This panel saw manages to provide good functionality with just a 5 foot frame. So just throw it in the back of the truck, and head off to the job site, or if you have and it in the shop, you still have room to work. Do be careful handling it however, it’s 10 pounds short of 200 pounds and is definitely a two man lift. Spend the money and buy the wheels, it’s a small investment and makes this tool much more versatile. The 15 amp motor cranks out over three horsepower, which tears through most stock with ease.

They’ve also thought of the details, and a counterbalance weight system makes saw movement smooth and easy. The frame also comes with a lifetime warranty, which eliminates the major cause of concern in its smaller cousin the PRO1K Panel Pro.

There have been some complaints from users about sawdust binding the plates that allow switching from horizontal to vertical cutting, however awareness of the problem and frequent cleaning can eliminate this issue. The instruction manual that comes with the Safety Speed Cut C4 Vertical Panel Saw is terrific, they listened to real wood workers and put together a fine reference. It gives you very clear and simple instructions for making any alignment changes. Properly adjusted, this panel saw makes beautiful square cuts, and eliminates that need to use a table saw. The Safety Speed Cut C4 Vertical Panel Saw is worth the money if you have the budget.

The panel saw has a maximum crosscut of 50”, and rip cut of 96”, with a maximum thickness of 1 ½”. The cut accuracy is 1/32”. The PRO1K Panel Pro is good for shops with a smaller amount of space, and the 14 amp motor provides adequate power for cutting. Safety Speed includes a Ryobi 7 1/4” saw. From the factory, the Safety Speed Cut PRO1K Panel Pro comes with a 14 gauge galvanized steel frame. Nice features include a laser guide and wheels, missing from some of the higher end panel saws we have reviewed. The wheels are nice feature given that this saw weighs in at a hefty 175 pounds.

Out of the box the PRO1K Panel Pro is comparatively light and easy to assemble. The Ryobi saw makes quite a racket, so having hearing protection on hand is not a bad idea. Dust management was not thoroughly considered, so you may want to use this saw some place where sawdust cleanup is not going to be a big issue. Inside the garage is a bad idea, as it tends to collect under things and getting out is a chore. If you’re cutting thin stock (say ¼ inch), this panel saw does a fine job. It also works well on 4×4 stock, but for the large standard size 4×8 panels the saw can struggle. The frame is a bit lightweight to handle the large stock on a regular basis. Also remember for the money, you’re getting a solid performer. Safety Speed Cut has very good customer service, and genuinely wants to make sure that you are happy. At the end of the day, the Safety Speed Cut PRO1K Panel Pro is a satisfactory value at the price point. It works fine for a occasional cutting jobs, however if you need a panel saw for very frequent use, or routinely rip full size stock, this may not be the saw for you.

This behemoth boasts an 80 inch panel saw driven by a 15 amp motor. All that power does not come without precision, however, accuracy is one 32nd of an inch in either a rip or a cross cut. The frame is rock solid, an electrically welded, so it won’t warp or twist. The entire system weighs about 175 pounds, so make sure that you have a friend available, or pop for a set of wheels. Speaking of optional accessories, you may also want to buy the extensions kit if you’re going to cut stock over 6 feet long.

This monster will handle up to 1 ¾ inch stock. The saw carriage can move either horizontally or vertically with equal ease. As you would expect with a tool of this price point, there are horizontal and vertical scales. Another nice feature is the retractable counterweight which makes movement of the saw carriage effortless. The nylon bearings glide effortlessly over the stock and never require lubrication. The Milwaukee 6480-20 Complete Panel Saw System is a good value for the money.

The PPS2 portable panel saw system does not include a saw. What it does, is allow you to use your existing circular saw and that duplicate the cuts made by the professional grade panel saws. Basically what you’re buying is a flexible, compact and easily portable track/saw attachment system. You simply screw the track down, and can make instant street cuts. You can even set an angle on the saw, a trick that most of the competition cannot duplicate.

The PSI Woodworking PPS-2 Portable Panel Saw System is the second generation of this versatile tool. The PPS-1 was routinely lambasted by users for been flimsy. PSI Woodworking listened, and this model is almost twice as heavy, the track is solid and well made.

You get two guides, 4 and ½ feet, the other is 9 feet long. This allows you to rip any piece of standard number 4×8 stock with ease. User tip: in the manual, it suggests putting a piece of hardwood under the guide. This is a good idea, it provides support and makes the whole system feel more solid. The included thumb screws are not great. It’s a good investment to have woodworking clamps anyway, and quick clamps make a good tool great.

There is one area of slight concern, if you’re using the 9 foot configuration and put too much weight against the saw during a cut, you can get some deflection and end up with a slight curve in the final cut. The solution of course, is not to bear down against the guide while you cut, or to follow the manual’s suggestion and attach a piece of masonite.

This system will allow you to make perfect factory straight cuts, but you need to make sure that you properly align your circular saw. Note that that means you may have to drill holes in the guide. Also if you’re going to cut of 45° angle, you may also have to trim the guide to match. Due to the wide variety of circular saws available, the PPS-2 may require some manual customization on your part. It’s a good idea to dedicate us all for this tool a saw for this tool, otherwise you will spend unnecessary time attaching and removing the guide. In conclusion, the PSI Woodworking PPS-2 Portable Panel Saw System is a good value for the money, you just have to do some custom modification to overcome its shortcomings.

The first rule of panel saw safety is a simple one: Never alter the safety features of your saw. Many home woodworkers, unfortunately, remove their panel saw’s blade guard. This can be a potentially deadly mistake. The blade guard is in place to help keep your hands away from the spinning blade. They also equipped with safety devices called pawls. These hold a board in place and keep it from kicking back at you. This, in fact, is one of the most common causes of injury when a saw is either not set up properly or has its safety features removed.

Many panel saws today come with a switch that users pull out to turn on their saw. Some even let you mount this switch in a location of your choice. If you have this option, mount the switch in a location where you can easily turn the saw off by bumping the switch with your leg. This way, you can shut it off even if you are unable to remove your hands from whatever you are working on. Many saws also come with a special key. When this key is removed from the panel saw, it cannot be turned on. This is an important safety feature for people with young children in the house. As long as the key has been removed, young children will be unable to turn it on. Just make sure that you store this key out of your children’s reach.

When it’s time to get that project started, you might want to practice some easy cuts on lightweight pieces of wood. This will allow you to get used to how your new panel saw operates. This is the best way to avoid future accidents. Once you’re comfortable and you’ve practiced making a few simple cuts, you’ll be ready to tackle your biggest home-improvement or woodworking projects. Just remember to store power tools in a room that can be locked. This way, you can prevent your young children from gaining access to your panel saw when you’re not around.