Thread: SawStop PCS Info. (And comparison with Harvey)

Weirdly i noticed the Stumpy nubs had featured the Harvey Dovetail in a cool tools video last week 7 of Woodworking's COOLEST tools - YouTube

It does look like and awesome saw in it's own right.

IMO having used the Hi-Lo fence on the baby Harvey c200, it is just so good and beats the fence you have speced on the SS in my opinion

If you're going to spend that amount on a saw you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you don't have a look at the small panel saws available. Lots of advantages over a conventional table saw.

I don't have room for a panel saw but having a track saw and sawstop gets everything done that i've needed to do. I love my Sawstop 36" PCS hasn't missed a beat. I have not set the brake off and I don't plan on it but it's there and that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

Thanks for the replys.
From what I can tell, the Harvey seems as “good” as anything in this price range.
I want something that is accurate and nice to use.
I’m in a position where I have access to a large professional panel saw but don’t want to wear out my welcome next door with every little project. (And even the owner is a little scared of that thing!)

This seems like good (relative) value. Is it t”old” model, does anyone know?
Harvey HW110LGE-30 Table Saw - Bigger Boyz Toyz

Originally Posted by skypig

Thanks for the replys.
From what I can tell, the Harvey seems as “good” as anything in this price range.
I want something that is accurate and nice to use.
I’m in a position where I have access to a large professional panel saw but don’t want to wear out my welcome next door with every little project. (And even the owner is a little scared of that thing!)

This seems like good (relative) value. Is it t”old” model, does anyone know?
Harvey HW110LGE-30 Table Saw - Bigger Boyz Toyz

It's an older model in the range but not the old model... the immediate difference is the trunnion systems, the LGE has the "traditional" style used in cabinet says versus the dovetail version in the S dovetail... whilst many may argue the dovetail is overkill it should be better for accuracy over all on the Z axis (lower/raise). add in that it is a newer model that Harvey has put into the ALPHA series despite the model number similarities. (base on the gregmech photo)

Cheers
Phil

Originally Posted by hurcorh

I don't have room for a panel saw but having a track saw and sawstop gets everything done that i've needed to do. I love my Sawstop 36" PCS hasn't missed a beat. I have not set the brake off and I don't plan on it but it's there and that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

A small short stroke slider foot print takes up less room than a full size cabinet saw if the outrigger is not attached and a lot of owners use it like that. The infeed and outfeed requirements are dictated by what is being cut on either machine. The safety factor is way better on a slider if it is used properly during ripping operations. It used to be that a top end SS was not a lot cheaper than a SS but I think that my have changed. A short stroke slider was sold on here recently for less than a SS and they are beginning to appear quite often these days on the used market.

Originally Posted by skypig

I’m in a position where I have access to a large professional panel saw but don’t want to wear out my welcome next door with every little project. (And even the owner is a little scared of that thing!)

It is usually the other way around, personally having used both for many years and with the advent of new techniques a short stroke slider is safer than a SS. I don't find using full size panel saws very easy to use and for a hobby WW not a good thing at all but anyone who uses a short stroke machine does not go back to a conventional cabinet saw.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

It is usually the other way around, personally having used both for many years and with the advent of new techniques a short stroke slider is safer than a SS. I don't find using full size panel saws very easy to use and for a hobby WW not a good thing at all but anyone who uses a short stroke machine does not go back to a conventional cabinet saw.

Thanks for your input.
Can you give me an example or two of Short Stroke panel saws you’d recommend?
Are there any disadvantages? Things they can’t do, like limited ripping length? (Stroke based?) Though it’s unlikely, I’d assume that with suitable stands, and a helper, you could rip long lengths on a table saw.

Sorry for my ignorance.

If additional safety is your key concern, you will get that with a short stroke slider, but only if you commit to learning how to use it as a slider, and don't simply resort to doing all your rip cuts as though it were a normal cabinet saw, as so many appear to do. If not, get the SawStop, they're great too.

This might be a good place the start Sliding saw shoot out.

Using the Frits and Frans jig (look at YT for many videos) the small sliders are way safer than a SS providing as Lance points out you use it as a slider and not as a cabinet saw with a slider attached. Using the sliding table for ripping is obviously limited but most who own one find that the rip fence is not used very often at all. The biggest danger with table saws is kick back when ripping and ripping on the sliding table removes that danger entirely. Using the F&F jig removes the need for fingers and hands to be anywhere near the blade though obviously it cannot be denied that SS has the added advantage in that regard but getting the hand away from the blade is the real answer.

The sliding table on a SS only pays lip service to the concept and is an eye watering price for an accessory that has limited use. The only criticism I have seen for short stroke sliders comes from the few people who refuse to leave their cabinet saw experience and thinking behind and there is at least one video on YT criticising the concept. Look up Sam Blasco on YT for some clever ideas though he uses a full length machine but the videos are worth watching just to see what can be done especially cutting small stuff safely.

I had that sawstop and sold it. Tables saws dont make sense to me, its like they were never designed for cross cutting originally and manufacturers never altered the ancient design. Mitre gauges are really just an afterthought accessory that they add in. I hated using a cross cut sled and making jigs. some people enjoy shop projects but each to their own. the sliding tables you can get by SS and harvey would be useful but they are very expensive and the sliding mechanism sits so far away from the blade.

I sold my sawstop quite a while ago and the plan is to get a panel saw. I havent been in a rush due to limited shed time. There is a robland E300 on ebay and facebook marketplace I've noticed. Brand new small panel saws will be more expensive but you will save heaps of time

A Sliding table panel saw, in whichever brand or type, is much , much more machine than a sawstop panel saw. They are overpriced and overhyped.

Originally Posted by qwertyu

I had that sawstop and sold it. Tables saws dont make sense to me, its like they were never designed for cross cutting originally and manufacturers never altered the ancient design. Mitre gauges are really just an afterthought accessory that they add in. I hated using a cross cut sled and making jigs. some people enjoy shop projects but each to their own. the sliding tables you can get by SS and harvey would be useful but they are very expensive and the sliding mechanism sits so far away from the blade.

I sold my sawstop quite a while ago and the plan is to get a panel saw. I havent been in a rush due to limited shed time. There is a robland E300 on ebay and facebook marketplace I've noticed. Brand new small panel saws will be more expensive but you will save heaps of time

theres a Prima on marketplace for about $2k, i saw it last night.

I just had a look on marketplace and can only find a 2500 (the guy wants 7500 for it LOL) and a 3200 ($4200) both comes with extractors - can you send a link?