I'm currently working with an older 1.5hp contractor-style table saw and have a chance to buy a 3hp industrial saw. I'm thinking about keeping both saws, positioning them side by side to share the same fence rails, especially for dado work. Alternatively, I could arrange them back to back so they can function as outfeed for each other. However, for my shop layout, side by side seems more practical. Has anyone tried running two saws side by side? What are your thoughts or advice? I know aligning the fence might be tricky since the contractor saw is harder to get perfectly aligned, but I'm willing to manage that for dado tasks.
3 Answers
I’ve run two saws back-to-back with a shared outfeed setup. Make sure the table tops are perfectly aligned height-wise or you’ll have issues with catching mid-cut. A slight bevel can help, but it’s still tricky! Someone suggested a 90-degree angle with an outfeed table, which sounds nice for single-person tasks, but back-to-back allows for simultaneous cuts if the boards aren’t too wide.
I’d definitely suggest using one saw dedicated for dado cuts and placing it off to the side. This way, you can keep everything spaced out and organized.
From what I’ve seen, having two saws side by side can be super efficient, especially if you attach them together to create a large cutting table. I run a 5hp and a contractor saw that way, and it works great! Just watch out for the motor on the contractor saw if you decide to go back to back—it can get in the way.