slider easily handles the ripping, crosscutting and tapering task more efficiently and with fewer set-ups. The large T-slot in the middle of the sliding table allows clamps to secure the work to the table or to secure a guide such as required for cutting tapers. I’m finding that the pile of jigs I used in the past has been replaced with the slider and the crosscut stop system. The heavy-duty outrigger table combined with a stop easily replaces my radial arm saw for long cross cuts and with an accuracy that a radial saw owner could only dream of. All of my crosscuts are now dead-on no matter how long or how wide the stock is. What a pleasure!
Accuracy is probably the biggest reason for moving up to a slider. These machines are designed for handling large pieces of stock and processing the pieces accurately and efficiently. In the old days,
I would rough-cut boards on the radial saw to get them to a manageable size for a second more accurate cut to be made on my table or miter saw. How efficient is it to keep handling material over and over? Now I handle it once and then move on. Without exaggerating, I would say that I get twice as much work done as I used to. First, and perhaps most important, is that it gets done right the first time. Secondly I move material much less because I’m using one machine, not five.
Another factor that helps my efficiency is a change in the mental process. Although most people think that creativity is problem solving, another perception is that it is problem finding. If you can find the problem, it is easier to create a good solution. Rather than spending mental energy (and some anxiety) on the rote processes of cutting pieces to size, I can now spend more time looking at the
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grain and enjoying the creative process. Remember how much energy and concentration it took when you were first learning how to drive? Now, I feel like I can relax and enjoy the woodworking ride.
Another reason for a slider is safety. Though undeniably handy, the table saw also has its dark side. It is responsible for more injuries than any other woodworking machine. Many of those injuries, particularly those caused by kickback, can be traced directly to an incorrectly adjusted saw, no guard or bad technique. The slider design changes the way the material is cut. With the standard saw the material is guided through the blade by the rip fence or the miter gauge. Often, the operator leans over the blade and gets into other awkward positions. A large slider is a much safer piece of equipment because the wood rests on the table and the table is pushed rather than the work piece. n
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