| Project by jack1 | posted 1098 days ago | 1978 views | 1 time favorited | 18 comments |  |
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In a weak moment a couple of years ago, I bought a panel saw… Actually, it was because of needing extra strength that I got one since I always had to have a friend come by and help me hoist up those heavy 4’x8’ panels of 3/4” oak onto my table saw so I could cut them. I did try to use those clamp-on straight edges and they do work somewhat but, cutting consistently was difficult at best. I got the Milwaukee with the 3 1/2 hp saw, hold-downs, extra length bottom rails to roll the sheet goods on, the measuring jig and wheels (still not too easy to move but better than nothing).
It did cut well and you could minimize the tear out on the edge of sheet goods with the use of painter’s tape to a certain extent. I figured that there had to be a better less time consuming solution. I decided to try a finer blade with more precision. The problem was to try and find a 8 1/4” blade to fill this need! I finally found a Freud 8 1/2” 60 tooth laser cut blade that’s much like their premium line. It is made for miter saws. As you can see in the 3rd picture, I had to “modify” the frame opening because the Freud is 1/4” wider than the Milwaukee blade and it was touching that frame. I used my Makita saws-all to cut out a groove to accommodate the extra blade diameter. It runs like a champ and it’s quieter.
The milwaukee came with a 40 tooth blade and, was like I said, ok. Ok if you are just cutting plywood for construction, gang cutting 2×4’s etc. It was not ok if you are working with expensive or thin ply as in the last two pictures. The first was cut with the milwaukee blade and the second was cut was with the Freud. Night and day! Not only are the cuts within 1/32” on the longest of cuts but they are very smooth without ripped or ragged edges.
-- jack -- ...measure once, curse twice!
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18 comments so far
a1Jim
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87312 posts in 1749 days
#1 posted 1098 days ago
good fix
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
NormG
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2580 posts in 1175 days
#2 posted 1098 days ago
Excellent idea.
-- Norman
patron
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12071 posts in 1513 days
#3 posted 1098 days ago
jealousy is all i can think of .
good fix !
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
studie
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604 posts in 1318 days
#4 posted 1098 days ago
I was lucky to buy a Safety Seed Cut panel saw a few years ago for $625. It has the 3HS worm-drive motor and is about 10 feet long. Super clean condition too from a contractor going out of business. I had to go look at my blade and it’s a Freud 8” 62 tooth industrial, no mod’s needed but about $100. The saw case says 8” only and I wonder if I could have used a 8 1/4 instead. Just like my rockwell Super 900 I spent $100 on a rare 9” blade! No worries the both cut like a scalpel so I’m happy now for years of fine cuts. The panel saw an amazing time and back saver, not to mention you can have the Kid use it and always have square cuts!
Oh Yeah the thing cuts horizontal sweet, but like mine even with a long wheelbase is still not as good as with the Festool tracksaw just faster. Big production for medium shops, just have a cart at both ends!
-- $tudie
mafe
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8057 posts in 1261 days
#5 posted 1098 days ago
Wauu, thats a saw, nice fix. (I love the name on the blade).
-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
Woodwrecker
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3008 posts in 1747 days
#6 posted 1098 days ago
I have a panel saw…..in my dreams….
(Smart fix)
-- Eric
Beginningwoodworker
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13225 posts in 1844 days
#7 posted 1098 days ago
Nice idea, I would love to own a panel saw but I have no room for one.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
HamrickWoodwright
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52 posts in 1100 days
#8 posted 1098 days ago
sounds like a good idea I have the exact same panel saw collecting dust in my shop haha
jack1
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1810 posts in 2199 days
#9 posted 1098 days ago
The Milwaukee also cuts horizontally. There is a neat kit for doing cuts at waist height too but all that stuff is spendy like the dust collector kit. By the way, in the picture I have the blade in 180° wrong! I realized it after trying a practice cut. It was better than the old blade but not as good as when I put the blade in correctly! LOL
P.S.
Still cheaper than a CNC and not much more than the Festool… ;0)
-- jack -- ...measure once, curse twice!
patron
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12071 posts in 1513 days
#10 posted 1097 days ago
practice makes perfect !
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
jack1
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1810 posts in 2199 days
#11 posted 1097 days ago
not too perfect. I know what happens to people that are too perfect…
-- jack -- ...measure once, curse twice!
patron
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12071 posts in 1513 days
#12 posted 1097 days ago
any time you are feeling to cool ,
you can turn the blade around again ,
like zen thing ,
until you come down some .
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
jack1
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1810 posts in 2199 days
#13 posted 1097 days ago
;0) everytime I feel too cool, I get in trouble. There are a few places I’m not allowed to be too cool in anymore…
-- jack -- ...measure once, curse twice!
mikethetermite
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367 posts in 1438 days
#14 posted 1097 days ago
Good fix, thanks for the tip.
Another tip, the flag hanging in your shop. The blue should always be on the left.
-- Mike The Termite ~~~~~ Working safely may get old, but so do those who practice it.
jack1
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1810 posts in 2199 days
#15 posted 1096 days ago
you are correct and I will fix Thanks.
-- jack -- ...measure once, curse twice!
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