Choose the Best Vertical Panel Saw
Imagine: You’re a small manufacturing or material cutting shop. Business is booming and you’re starting to feel some growing pains. Given the high cost of labor nowadays, it’s crucial to get creative when it comes to cutting your materials (and process.) When looking around your workspace for ideas, you might consider swapping current equipment or getting something new altogether. Depending on your space or current set-up If you need to downgrade from a larger saw set-up or have limited space, you might consider a vertical panel saw to fit your needs.
What are vertical panel saws, and do you need one? We're going to cover some important topics such as:
- What Vertical Panel Saws Are
- How Vertical Panel Saws Work
- The Advantages of Using a Vertical Panel Saw
- The Downsides to a Vertical Panel Saw
- Things to Consider Before Purchasing
- Vertical Panel Saw Comparisons
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Vertical Panel Saw?
Whether done in the workshop or on the job site, cutting sheets accurately requires a table saw and a helper to move large sheets on and off the saw. Though it's usually preferable to have an extra pair of hands on deck, finding one isn't always easy, and you certainly don't want to waste time.
A vertical panel saw has a frame designed to lean back against a wall with a saw blade that cuts big pieces of wood or paneling. Its leaning design helps to save space and makes it easier for one-person operations. These come in handy thanks to its space-saving design and ability to reduce labor costs.
How does a vertical panel saw work?
For individuals who haven't worked with a vertical panel saw or aren't familiar with the idea, the majority is made up of three main components: the frame, the saw beam, and the saw head. While being cut, panels are maintained in an upright, vertical position. The machine is built so it can be placed right up against a wall; this is also why you might see it referred to as a “wall saw.”
A vertical panel saw works by using crosscuts, including vertical and strip cutting. When you are ready to switch cut types, you must reposition the saw blade. Due to the panel saw's design, vertical models cannot perform angled cuts, often known as miter cuts; instead, a circular or specialized miter saw is required. Also called a portable vertical panel saw, it's a useful tool for many home improvement projects, like installing MDF paneling in a dining room, cutting down new doors, and furnishing customized closets.
The Different Vertical Panel Saws
Safety Speed Manufacturing offers a C4/C5 series and an H series for those seeking a portable panel saw.
C Series
The C series vertical panel saws come with standard features such as the spring-loaded counterbalance system, movable vertical and horizontal rulers, 3-1/4 HP, 15-amp industrial duty saw motor, quick transition from vertical to horizontal cutting, 1-year parts warranty, and lifetime frame warranty.
Customers that need to transfer the saw to the job site or have limited floor space might consider the C series. The C series also stands about 5’ tall complete with a welded steel frame.
The C4 model has a maximum crosscut of 50", while the C5 model has a maximum crosscut of 64".
H series
The H-Series saws have three standard crosscutting widths: the H4 has 50", the H5 has 64", and the H6 has 74". They can cut a range of panel materials up to 1-3/4" with a precision of 1/32 inches thick. H-Series saws are used in various panel processing industries like their C-series counterparts. H-Series provides a 74" crosscut for some of the larger specialty materials certain businesses need. It has the standard 10-foot frame width.
Breaking it down, the best vertical panel saw for you depends on your crosscut width and how deep you need it to cut. The maximum crosscuts and height are the only things that separate these machines.
Benefits of Vertical Panel Saws
Beyond saving space and minimizing labor costs, there are more benefits of having a vertical panel saw around your shop or on your next home improvement project.
Minimize Back Pain
Vertical panel saws utilize gravity to pull the blade to the bottom of the panel. With the saw head, you can secure your saw at 90-degree intervals to produce crosscuts or horizontal rip cuts (vertical). Instead of leaning over to cut, you stand and adjust your body as needed, so you're not standing in one spot the entire time.
They’re Safer Than Table Saws
Through its comprehensive line of vertical panel saws, Safety Speed Manufacturing provides useful and productivity-improving solutions to facilitate shop saw safety for sizing panels. Vertical panel saws are renowned for their ability to perform accurate cuts on large material sheets.
Because the operator's hands are protected from the spinning blade by a guard that is integrally attached to the saw carriage, vertical panel saws, which are renowned for their ability to perform accurate cuts in a small footprint, are inherently safer than their horizontal counterparts for sizing panels.
