Sliding Table for Unisaw
 

Can anyone recommend a good sliding table attachment to go with a Delta
Unisaw? Delta sells one (model 34-555) for about $350, but I'm not nuts
about having to cut the front and back rails of the Biesemeyer fence. Maybe
that's the only way to attach any sliding table to this saw, but it seems
like a lousy solution at first glance.

I like the idea of a sliding table over a crosscut sled or panel cutting
jig, but I'll use one of those if there's no optimal sliding table option.

Thanks for you opinions.

-m

Sliding Table for Unisaw
 

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 16:29:06 -0700, "Mike Pio"
wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good sliding table attachment to go with a Delta
Unisaw? Delta sells one (model 34-555) for about $350, but I'm not nuts
about having to cut the front and back rails of the Biesemeyer fence. Maybe
that's the only way to attach any sliding table to this saw, but it seems
like a lousy solution at first glance.

I like the idea of a sliding table over a crosscut sled or panel cutting
jig, but I'll use one of those if there's no optimal sliding table option.

Thanks for you opinions.

-m



with some fiddling you can move the rails over rather than cutting
them.

David Eisan fitted an (I think) Dewalt slider to his unisaw and was
happy with it. you might ping him or search the archives for his posts
about it....

Sliding Table for Unisaw
 

i have the excalibur slider on my general... it's.. ok. i'm not
thrilled, but also not entirely disappointed. once it's aligned, it
works well. but it's sensitive. if i had to do it over again, i'd
probably buy a few fence extrusions, flipstops and tapes, and make a few
killer sleds.

i hope i didn't just make your decision more difficult.

---- dz


Mike Pio wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good sliding table attachment to go with a Delta
Unisaw? Delta sells one (model 34-555) for about $350, but I'm not nuts
about having to cut the front and back rails of the Biesemeyer fence. Maybe
that's the only way to attach any sliding table to this saw, but it seems
like a lousy solution at first glance.

I like the idea of a sliding table over a crosscut sled or panel cutting
jig, but I'll use one of those if there's no optimal sliding table option.

Thanks for you opinions.

-m

Sliding Table for Unisaw
 

I too have the Excalibur. I have the largest version that can handle
full 4x8 sheet goods. Unlike the previous poster, I've been very happy
with mine. Setting it up wasn't too bad and it hasn't been
"sensitive". I check my fence for square everytime I put it back on
and if an adjustment is necessary it takes all of 3 or 4 seconds. I'd
replace mine if given the need. I did a lot of research prior to
getting the Excalibur too. It still seems like the best "add on"
sliding table to me.

Neil

Sliding Table for Unisaw
 

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 16:29:06 -0700, "Mike Pio"
wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good sliding table attachment to go with a Delta
Unisaw? Delta sells one (model 34-555) for about $350, but I'm not nuts
about having to cut the front and back rails of the Biesemeyer fence.
Maybe
that's the only way to attach any sliding table to this saw, but it seems
like a lousy solution at first glance.

I like the idea of a sliding table over a crosscut sled or panel cutting
jig, but I'll use one of those if there's no optimal sliding table option.

Thanks for you opinions.

-m



with some fiddling you can move the rails over rather than cutting
them.

Wouldn't that throw off the factory-installed tape scale also? I guess that
would have to be replaced as well?

Instead, is it possible to beef up the side of the saw cabinet so that the
sliding table could be mounted further to the left? I wonder how difficult
that would be with simple metal fabrication tools?


David Eisan fitted an (I think) Dewalt slider to his unisaw and was
happy with it. you might ping him or search the archives for his posts
about it....

Sliding Table for Unisaw
 

"toolguy" wrote in message
oups.com...
I too have the Excalibur. I have the largest version that can handle
full 4x8 sheet goods. Unlike the previous poster, I've been very happy
with mine. Setting it up wasn't too bad and it hasn't been
"sensitive". I check my fence for square everytime I put it back on
and if an adjustment is necessary it takes all of 3 or 4 seconds. I'd
replace mine if given the need. I did a lot of research prior to
getting the Excalibur too. It still seems like the best "add on"
sliding table to me.

Neil


Do you have this one on the Unisaw? If so, did you need to modify the fence
system (or anything else on the saw) to install it? I went to the
manufacturer's web site. This table seems quite large. When not needed, is
it easy to remove and store? How long would you say it takes to re-install
and breakdown when not in use? Does it store flat?

Sliding Table for Unisaw
 

I have this on a General. They are very similar saws. You could mill
the end of your left wing to accept it without removing it but the
point to removing it is to have the slider closer to the blade and
hence, more accurate and more useful for miters. Can you not just
loosen and slide your existing rails down the table (to the right)?
That's what I did with my Excalibur rails. Works fine. The table is
very large. They offer 2 smaller versions if it's too big for you. I
am lucky to have a big shop space. These items, with very few
exceptions, are not taken apart for quick storage. They are heavy and
designed to stay put. You could take it apart but it wouldn't be quick
and easy. You'd end up either leaving it on or off. You'd definitely
leave it on if you have the space. The miter fence on these units pops
on and off lickity-split so when you're not using the slider it becomes
a big side table. After all, it's dead-on flush with the top of your
saw. That's a great feature when you're ripping sheets or other large
surfaces. If you have the space for one, you won't regret it. Just
plan to leave it on. Get the biggest slider your space will afford.

