Difference between a vertical and a horizontal circular with table

What is the difference between a vertical and a horizontal circular with table? This is the question I received a few days ago from a reader of the Sânnicolau Mare magazine. From the very beginning it seemed to me a very good subject for an article. I think it is good to know what are the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of circulars and how the choice should be made in order to have the maximum advantages. About horizontal circular with table we've already talked about in the pages of the magazine so I'll start with the vertical. So, what are the characteristics of a vertical circular and when is it good to choose it.

Wall circular

Next to lack of manpower, lack of space is the second biggest problem in factories and workshops. That's why a vertical circular, wall as it's also called, can be a space-saving way to cut large panels in a small space.

The vertical circular has 3 component parts:

• a vertical frame or wall on which the panel (bundle of panels) to be cut rests;
• the fixed or movable ruler on which the cutting head moves;
• cutting head.

Industrial models are complemented by the exhaustion system and all that is involved in automated actuation and optimized plate cutting.

Rama must be robust and in one piece, i.e. without welds or joints that could reduce strength. It is the piece that supports the panels to be cut and must be very robust. To be stable, the frame must have an inclination to the vertical of at least 5º. It also needs to have a horizontal base of at least 10 cm to support the panel.

Ruler is the horizontal bar on which the cutting head moves freely. It is similar to a fence, which is used to make straight, parallel cuts. The ruler can be fixed and is moved manually by an operator to make the necessary cuts, or movable, in which case the cuts are automated.

Cutting head is the circular itself, i.e. the cutting blade that makes the sections. It can move (turn 90º) so that it can make both vertical and horizontal cuts.

There are small, hobby-sized vertical hobby circular saws and very large industrial circular saws, where only automated cutting is done.

Advantages of a vertical circular

As we have seen, the main advantage of the vertical circular is saving space. It has the ability to easily cut large slabs of chipboard, plywood, MDF and even bundles of them. It's a very suitable machine for shops selling different sized boards or workshops making simple furniture from larger chipboard.

The machine and cutting boards are easy to handle and this is another of its advantages. Working speed is high and can work at this speed without risk. Of course there are risks with a cutting blade if it is not used according to the instructions and safety rules. But the risks are lower because safer operation.

Once on the frame or panel boards can be cut by one person. There are programs that optimize cuts so that losses are minimal. If these cuts are done automatically, the operator simply supervises the process, and the flows are made without his intervention.

Disadvantages of the wall circular

The wall circular makes 90º vertical and horizontal cuts only. If angle cuts are required, a circular saw with table should be used.

On this machine you can only cuts larger pieces. It is more difficult, for example, to cut drawer fronts or small poles. Experts say that the smallest panels cut should be 300 x 300 mm. Smaller panels can also be cut, but in this case the panel to be cut must rest on a larger panel to give it stability.

The cuts are not very clean, they don't have perfect edges. There are also high-performance, very stable machines that make quality cuts, but they cost a lot.

When to choose a vertical circular and when to choose a horizontal circular with table

Each of these two circulars has its own purpose and role. Ideally, you would like to be able to have both, to make both cuts from the big bundle of panels as well as fine cuts for furniture. But if this is not possible, then the choice has to be made according to your production profile.

The vertical circular is suitable for formatting, but less suitable for "fine" cuts related to furniture production. No angled cuts can be made on such a circular, nor very precise, very clean cuts. But it is very suitable for formatting chipboard when space is an issue.

So, if you have a shop that sells tiles of different sizes and/or space is an issue, you need a vertical circular. And if you make furniture then you need a circular with a table. Or at least that's the one you need to buy first.