Replies

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Oct 29, 2003 08:54am | #1

   Darren

      You might re-word your post. I am confused what you are asking. If you have access to Excalibur (which is excellent) at a reasonable price, why are you considering Laguna and Exacta at a higher price and have to pay customs. (I assume you would purchase in the U.S.)

      You stated all you need is 49"and that's all you need. Is that cross-cut width? If's that's all you need and you're sure of that (even down the road) it sounds like you don't need more than 49". But I may be confused as to what your actually asking.

   sarge..jt

1. 
   SledBC | Oct 29, 2003 01:54pm | #2

   I'm wondering if the excalibur is worth buying, and if the larger table is easier to use, even though they claim the smaller table is capable of cutting 49", how good of a job does it do? Would I be better to get the larger table simply for ease of use? Or is it garbage and not worth buying the Excalibur at all?

   Edited 10/29/2003 7:04:59 AM ET by SledBC

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Oct 29, 2003 05:50pm | #5

   SledBC

      If you have never used a slider and you do large panels or just cut very wide cross-cuts, as Rick and Terry stated -"YES". Once you use a slider, you'll wonder why all saws don't come with them engineerd to the saw.

      Hopefully from our three answers you have an idea of where to go from here. Good luck with the decision.

   sarge..jt

2. 
   rslatm | Oct 29, 2003 02:44pm | #3

   Yes...definitely worth having a slider.  The wider one is nice for cutting angles on 4 x 8's. In hindsight it wood be better to purchase a dedicated slider but for the add on it's a good unit.  The Laguna is nice but a lot smaller capacity but a step up for many.
3. 
   TerryH | Oct 29, 2003 03:42pm | #4

   Darren,

   The Exaktor and Excalibur are pretty clost to the same. Both units were designed by the same person. The Exaktor has stainless steel rails and the Excalibur has painted steel rails. That is the only difference that I know of anyway.

   I have the Exaktor EX26X. It is the smaller (18") wide table with the long rails. It will cross cut 50" with the fence at the rear.

   Here is a link to the Exaktor review on my site:

   http://www.terryhatfield.com/exaktor.html

   The sliding table has been great. I use it all the time and have been very satisfied with it.

   Terry

   Registered Shopaholic

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/29/2003 8:43:49 AM ET by Terry H

   
1. 
   SledBC | Oct 29, 2003 06:54pm | #6

   Thank you for your replies, Nice shop too Terry :) How is the smaller table for cutting full 4x8 sheets? Is it awkward? I'm just wondering if i should buy the larger table and sacrifice the extra floor space or not. I'll mostly be using it for cutting up sheets of melamine and MDF by myself.

1. 
   TerryH | Oct 30, 2003 05:48am | #7

   Darren,

   Thanks, the shop and the website have been labors of love. I really enjoyed putting both together.

   If I were cutting full sheets on a regular basis, I would probably get the larger table. I use mine more for squaring tops and such. I still cut 4X8 sheets on the Exaktor and the extensions on the table do a good job, but I'm sure the large table would be even easier. Especially if you are doing melamine and mdf by yourself!!

   I agonized over the same choice my self for months. I came up with this little test. It convinced me that the smaller table was really what I needed. I took an 18 X 18 box and set it in the floor by the TS where the slider would go. After walking around it for a few weeks, I moved it out 18 more inches to simulate what the large table would be like. I realized the big table was just too big, atleast for me. It's a long way around that thing!!!:-)

   Honestly, I have a bad back and I usually rough cut full sheets of mdf with a circular saw and then finish to exact size with the slider. Getting a full sheet of mdf onto either table would be more that I would want to do on a regular basis.

