Is bigger necessary?

I have the PM2000 with 50” rails. The advantage for me is being able to push the fence completely out of the way when using a sled or miter guage as oppose to taking it on/off.

I don’t need the actually capacity for ripping down full sheets of plywood because I have other safer methods (panelsaw and tracksaw).

Rob

-- Rob-Yorktown "Shop's still not done, Tools are bought, Wood is bought, need to find time to start a project.."

+1 what Rob said. If you get 72” rails you can crosscut pantry
sides using the fence.

Footprint is an issue in some shops. I have a European saw
and I’m temped to cut the fence down from 50” to 32” or
something to have a little more maneuverability in the shop.

As soon as you need the extra capacity, it’ll be too late, go big!

-- "Lack of effort will result in failure with amazing predictability" - Me

+1 on what Rob said. I have had both the 52 and the 32. The extra space is really nice. I mean really nice. If you go 32 you won’t know what you are missing so it won’t be a big deal but once you go 52 there is no going back.

I probably should have put in the new shop is 19×35. I was thinking the 50” rails would be worth the extra $100. If I build an outfeed table it will give me additional assembly space.

-- Making dust and taking names!

19X35, then I would 100% go with the larger rails. My shop is 18X16 and I have the larger rails.

Go big and build an extension and outfeed table. Then you can also build in a router table along the side which can also use the saw’s fence (double duty means more use so get the best fence you can.) I have a Vega Pro 50 and havent had any problems. Stays true, the micro-adjust is useful but not by any means necessary. And it was super easy to install and true to the blade.

If space isnt an issue… go big and make future projects a breeze to tackle. The extra work/assembly space is very useful and other stations (mitresaw, planer, jointer, routing rigs, can always be built in to the table. I find myself at one end jointing and planing then sliding the material across to be cut on the tablesaw. Then across to the router and back again as necessary. Then I use the table for staining/finishing and assembly.

One useful thing I’ve done is routing a mitre/t-track slot to extend from the table saw onto the outfeed table so crosscut sleds and other jigs can continue sliding across as necessary… Or, use the same tracks for other jigs on the other side. I’ve found that my sleds make great 90deg stops/guides for assembling cabinets. The possibilities are endless so again… Go Big!

-- JC Garcia, Concord, CA : "It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission..."

Spend the $100 –
The first time you need to cut a sheet of ply to 46” you will be happy you did.

-- Sam Hamory - The project is never finished until its "Finished"!

^^^^^
What Earlextech said.

My first table saw was a contractor type with 30” rails. When I upgraded a couple of years later, I got the 52” rails and realized what I had been missing. Of course, that upgrade was a 3hp cabinet saw with the power to handle 8/4 and 10/4 rough cut lumber, too!

-- Bill, Thomasville, GA

Not necessary, but nice to have. My 3 horse has 52” rails and I am perfectly happy with that. Have been for 30 years.

Here is a pic of my TS and outfeed table shortly after I moved into the shop. Subsequently, I covered the plywood with melamine and use it for glue ups and smaller assemblies. I have the 52” rails and I can handle sheets of 3/4” ply with no difficulty or safety concerns.

-- Art

Art, that looks great. Very similar set up to what I was thinking of doing, except my dust control will be below the floor.

-- Making dust and taking names!

The sheet of ply on the back is a full 4’x8’ and the small piece was sized to make the rectangle. I use the lower shelf to store cut offs, jigs, glue, etc.

-- Art

Art, That is a great set up!

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

I can cut 52” to the right of my pm66 and I wouldn’t ever dream of going shorter. Imho if you don’t have the room then your shop needs more shop.