount of small cross-cutting – for example a few thousand kumiko sticks – I will take off the outrigger. The actual momentum of even a large slider like mine is inconsequential (in my opinion). I’ve owned my slider for nearly 10 years and have zero regrets – just make sure you get Mac’s pneumatic clamps!

?

Regarding the Hammer, 500 or 700 series, I’m biased to the 700 series and higher. Is it worth the uptick? I say emphatically yes. However, if the price just doesn’t sit well with you, I’d actually go for the Hammer over the 500 series. The Hammer is very functional and there’s plenty of Hammer owners who make outstanding items. I think it boils down to these factors:

?

• Higher specification machines help you work must faster. Only you can decide if that is worth the additional outlay.
• Higher specifications often have a satisfaction factor. It is nice (but not necessary) to have fancy machinery to use. Only you can put a price on that.

?

And finally, your dado comment is well received. That’s a definite for solid wood work. But the scoring blade? I have it, and I have used it on occasion (like half a dozen times only). But if that’s the difference between moving up a price bracket I’d lose the scoring blade. I’m a hypocrite because I have an independent and powered scoring blade, and even though I don’t use it very often I do wish I had optioned the full 3-axis version. Ha!

?

I hope this helps.

?

M: 0413 013 115

?