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  1. #1
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    Default Help selecting Vertical Panel Saw or Table Saw

    Hi,

    I'm wanting to get either a vertical panel saw or table saw for cutting 2400mm x 1200mm plywood panels, ranging in thickness from 3mm to 25mm.
    I would classify myself as novice. I live in the Coffs Harbour region
    Current projects that I have in mind are: wardrobe, desk, bedside table.

    So far in my research I haven't found many vertical panel saws under $3000.00
    The benefits I see in getting a VPS are: safety, cuts should be square and straight, small foot print, operate easily with one person.
    Downsides are cost and they aren't able to do everything a table saw can do.

    Only found one VPS in my price range
    Panel Pro Vertical Panel Saw. I would want to get upper and lower extensions, rulers, wheels and dust kit, so basically all the options.
    $2,315.00 + options + shipping
    https://www.gregmach.com/product/panel-pro/

    Table saws I am looking at:
    Harvey HW110LGE-50
    $2,895.00 + shipping
    https://www.majorwoodworking.com.au/...itional_tabbed

    HARVEY HW110LGE-30 would need to get/make a longer fence rail
    $2,199.00 + shipping (can get 5% or 10% off using promo code)
    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HARVEY-H...53.m1438.l2649

    If you can give your opinions as to which you would think would best suit my needs or give alternatives.

    Also looking at getting one of these dust extractors from gasweld (local pick-up)
    1HP: https://www.gasweld.com.au/all-produ.../530636-toolex
    Dc-3 2Hp W394: https://www.gasweld.com.au/all-produ...-w394-w394-har
    2HP: https://www.gasweld.com.au/all-produ.../530637-toolex

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Thornton NSW
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    Default

    The low end vertical saws aren’t really precise enough for furniture making, imho. They’re more intended for construction job sites, cutting down braceboard etc. Quoted accuracy for squareness on SSC saws is 0.8mm over 1200mm, which isn’t square. You’d be better off with a track saw from Makita or Bosch.

    Conversely, the 10” cabinet saws you’re looking at are less suited for breaking down plywood sheets than a panel saw. For similar money to the Harvey saws you can buy a small panel saw with sliding table - at the lower price point, a Woodfast TS250 with 10” blade and at the higher point a 12” saw with scriber and a 1.6 or 1.8 metre sliding table. Leda or Hare and Forbes have similar products for this around $2800.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
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    Helensburgh
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    7,696

    Default

    Many people have made their own vertical panel saw with good results.

    https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...ical+panel+saw
    CHRIS

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Bonville
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    Default

    Thanks for your advice.

    Looking around at various panel saws I should be able to fit one of these three saws.

    HAFCO ST-254PT: $2035.00 + shipping
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/K053#product-tabs

    HAFCO PS-1810: $2849.00 + shipping
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W700

    LEDA PS-12: $2992.00 + shipping (couldn't find the floor space on their website, so not sure if it will fit)
    https://www.ledamachinery.com.au/led...le-panel-saw/#

    Not sure of the pros/cons of each saw.

  6. #5
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    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Don't bother with a 1hp extractor, you might as well throw the money straight in the bin and cut out the middle man.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Mornington Peninsula
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    2,741

    Default

    I have the previous model to the PS-1810 (PS-1805) and have great difficulty setting up the accuracy for panels. It just doesn't seem to hold the angles square on panels - but then again, it could just be me.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
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    back in Alberta for a while
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by woodnoob01 View Post
    I'm wanting to get either a vertical panel saw or table saw for cutting 2400mm x 1200mm plywood panels, ranging in thickness from 3mm to 25mm.
    I would classify myself as novice. I live in the Coffs Harbour region
    Current projects that I have in mind are: wardrobe, desk, bedside table.

    So far in my research I haven't found many vertical panel saws under $3000.00
    IMO you are wasting your money.
    none of the options you are considering will break down a 25 mm thick sheet of ply with edges square enough to produce a square end product.
    You will need to spend a whole lot more if the intent is square off the saw.

