New Slab Saw Recommendations?

I have two Covington saws that are about 2 years old.  A 16-inch 1100 Series slab saw and a 10-inch trim saw.  There are + and - to all saws.  Here are my thoughts after two years.

16-inch saw.  This saw has an auto feed (clutch) and automatic shutoff.  The shutoff is a rod with basically a wingnut on it that flips the switch when the carraige reaches the wingnut.  I usually am monitoring the saw closely so I don't think I have ever had it go to the shutoff.  The auto feed uses a "clutch" mechanism.   There have been some complaints about the Covington clutch but I haven't had any issues on the 16-inch saw.    I have had a few other issues with it.   The blade is very difficult to align if you need to (this is not covered in the manual or on videos at least when I last looked).   I had to call to get the procedure to do this and it takes a contortionist to do it plus you have to feel where to put tools to adjust it.   From the videos I have seen the HP saws of this size looks like the blade alignment is pretty easy.   Another item that could have been better is the size of the drain hole.   I think it is 3/8 inch diameter and I believe HP has a 1-inch opening.   3/8-inch gets clogged pretty easily.   I think the overall the Covington quality is good.  I have heard that the same size HP saw has a lot more metal weight.  That may be true but I think the Covington saw is good structurally especially for hobby use.  And it isn't so heavy that you can't move it around.  If you were going to be doing commercial sawing you might want to look at a heavier duty saw.  On the plus side the blade is easy to remove.  Overall, it has run everytime I wanted it to.  Another plus to Covington is that they have people in Idaho that can answer your questions.  They have always been available when I needed help or called me back very quickly.  

10-inch trim saw.   This saw also has automatic feed (clutch) and a similar shutoff system.   The saw overall is heavy duty (cast aluminum tank and table top).  However, I have a few issues with this saw.    
-  They have an oil reservoir with an adjustable feed to a blade oil reservoir.   I haven't found this to work well.  The connection point gets plugged with sludge and I usually end up adding oil manually when I see less coming off the saw.  
-  The saw reservoir is very small and that is where most of the rock sludge goes so it fills up quickly and has to be cleaned often.
-  Same issues with the cleanouts being small.  Plus the saw blade oil reservoir is only about an inch wide which makes it difficult to scrape the bottom.  
-  Because the blade reservoir is small, it is very difficult to remove and replace the blade.  Getting it off isn't too bad but trying to get the nut back on the shaft in a small place is really hard (with my fat fingers).
-  To clean the reservoirs or change the blade, you have to remove the table top with three bolts.   One is easy to do but the back two are difficult to get to on both sides of the table top.  I ended up turning the back two upside down to make it easier to get a socket wrench over the nut to loosen and tighten.  Once you have the screws off, you have to lift the heavy table top.  It has wiring attached to it and getting it out of the way to clean the reservoirs seems more difficult than it should be.   I have seen other saws that have hinges on the table top and it looks easy to remove the table top and clean.
-  When I first got the saw, I had issues getting the clutch adjusted.   I played with it a lot and finally got it to work one day and it has worked since.   Not a big issue if you are only going to use this as a trim saw.  
-   You can buy a cover for the saw.   It has holes on both sides so you can hold onto a slab while you are trimming.   I don't know about using water but if you are using oil, those holes and the cover are useless becuase the cover will quickly get covered with crud from the blade.   If you cut rocks with the auto feed, you will have mist going through those openings.   I made a couple little cover plates for the openings with magnets to hold them in place.  It cut almost all of the mist.
-  Overall I think the quality is good but it seems like they could have done things differently to make it much easier to use and clean.

So would I buy them again?  Hard question when I probably will not buy any other saws.  If I had to answer it would probably be yes on the 16-inch but no on the 10-inch trim saw.   I really like they support people they have but some things could be better on the saw design.

Hope this helps,

Chris

Thank you Chris, for taking the time to share some great detailed information.  It is incredibly helpful for such a large purchase.  Sounds like Covington makes a good solid product and has good customer support.  Those are two things I am really looking for in a purchase like this.  I was looking at the 16” saw just like yours but was concerned that it didn’t have and auto shut off, so I am glad to hear that it has one.  

