Well, it's new to me. I used to have a slider, and sold it because I didn't use it much. After a few years I got the itch again, but just wanted a little one. I bought an Agazzani band saw from a private party the other day, and he had an old slider table saw there. It needs a lot of love, but is actually pretty good, and not used much, so I went back and bought it last night.
It is an old Mini Max SC3, with a cast iron slider that supposedly makes a 5 1/2' stroke, but looks longer. It has a 3HP single phase motor, and a 50" Beisemeyer fence. The first time I saw it, the table would hardly move, and I dismissed it out of hand. Last night it moved pretty easily, but obviously has some bearing cleaning or replacement in it's future. Looking under it, the sliding mechanism looks so basic, even I could figure it out, and simple to work on too (he hopes). It has the articulated table complete with hold down and fence, plus the heavy arm for the blade guard, but it is missing a lot of parts. Riving knife is in there.
It is a strange saw, with no slots on the table or the slider for any jigs. There are also no inserts around the blade (which turns freely and has no arbor wiggle), there is just a machined area on the table for the blade to go up and down. No possibility of dado set on the 5/8" arbor, anyway. It did come with three nice Forrest blades, one of which was brand new, and an HTC mobile base. Paid $500 for it.
Like I said, needs lots of love, but seems basically sound. My thought for it is to first get it cleaned up and adjusted, then if I like it, I may cut the fence and table down to about 30". If I don't like it, I can probably make a couple bucks on it and get the Grizzly I have been thinking about.
I am going out of town for a couple weeks, then I have to get the Agazzani (24") off the truck, before I go pick up the SC3.
Dang, I thought I was a REFORMED tool junkie. Guess I had a relapse.
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