PSI Woodworking PPS-2 Portable Panel Saw System Review
When I was a kid, I remember watching my dad effortlessly make long straight cuts with a circular saw. Just a pencil mark on each side of the stock, a quick line and then ZIP, a perfect cut. When I get old enough to handle the saw myself, I did not have the same gift. A straight line cut was just beyond my ability, and when I did cut it straight, it was invariably diagonal. Hence might interest, and this review on the PSI Woodworking PPS-2 Portable Panel Saw System.
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.
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Tagged With Panel Saw Review, PPS-2, PSI Wordworking
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