I would like to purchase a new slab saw and I really need some help understanding what saws are even commercially available right now as well as the brands/models you might recommend.  
I would like a 14” saw (minimum but could possible go larger if that is all that is available but nothing bigger than 18”) and preferably an auto feed and auto shut off.  
Lortone?  Covington?  Highland Park?   Barranca Diamond?
I sent a note to Lortone asking them to clarify if they are making slab saws any more but got no response even though I have corresponded via email with them in the past.  
I have researched the Covington Engineering slab saws with info on their website but I still have questions that I cannot seem to figure out from their website.  I am not sure but I think that in order to get an auto feed and shut off, I have to purchase a very expensive 18” saw as I believe the smaller ones may have an auto feed but not an auto shut off.  Does Covington make a good quality product?  The last think I want is to spend $$ on a new saw and then have issues with it.   
I looked at the Barranca Diamond 14” saw but not sure if anyone sells this anymore or if it is even still available.  I also know nothing about its quality.  
I have reviewed Highland Park’s website and seen their info but I know nothing about their equipment.  

Any help and guidance would be very much appreciated. 
Thanks.

I deactivated my 16" Covington combo saw. Either I don't know what I am doing or the saw doesn't like me. It kept jamming probably because the cross feed drifts. Getting the clutch right is above my capabilities and over adjusting it can ruin it. It is a great saw when it is working right and support is excellent.

I replaced it with a 10 inch HP saw. For years I slabbed with a trim saw 8 inch .032 kerf. The HP is 110 inch with a .032 kerf. I buy expensive material and don't want to donate it to the saw. Most of what I buy is small rough. The HP is slow and reliable and obviously more accurate than my had cutting with a slab saw. The vise goes up and down rather than the usual side to side which. The HP vise requires less material in the vise to hold it in place. I also bought a 14 inch HP that has the same design as the 10. I also bought a HP 14 inch drop saw. I have not unpacked either from the crate. The drop saw is likely the first one set up since it cuts fast and is lighter to put on my work table.

A couple more thoughts or additions to my last comments on the 16-inch Covington saw.
-  Blade adjustment.   I don't believe john19 is correct when he says there aren't arbor alignment screws on the 16-inch Covington saw (ulness they have changed it in the last 2 years).   I think Covington calls them arbor carriage bolts.  This would be a good opportunity for you to call Covington, ask for the saw technical support people, and ask them how the blade is aligned.  That will give you a feel for their support level.  Regardless, I agree with John that HPs method of aligning the blade is way easier than with the Covington saw.   If you think you are going to be cutting expensive material, this could be a big issue as you will want that blade aligned as best you can so you don't waste rock material.  My Covington saw blade wasn't aligned very well when the saw arrived and getting it to an acceptable alignment was a challange.  But I haven't had an issue since it was aligned. 
-  Operation Manuals.  Writing operation and maintenance manuals seems to be a dying art.  Both my Covington saws came with printed O&M manuals.  They aren't perfect.  For instance the blade alignment wasn't covered in the O&M manual which would seem like it should be a priority.  From what I have seen on the forum, HP typically doesn't provide a written O&M manual but relies more on videos.   John can correct me if I am wrong.  I have also seen comments that HPs tumblers still don't have an operations manual video posted (there is one recent thread on this).  I am not against a good video but being kind of old, there is nothing like having a hard copy manual that you can mark up (which you will becasue there will always be stuff that isn't covered).   

Just a general observation that most rock equipment manufacturers seem to think that people buying their equipment should have a general knowledge of how to operate and maintain their equipment without them telling the buyer how to do that.  Even though I was an engineer, I am not very mechanically oriented and sometimes don't think of something obvious that isn't listed in a manual.  With all the new people getting into rocks in one way or another, O&M manuals or videos are important.  That being said, I understand it costs a lot to put together a good O&M manual and there is a fine line as to how much information you include.  Sometimes it is better to have to call someone that can guide you through it and provide the fine points of doing something.

Just my thoughts.  It would be good to hear from some HP owners of larger saws on their experiences.