Has Anyone Used The Smith Creek Cutter?

[DeeAnna]

Most of the places on the internet call this gadget a "sliding crosscut table" when applied to a table saw for cutting wood.

When I use mine with my tablesaw, my "stop" is usually a small piece of scrap wood fastened onto the fence with a small clamp, like this: http://woodgears.ca/delta_saw/small_sled.html or like this: http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-plans/tablesaw/crosscut-sled/

The scrap and clamp method is fast and easy, but kind of clunky. Here's an elegant stop that is built into the fence of the sliding table: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/103090278943624692/ This kind of stop might not be too applicable to the Smith Creek soap cutter, however, but I included it in case others might build a cutter from scratch.

The stop shown in the next example fits over and slides along the fence. It might be a better choice for the Smith Creek soap cutter: http://festoolownersgroup.com/vario...newest-version-of-my-table-saw-crosscut-sled/ (see second and third pics)

 

[commoncenz]

Ha! I have PLENTY of clamps that I could use to do the "fast, easy, clunky" method. Thanks again DeeAnna!

Edit: And even with my limited woodworking skills, I think I could make a stop like the last one.

 

[commoncenz]

Well ... it's here ... haven't even taken it out of the box yet as my AC broke and it's extremely hot in my house ... I'll wait til tonight to cut yesterday's "sloaf" (mold was wider than a loaf, but not as wide as a slab). For now, I'm just staring at the box. :shock:

Edit: WELL NOW! Maybe it's just me because I have never used a cutter other than a miter box and a hack saw with a piano wire attached, but this cutter is a wonder! Split my sloaf evenly into two loaves; each 2 1/2 inches wide. Then cut the loaves into twenty-two 1" bars. All even all nicely uniform looking. (Something that I would have never been able to do with my miter and "saw". Did it quickly too ... I was done with the whole process in less than five minutes after taking the machine out of the box.

So, the bad? As DeeAnna and others said, it would be a lot better if it had an adjustable "stop" so that you don't have to keep eyeballing the loaf as you cut the individual bars. I ended up using a piece of wood and a clamp for now, but it would be a better machine if something was incorporated into it. That's it. My only complaint at this time.

Oh, and it's a bigger machine than I expected. It takes up a fair amount of room at the kitchen table. We'll see how things work as time progresses, but for now I'd recommend the machine to a hobbyist who doesn't mind cutting their bars individually.