Neil

Sliding Table for Unisaw
 

Mike Pio wrote:
Do you have this one on the Unisaw? If so, did you need to modify the fence
system (or anything else on the saw) to install it? I went to the
manufacturer's web site. This table seems quite large. When not needed, is
it easy to remove and store? How long would you say it takes to re-install
and breakdown when not in use? Does it store flat?

I've got the 40" Excalibur sliding table on a Unisaw with a Unifence.
My first 'production' cut with the sliding table was to saw about 7"
off the left end of the Unifence front rail extrusion (using a
non-ferrous blade). I thought about redrilling the mounting holes and
sliding the front rail 7" to the right, but then it would have stuck
out from the end of the side table, and who needs 57" rip capacity
anyway?

The Excalibur table could come off easily, but unless you drilled and
put dowel pins in the joints it would require realignment when it got
put back on. Exactor makes a copy of the Excalibur table with a
special quick attach bracket that maintains alignment, and they
advertise you can put a matching bracket on your shaper to move the
table to it when you want.

If you did take it off, the legs unbolt and I think the table/rails
could probably store in a 6" wide space, but I've never tried this.

As another poster mentioned, however, when you're not using the sliding
function, just lock the table in place (it has a lock lever) and you
have a large flat table extension to the left of the blade. I've never
felt the need to remove the slider.

I work alone in my shop and I love the sliding table. You still have
to wrestle a sheet of plywood onto the saw, but you make perfect cuts
with fingertip pressure once you're there. I also find I don't use the
miter gauge very much anymore -- the sliding table is so convenient for
all but the littlest parts. I wouldn't give it up.

Good luck,

Tim

Sliding Table for Unisaw
 

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 19:41:12 -0700, "Mike Pio"
wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 16:29:06 -0700, "Mike Pio"
wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good sliding table attachment to go with a Delta
Unisaw? Delta sells one (model 34-555) for about $350, but I'm not nuts
about having to cut the front and back rails of the Biesemeyer fence.
Maybe
that's the only way to attach any sliding table to this saw, but it seems
like a lousy solution at first glance.

I like the idea of a sliding table over a crosscut sled or panel cutting
jig, but I'll use one of those if there's no optimal sliding table option.

Thanks for you opinions.

-m



with some fiddling you can move the rails over rather than cutting
them.

Wouldn't that throw off the factory-installed tape scale also? I guess that
would have to be replaced as well?

yep. prolly cost you $8.00



Instead, is it possible to beef up the side of the saw cabinet so that the
sliding table could be mounted further to the left? I wonder how difficult
that would be with simple metal fabrication tools?

I don't know the specifics of that slider, but the hardware might have
to be pretty stout, and it will move the mechanism further from the
blade which will magnify any slop in the bearings and affect how jigs
and close clearance stuff fits. might work fine, I don't know.





David Eisan fitted an (I think) Dewalt slider to his unisaw and was
happy with it. you might ping him or search the archives for his posts
about it....

Sliding Table for Unisaw
 

On 28 Oct 2005 08:26:45 -0700, wrote:

Mike Pio wrote:
Do you have this one on the Unisaw? If so, did you need to modify the fence
system (or anything else on the saw) to install it? I went to the
manufacturer's web site. This table seems quite large. When not needed, is
it easy to remove and store? How long would you say it takes to re-install
and breakdown when not in use? Does it store flat?

I've got the 40" Excalibur sliding table on a Unisaw with a Unifence.
My first 'production' cut with the sliding table was to saw about 7"
off the left end of the Unifence front rail extrusion (using a
non-ferrous blade). I thought about redrilling the mounting holes and
sliding the front rail 7" to the right, but then it would have stuck
out from the end of the side table, and who needs 57" rip capacity
anyway?

me. I made mine 50" and a bunch of times have wished I'd made it 60"




The Excalibur table could come off easily, but unless you drilled and
put dowel pins in the joints it would require realignment when it got
put back on. Exactor makes a copy of the Excalibur table with a
special quick attach bracket that maintains alignment, and they
advertise you can put a matching bracket on your shaper to move the
table to it when you want.

If you did take it off, the legs unbolt and I think the table/rails
could probably store in a 6" wide space, but I've never tried this.

As another poster mentioned, however, when you're not using the sliding
function, just lock the table in place (it has a lock lever) and you
have a large flat table extension to the left of the blade. I've never
felt the need to remove the slider.

I work alone in my shop and I love the sliding table. You still have
to wrestle a sheet of plywood onto the saw, but you make perfect cuts
with fingertip pressure once you're there. I also find I don't use the
miter gauge very much anymore -- the sliding table is so convenient for
all but the littlest parts. I wouldn't give it up.

Good luck,

Tim