I'm looking to buy a used Sawstop PCS175, but most available models have the 52" fence which is too large for my workspace. Since I'm new to this type of cabinet saw, I'm not sure how complicated it is to switch back to a smaller 30" or 36" fence. I'm worried about buying a saw and then finding out converting it is a hassle. Is it even possible to downgrade from the 52" fence to a smaller one, or would it be easier to just wait for a smaller option to show up?
4 Answers
I've got a PCS175 with the 36" rails, and you can either cut the 52" rails down or just purchase the 36" ones if you think you might want the option to switch back later. It'll save you some hassle down the road!
Just to clarify, you're talking about the rails that support the fence, right? There's some good info on how that works if you check out those instructional videos online.
You can definitely look into trading your 52" fence for a smaller one locally. Sometimes people are looking to swap for a variety of reasons. If you really want to cut down the existing rails, you could do that too—just be careful, as it's a bit of a hack job and might not feel the best doing it.
I used to have the 52" fence and had to trim it down when we brought in a sliding table saw. Just a few minutes with an angle grinder, and it was done. But I totally get not wanting to modify it permanently!
I hear you! Modifying something expensive definitely feels risky.
Yeah, Sawstop's site lists their fences at 30", 36", and 52", so cutting down doesn’t sound too appealing. Better to trade if you can.