   Terry

   Registered Shopaholic

   Edited 10/29/2003 10:48:50 PM ET by Terry H

1. 
   SledBC | Oct 30, 2003 06:21am | #8

   Well I can handle the weight of the sheets, I've already cut many in half on the table saw myself with no sliding table. I noticed you left the stock table extention on the saw, rather than remove it. When using the fence diagonally does it come close enough to the blade to do a good job on shorter stock? If I get the larger table I would definitely remove the extention, but then I would have to cut a sizeable chunk off of my unifence rail, which frightens me to a certain extent. The brochure for the Excalibur says the small fence takes up 29" to the left of the saw and the large one is 34", so I think 5" is probably not much to worry about.

   I don't think the excalibur has those nice extention rails like yours does, so maybe I need the larger one.....can someone decide for me please? :)

1. 
   TerryH | Oct 30, 2003 06:44am | #9

   Darren,

   I did not want to loose the left of blade capability of my fence You are correct, the miter function does not work very well if you leave the wing on. The pivot point of the fence is too far away from the blade. It does work, but is a bit awkward. I bought the slider to cut square panels. I use the SCMS for most of my miters.

   I didn't realize the the Excalibur "small" table was that wide. The Exaktor is just 18". Made the difference for me. If the Excalibur does not have the slide out supports, the big table would be a must for full sheets.

   TerryRegistered Shopaholic

2. 
   SledBC | Oct 30, 2003 07:54am | #10

   I don't think I ever have used the left of blade fence mount, possibly, but i don't remember....maybe when building the subwoofer box for my truck? Don't laugh it was quite a peice of work haha.... I really can't decide, I am thinking though maybe get the larger table, remove the left portion of my saw table and cut my fence rail. I use my saw mostly for building cabinets and assorted other carpentry things...ripping level strip for formwork, sizing cedar fascias before running them through the planer...that sort of thing. I have 2 kitchens to build this winter, the reason I'm looking into this now.

   here's my sub box laying on my shop floor....it was actually a lot of work haha

   View Image

   And in my truck....

    View ImageView ImageSeriously though, I need this table and it's kicking my behind trying to decide.

   Edited 10/30/2003 12:57:45 AM ET by SledBC

   Edited 10/30/2003 12:58:49 AM ET by SledBC

4. 
   hammer1 | Oct 30, 2003 08:58am | #11

   Owned the large Excaliber. Takes up a lot of room on the left extending back and forward. Bumping the leg will throw things off. Placing the fence at an angle is a pain. Very rinky dink. Accuracy is so so. No dependable detants to set up with, you have to fiddle with squares and angles. Big honkin' mess permanently attached to your saw hemming in the operator. All in all I would not buy again.

1. 
   riverr1 | Oct 30, 2003 03:44pm | #12

   I put the big exaktor on my General this summer. Like Hammer says, every adustment of the fence requires checking the angles. Repeatabililty is poor. Buying from Exaktor was a nightmare for me starting with BS on shipping dates, and where it was being shipped from. I finally just got some of the parts for the table 2 weeks ago(the stick on measuring tape, and the extrusion for it), and I'm convinced it took a threat of the CC company to get what was missing, and actually, some of the small parts I never did get. I was also told to look at Terry Hatfields web site, and what do you see? He was sent the wrong table from the get go also. I won't buy from the guy again. Get the excalibur and save some headache.

1. 
   TerryH | Oct 30, 2003 06:59pm | #13

   Don,

   Yup, there was a problem with the original purchase. I felt it necessary to document the problem for my review to be an honest and acurate one. Exaktor shipped the short rails instead of the long rails. The problem was corrected in a few days. They sent the long rails and told me just to keep the short ones. Honestly, not a big deal to me. I know that they have had measuring tape and tape insert trouble. Not sure of the problem. Phil worked with me on the trouble, but I agree that this sort of thing is not good practice. I'm still quite happy with the purchase, but I did have to do some calling to get the correct items.

   I have had no trouble with repeatability on the table I have. The 90 deg. stops for the fence have not had to be adjusted since original setup and remin dead on. As I said before, I only use the table at 90 degrees, so I can't speak for the miter repeatablilty.

   TerryRegistered Shopaholic