I don't recall why the need was started but some years ago I decided I needed a slider and if you want a slider in Oz it is European or nothing. Asian machines are around but I have only seen one in the flesh and never seen an advert for one. I bought my slider and can truly say the difference in work practises and results is worth twice the money I paid and I smile every time I use it. Perhaps the biggest single advantage I find is I use the rip fence maybe once every few months as all the ripping I do is done on the table. Way more accurate and consistent and a thousand more times safer and faster. My A3-31 combination machine is beyond words in accuracy. It has taken a while but I now trust the thing enough to know I don't have to measure what comes out of the thicknesser because it is simply the correct dimension and repeatable months down the track. I like good things and it has taken a long while to get there and I do not apologise for owning and enjoying them. All my machines prior to what I have now were bought used and they did a good job, my present machines were bought new and I enjoy using them and I think that is the difference for me.
Chris
Everything I like is either illegal, immoral or fattening