The Bottom Line
Table Saws and panel saws are terrific for cutting sheet goods. However, these saws aren't much help away from the wood shop.
Penn State Industries (PSI) Woodworking has come up with an ingenious and very useful solution. The PPS-2 Portable Panel Saw System makes cutting sheet goods in a portable situation as accurate as cutting them on these more stationary saws. While attaching a circular saw (not included) to the base plate can be a test of one's patience, once the saw is in place, the system is an absolute delight to work with. The price is decent, and the craftsmanship appears to be excellent.
Penn State Industries (PSI) Woodworking has come up with an ingenious and very useful solution. The PPS-2 Portable Panel Saw System makes cutting sheet goods in a portable situation as accurate as cutting them on these more stationary saws. While attaching a circular saw (not included) to the base plate can be a test of one's patience, once the saw is in place, the system is an absolute delight to work with. The price is decent, and the craftsmanship appears to be excellent.
Pros
- Cuts sheet stock in lengths of up to 114" with less than 1/8" deflection
- Handy, well-designed clamping system
- Can be used with most circular saws and medium-sized routers
Cons
- Attachment to circular saw is tedious
- To work with a router requires user to make a wooden spacer to attach to base plate
Description
- Can be used with 6", 7", 7-1/4" and some 8" circular saws (not included) without base plate modification.
- Saw (attached to base plate) literally glides on rails to cut stock.
- Alignment guide (included) helps align blade for precise cuts.
- Well-written documentation
- Includes two L-shaped guide rails that can be connected to make cuts of up to 114-inches in length.
Guide Review - PSI Woodworking Portable Panel Saw System PPS-2 Review
The PSI Woodworking PPS-2 Portable Panel Saw System is a solution for woodworkers who need a reliable, accurate way to cut plywood and other sheet goods when a table saw or panel saw is not available. It is accurate, easy to position, and the clamps hold nearly any sheet goods quickly and easily. When cutting, the circular saw literally glides across the stock on bearings that ride on the L-shaped guides. All of the guess work is taken out of the process.
The only real drawback is in attaching your circular saw to the base plate. The base plate is designed to accommodate most 6-8" circular saws universally, but some larger saws may require modification of the plate. Once the saw is attached, the screws are loosened slightly and the base plate is slid over until the saw blade is at the proper width (using the included alignment guide).
The problem is that it takes a couple of hands to hold everything in place and adjust the width while trying to tighten the screws on the base plate at the same time. It definitely is an exercise in patience, but once the blade is aligned and the plate screws are tightened, the unit cuts smoothly and accurately. If I were going to use this unit on a regular basis, I'd definitely want a circular saw dedicated to using with this system, as the base plate should be removed before free-hand cuts are attempted. I certainly would rather not have to remove and re-attach the base plate on a regular basis.
The only real drawback is in attaching your circular saw to the base plate. The base plate is designed to accommodate most 6-8" circular saws universally, but some larger saws may require modification of the plate. Once the saw is attached, the screws are loosened slightly and the base plate is slid over until the saw blade is at the proper width (using the included alignment guide).
The problem is that it takes a couple of hands to hold everything in place and adjust the width while trying to tighten the screws on the base plate at the same time. It definitely is an exercise in patience, but once the blade is aligned and the plate screws are tightened, the unit cuts smoothly and accurately. If I were going to use this unit on a regular basis, I'd definitely want a circular saw dedicated to using with this system, as the base plate should be removed before free-hand cuts are attempted. I certainly would rather not have to remove and re-attach the base plate on a regular basis.