A vertical panel saw's enclosed saw blade passes through a stationary panel, as opposed to a table saw operator pushing material towards and through a fixed saw blade.
They’re Fast and Accurate
The alignment, precision, and speed of the machine depend on the saw frame's one-piece, welded design, which supports the panels. In order to ensure perfect alignment with the frame, our sturdy guide tube system is also welded together as a single piece. You can lock the spinning saw head in place at 90-degree intervals to execute crosscuts or rip cuts. Vertical and horizontal rulers for gauging cuts that are easily adjusted.
No Kickback
Vertical panel saws also get rid of kickback, another one of our old foes. Kickback is an extremely harmful and severe material recoil. Thanks to guiding systems and the ability to lock the material in place, panel saws are naturally less prone to it. Many also feature guiding systems that help in the effort to combat kickback.
Maximize your Floor Workspace
Vertical panel saws don’t have a very large footprint – in fact, they take up to only 30’ square feet in your workspace while being able to still cut 10’x6’ materials. Since they are designed to work vertically, you don’t have to move around your other equipment to make room.
They’re Easy to Maintain
In general, vertical panel saws don’t require a lot of upkeep or maintenance. When you choose the right model for your production, you’re already greatly reducing your operating costs and need for modifications or maintenance. These devices are so intuitive and easy to operate that training is unnecessary. Just load it up with your materials and press the rip (or crosscut) button.
Things to consider before purchasing a vertical panel saw
Buying a vertical panel saw is like buying any other kind of saw. Consider the following questions before making your purchase:
- How many materials are processed each day? Each week? This will answer if you need to purchase a C or H series. If you plan to use it around 3 hours a day or up to 15 hours a week, this could be considered the lower end production output and the C-series works best for that.
- How big are the materials to cut? Knowing the largest sheet you will be cutting is important for size. If you’re looking for a max crosscut of 50”, the C4 of the C-series would be your best choice. However, if your crosscuts go up to 64”, you would grab the C5 instead. The H-Series is capable of handling up to 74” crosscuts at the maximum.
- Where are you using it? A C4 or C5 panel saw would be best if you needed to transport to different job sites. However, for larger materials that are processed on-site, you can select one from the H-series with no worries.
If you’re still unsure about purchasing a vertical panel saw, don’t hesitate to contact us. We have professionals ready to help.
Who Needs a Vertical Panel Saw?
For quick and effective cut-to-size processing of wood-based panels and workstations, many local and national lumber stores and DIY companies implement vertical panel saws. They are frequently used by point-of-sale manufacturers, shop fitting contractors, and expo contractors to process larger panels.
Anyone who processes sheet goods is the ideal customer for a vertical panel saw because it enables one person to handle huge sheets in a safe, effective manner. A vertical panel saw is useful for technical classes and for businesses that face space constraints.
FAQs
Have questions? Take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions. Can't seem to find what you need? Feel free to get in touch with us! You can email us or call us at 1-800-944-4573.
Are Vertical Panel Saws Accurate?
The accuracy of a high-quality vertical panel saw is comparable to that of a sliding table saw, or a beam saw. This is mostly because a vertical saw does not require an operator to hold the material. After all, the panel is fixed with a boundary, and the saw moves on precise guideways through the material.
How Thick Can a Vertical Panel Saw Cut?
Panel saws can only make continuous straight cuts in either the horizontal or vertical axis. The material track layout and saw have their own limitations on the greatest thickness of the material that may be cut, which is normally 1 –3/4 inches.
Is a Vertical Panel Saw Better Than a Table Saw?
When it comes to slicing panels into more manageable pieces, vertical panel saws really shine. Sliding table saws are the most adaptable tools for intricate or precise cutting.
What Material Can Vertical Panel Saws Cut?
Plywood, plastic, and acrylic sheets of different shapes and sizes can be cut with vertical panel saws. Never run anything that has nails, screws, or other metal components. Always make sure to cut one piece at a time.
A Safer Way To Cut Signs
When cutting on-site is required due to a lack of available shop space, Safety Speed allows you to bring the benefits of vertical positioning to the job site. Vertical panel saws save time, labor, and money with their simple vertical design. Hopefully after reading through our blog, you now have a better grasp on which is the best vertical panel saw for you. If you still have some questions feel free to contact us by calling 1-800-944-4573 or email us.