    IMO, for breaking sheets down it is hard to beat a track saw.

    If you look at the festool system -- track saw, multi function table, angle guide, etc -- you will see how you, with suitable jigging, you can cut square and to size.
    It is not as fast or as convenient as using a Euro sliding panel saw, but it's almost an order of magnitude less expensive.

    Note -- I'm recommending you only look at first to see how rails and stops can be got to work together to give you square corners.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    se Melbourne
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    Default

    Here is a suggestion that follow up on a few other posts.
    Have a look at getting a track saw and track https://www.idealtools.com.au/festoo...-fs-by-festool with some form of dust extractor https://www.idealtools.com.au/festoo...ust-extractors and also a guide rail square https://www.carbatec.com.au/tso-grs-16
    So far for Festool it is $1089 for the saw and one rail, $926 for a 15l dust extractor (and cleaning set) and $285 for the guide rail square. So far you would have spent $2300. This still leave $700 to buy other things such as another guide rail, eg 2.7m for $615 or if you prefer, another 1.4m rail for $215 (on special for $150) and some joiners and clamps. You would still be under $3000 and be able to cut ply cleanly and depending on your skill, square and accurately.
    Yes you could buy another make, or different models eg a bigger or smaller dust extractor and still be in front. All of the above can be ordered and delivered to your door.

    I have chosen Festool as that is what I have. I also have not allowed for a cutting table as all that requires is a couple of saw horses and an old door.

    This set up does not take up much floor space and can easily be moved or transported. Good luck with what ever you choose.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Thornton NSW
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by woodnoob01 View Post
    Thanks for your advice.

    Looking around at various panel saws I should be able to fit one of these three saws.

    HAFCO ST-254PT: $2035.00 + shipping
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/K053#product-tabs

    HAFCO PS-1810: $2849.00 + shipping
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W700

    LEDA PS-12: $2992.00 + shipping (couldn't find the floor space on their website, so not sure if it will fit)
    https://www.ledamachinery.com.au/led...le-panel-saw/#

    Not sure of the pros/cons of each saw.
    The ST254 is a cabinet saw like the Harvey, but with an accessory sliding table. The other two are basically the same as each other but with different spec. The Hafco has a longer slider and a bigger motor which requires 15A power. The Leda will need slightly less length because of the shorter slide travel, and should require a standard 10A outlet. They are both 12" blade which gives a greater depth of cut than the 254PT and the other 10" saws you considered, and both have a scoring blade which reduces chip out on laminated panels. It's also good for reducing tear out on ply and timbers like meranti. The cabinet saws would require zero clearance inserts around the blade, but also can give a good result.

    The main limitation of the panel saws is that the slider runs alongside the blade, so you can't fit a dado blade set for cutting grooves and rabbets like you can on a 10" cabinet saw like the ST254. But they will do just about everything else you use a saw for.

    I'm kind of sorry I mentioned the track saw as an option, because while it can do many of the cuts of a table saw, you are limited by depth of cut and have to set up for every cut because you take the saw to the wood not the wood to the saw. Yes, you can make jigs and stops to work around that but if you've got to do that to get the ease and repeatability of a stationary tool then you may as well buy the stationary tool designed to do it. And I'm not convinced you'd save money by the time you've got a setup close to what the stationary saws will do. For the Festool that Handyjack mentioned, the MFT table with short crosscut rail and angle guide and stops is $1335, plus the saw at over a thousand, plus a long rail for ripping boards and you're in the same ballpark. They are brilliant for finish carpenters and other onsite trades who need portability and accuracy, but if you don't need that portability there's better value in the others.

  11. #10
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    back in Alberta for a while
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by woodnoob01 View Post
    Looking around at various panel saws I should be able to fit one of these three saws.

