Replies

1. 
   SCFrankland | Dec 22, 2003 04:20am | #1

   I looked at the Excaliber at a recient wood show and found it to be well made and even worth the $800 CDN price tag. I myself will be looking at it again in the new year for cutting up sheet goods. It felt solid and the slides had no play in them and the whole unit seemed pretty solid.

   Scott C. Frankland

   Scott's WOODWORKING Website

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

2. 
   chrisindiana | Dec 22, 2003 06:01am | #2

   John I have been using an Excaliber for 9 years. It is one of the best purchases I ever made.

1. 
   JMartinsky | Dec 22, 2003 07:14am | #3

   Chris,

   What model do you use? The one that I would be interested in would be for cross cutting sheets. I know that there is a 60" model, but I don't really get the rationale behind that. Additionally, I only have the one cabinet saw, so I will need to be able to rip in addition to cross cutting. Is the fence a pain to remove? Does the table lock in place? What about heavy stuff like 1" or better MDF. (100 lbs or so).

   Thanks!

   John

1. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 22, 2003 07:25am | #4

   >> ... I don't really get the rationale behind that.

   Some European plywood comes in 1.5 meter squares, 59+ inches.

2. 
   SgianDubh | Dec 22, 2003 11:17am | #5

   To add to what Uncle Dunc said, a 5' X 10' or a 4' X 10' piece of ply or MDF, etc., is quite common and used often enough by those making commercial joinery--- bank, shop fittings, etc., so a 5' cross cut capability is more than useful. My memory may be playing tricks, but I seem to recall the largest piece of man made board I've cut up was 6' X 12', but that was many years ago.

   Some time ago I toured an MDF manufacturing plant, and prior to cutting the large panels into consumer friendly sizes with a series of automated  saws cutting from below (if memory serves me right)  the panel was something like 16.5' X 32.5'. I suppose in theory, and if your custom order was big enough, the manufacturer could cut panels into something like 4' X 32' to suit your purpose, ha, ha. Slainte.Website

3. 
   chrisindiana | Dec 23, 2003 12:57am | #7

   John,

   I have the EXSLT60 model. I can cross cut a 37" wide panel with the fence at the front of the table. To cross cut between 37" & 62" the fence is installed at the rear of the saw.  The fence is very easy to put on & take off. Only takes a few seconds. To change the fence between front & rear use takes a little more time. Still less than a minute.

   Chris   

1. 
   JMartinsky | Dec 23, 2003 02:01am | #8

   I appretiate your time on this, Chris. Is that the "largest" size? I am concerned about having a large area taken up by the slide.

   Thanks,

   John

1. 
   chrisindiana | Dec 23, 2003 04:59am | #9

   John,

   Yes I have the largest size. It does take up alot of floor space. For me it was worth giving up the floor space for the accuracy & time savings in cutting case parts to size.

   Chris  

3. 
   john | Dec 22, 2003 12:11pm | #6

   There's another reason why a long traverse is useful on a sliding table- it's great for truing up a length of hardwood before ripping it. Take a board with a distinct curve on both edges. Clamp it to the table so that the blade will make contact with it the whole length, run it though and there you have a straight edge to run agaoinst your rip fence. I do this all the time with waney-edged boards on my 1.8metre sliding table Electra Bekum BTW

   John