Cross-cutting the German Way

I use various tools for cross-cutting. A lot of time, it is with a handsaw, a ryoba or dozuki or azebiki, depending:



Other times I am inclined to use my sliding compound miter saw, or, when the opportunity is available, a sliding table saw, to execute cross-cuts, especially if there are many to be done or the material is unpleasant to handsaw.

The other day I was looking on a few German web pages and came across some interesting types of double cross-cut saws. Now, it is not uncommon for pairs of chop saws, sliding or not, to be paired up on either end of a support table, like this fancy unit, an Omga TR 30 NC:


What I had never seen before, however, is that the Germans also do the same sort of thing with pairs of table saws, and put a giant sliding table between them - a doppelablaengsaege as it is termed. I thought it would be of interest to readers out there to see some of these monsters, which are presumably used for simultaneous cross-cuts on the same timber:


The ways are both 45˚ vees, which by all accounts is one of the best shapes.

Here's another one, the Bauerle DS with an enormous sliding table, and the table saw heads are floor-mount:


Then there's the Bauerle DSII, which doesn't have a sliding table but a roller-wheel equipped beam in the middle:


Some details of the same machine:





The  Rueco 32:


The Huellhorst DH50:


This one, made by Torwegge, resembles a large lathe in certain respects:


The German tool manufacturers certainly know how to go big or go home. Well made, hulking pieces of equipment.

All for today - thanks for dropping by!