    HAFCO ST-254PT: $2035.00 + shipping
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/K053#product-tabs

    • 560 x 800mm cast iron table
    • 1170 x 800mm with side extensions
    • 254mm saw blade
    • 100mm dust collector port -- BobL recommends that this be opened out to 150 mm
    • 75mm depth of cut at 90º
    • 60mm depth of cut at 45º
    • 2.2kW / 3hp, 240V induction motor
    • heavy duty rip fence with micro-adjustment, operated left or right of blade
    • Sliding Table (W487)
      • 1500mm sliding travel -- essentially enough to cross cut a full sheet. Far to short for ripping a 2400 mm long sheet.
      • 500 x 400mm aluminium table
      • Aluminium rail with steel guides & roller bearings
      • Includes mitre guide, work clamp & flip over stop


    HAFCO PS-1810: $2849.00 + shipping
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W700

    • 820 x 800mm Precision ground cast iron main table
    • 1260 x 800mm with extensions
    • 315mm saw blade
    • 90mm scribe blade
    • 3kW / 4hp 240V motor
    • Enclosed cabinet stand with 100mm dust chute -- see above
    • 1240mm ripping capacity
    • 2280mm cross cut with adjustable flip over stop -- this is less than the length of a 2400 mm sheet of ply
    • sliding table
      • extruded aluminium slide
      • 1800 x 270mm wide table
      • Table extensions on right and rear side of main table permits convenient cutting for large panels
      • Includes mitre guide, push stick and overhead guard

    The sliding table's travel is not stated, but at a guess it's enough to cross-cut a full sheet.

    LEDA PS-12: $2992.00 + shipping (couldn't find the floor space on their website, so not sure if it will fit)
    https://www.ledamachinery.com.au/led...le-panel-saw/#

    • 315mm saw blade
    • 90mm scribe blade
    • 3kW / 4hp 240V motor
    • 1250mm ripping capacity
    • 2280mm cross cut with adjustable flip over stop
    • sliding table
      • extruded aluminium slide
      • 1600 x 270mm wide table
    Seriously I don't think any of those saws will do what you say you want it to do -- make accurate full length rip cuts in 2400 x1200 ply up to 25 mm thick, and then use that edge to make square cross cuts.

    Whilst I'm not pushing a track saw per see...
    If your primary intent is a saw for working with sheet materials, I think you would be better off, cost wise, buying a DeWalt 700 series saw and building it into your own table. The DeWalt (with the right blade) will have more than enough power to cut manufactured boards up to 35 mm thick.
    Your shop made extension wings and out feed table can be sized to support a full sheet of ply.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  12. #11
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    Apr 2012
    Location
    Thornton NSW
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    Ian, you're over complicating it. Even a sliding panel saw with only a 1200mm travel slider can rip cut a 2400 panel to get a reference edge, because they have a rip fence. You can still crosscut a panel longer than the crosscut fence stops allow, by using the rip fence to set the cut width, put your panel on the slider up to the rip fence, clamp it to the slider and move the rip fence out of the way. With euro style fences you can remove the aluminium rip fence without moving the fence knuckle, so you have repeatability for that process. It takes a different thought process to get the most out of a sliding panel saw but once you do, you understand what you've been missing out on for all those years without one.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Bonville
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    I think I might go with a Makita tracksaw and get a table saw later down the line.
    Looking at Makita SP6000JT
    https://sydneytools.com.au/makita-sp6000jt-1300w-165mm-6-1-2-plunge-cut-circular-track-saw

    I think going with a panel saw will be inconvenient in relation to space.

  14. #13
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    Apr 2012
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    Thornton NSW
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    Default

    The Makita is a good choice, best value kit is the JT2 with two 1.4m rails, joiners and clamps. The other one I reckon is with a look is the Bosch GKT55GCE, because it's a quality saw with a great rail system. Bosch have the FSN-WAN rail which makes it easy to cut accurate cross cuts and mitres. But it's not a must have. Some high quality measuring and marking tools are, regardless of what you use.

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