Last time I looked for it (a couple weeks ago, I think), the panel saw was set aside in a temporary space. What’s the status, please? Is it back, or planned to be operational again soon?
Thanks!
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We had a preliminary internal discussion on this last night. There are a few large hurdles that we are investigating on how to overcome. In a nutshell, here’s where we are and how we got here:
The original plan was to move the small CNC in-front of new DC and adjacent to the large CNC on the weekend we installed the new DC. Once that was relocated, the panel saw was going the be moved in front of the window where the small CNC was.
Unfortunately, the 220 ac power necessary to run the small CNC was overlooked. This is a big hurdle as we’ll need to run a new 220 and 110 ac power line for the dedicated dc. If you’re an electrician and can help, please please reply to this post. We are completely volunteer powered and need help!
Until we can get a firm plan in place for ac, we simply are out of logical room for the efficiently using the panel saw. We are looking at creative solutions until the larger ac issue is resolved.
We all want to see the panel saw up and running, and ask for your continued patience as we address it.
We have experience a massive membership growth which is fantastic, however it comes with growing pains we are also working to address.
I’ll continue it post updates as we get them.
@Rolo and I moved the panel saw to in front of the project storage, and it should be functional there for now. Please use the drop cord for power, and please please please clean up qell after use. This isn’t a permanent location, but is functional for now.
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Thanks! I had wondered if it was in-transit due to the DC/CNC shuffling. All good, I understand the need to figure out a proper power setup long-term. In the short-term, definitely appreciate having it available.
FWIW, I’m not a professional electrician by any means (and definitely not commercial), but I know my way around basic circuits and safety. I can’t really promise help until April-ish, but if additional hands are needed who know the basic tools, I’m willing to help if feasible…
More folks than I though have been asking about the panel saw since it has been down. That’s a sign!
I don’t have anything to add on the current setup from what James mentioned. I do have a topic of discussion though: do we need a full size panel saw all the time? Could we have a smaller sized one that’s easy to fit, also has dust collection, and put some blocks out for the times when someone needs to cut a small end off of a full sheet?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Saw-Trax-Mfg-Varsity-7-1-4-in-15-Amp-Panel-Saw/1000237079
Much appreciated James! There’s always electrical things happening or wishing could happen around here. It’s usually a matter of having the right folks willing to help dig in and work things out.
Are you talking about getting a new one or modifying the existing one? If modifying, you probably can get away eliminating one of the rollers on the left and match the outfeed side to the one in your link. The logic is it would help strength challenged people to hold sheet goods on the left. On the outfeed side you rarely see more than half a sheet so it should be OK. The reason of having the long rails is for the option of slicing the sheet lengthwise (from left to right) which most people don’t know about and can’t figure out how to do it. Personally the table saw is much safer to perform that operation. Anyway, for a long time the panel saw went unused. I think it wasn’t even covered in the safety class for a long time. However, it is a very useful tool for downsizing sheet woods and I’m glad people appreciate it now. Hopefully the blade has been changed. It works much better with a quality blade. If you are not aware,when cutting sheet goods the good side is facing down and often it helps if you tape the line. It should not be too hard to true it up to cut square.
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Modifying the existing one wouldn’t be bad either!
When boiled down, I’m interested in two things: reducing the footprint, and adding dust collection.
Reduction of footprint doesn’t mean it can’t have quick-to-add extensions for when those big sheets come around.