Chopsaw to tablesaw advice

[visedog]

I want to convert a 14" metal chopsaw into a makeshift wood cutting saw mounted under a table. I am thinking the spring has to be removed and a base has to be constructed. I want to avoid too much welding because of the plastic motor cover.

Has anyone done this previously, and if so what is your advice? Will it be a dangerous thing to do?

Thanks!

 

[HCNDM]

I want to convert a 14" metal chopsaw into a makeshift wood cutting saw mounted under a table. I am thinking the spring has to be removed and a base has to be constructed. I want to avoid too much welding because of the plastic motor cover.

Has anyone done this previously, and if so what is your advice? Will it be a dangerous thing to do?

Thanks!

Hey vise dog,

New heard of someone doing it with a chopsaw or mitre saw. I think the lack of a square base makes it more difficult.

Plenty of exaples where its been done with a circular saw:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Convert-a-hand-held-circular-saw-into-a-table-saw/

I have this one saved in my pinterest for a future build:

http://woodgears.ca/homemade_tablesaw/

I think something to keep in mind is the RPM's on a chopsaw. Dedicated wood circular, mitre, and table saws tend to have higher rpms for cleaner cutting than metal chop saws. (1400 rpm vs 2800 iirc)

I guess it all comes down to the model chopsaw you have. And figuring out how to mount it upside down and square to a board / steel plate. Height adjustment is a must to be truly flexible.

That said my apporach would probably be as follows:

1) Remove the chopsaw from the base at the cantilever pivot.
2) Mount the cantilever pivot to an axle on the bottom of the table.

A shaft bearing (x2) and bolt would work for this:

3) Fabricate wooden height adjustment brackets like in the woodgears link above


Keep us posted. Curious to see what you come up with.

 

[visedog]

Thanks HCNDM!

Your wooodgears link is a great idea as it does not involve any welding. My chopsaw has a bolt and a spring at the cantilever point which can be easily removed. I will go ahead with a simple bracket and a bolt under the table for mounting the pivot after I make the square base. Will post the results later.

Regarding the RPM, my chopsaw has a no-load speed of 3800RPM with a 2kW motor. I think this will be sufficient power for ripping wood!

 

[Gotcha640]

Just to point out the obvious (hey, it's garagejournal, someone has to):

You won't have a chop saw for a while.

I have old craftsman/sears tablesaw, joiner, and drill press, all with basically the same motor, and I frequently think about making a lathe or a bandsaw or a xyz and using the motor/pulleys/bearings etc from one of the other tools. But I use all those tools pretty frequently, so I couldn't really handle being without, and it makes more sense for me to just buy the other tool.

Table saws can be had for under $100 all day in Houston. Crappy new ones that work, decent used ones that barely work or need repairs.

 

[astroracer]

Table saws can be had for under $100 all day in Houston. Crappy new ones that work, decent used ones that barely work or need repairs.

My thoughts exactly. The time and money you will have into "trying" to make this work, could easily buy an inexpensive cast aluminum table saw. I just bought one last summer at a yard sale for 50 bucks. Flipped it for 75.
I know Sears has them for around a hundred bucks.
Mark

 

[woody 73]

Vise dog I am with the other guys on this one, much cheaper to look on your local CL for a cheap saw; had you posted your home town I could have looked at your CL for a table saw for you.

 

[zkling]

FWIW OP probably doesn't have a large offering of used table saws where he is located (India).

It would be much better if you could start off with a circular saw.

 

[visedog]

FWIW OP probably doesn't have a large offering of used table saws where he is located (India).

It would be much better if you could start off with a circular saw.

Thanks for the advice! Yes, I am located in India and here I have not seen any cheap table saws (yet). But we have a plentiful supply of 14" wood-cutting blades so I decided to make one myself. Let's see how it works out.

If it fails, I will still have my chopsaw.

 

[crguy]

I want to convert a 14" metal chopsaw into a makeshift wood cutting saw mounted under a table. I am thinking the spring has to be removed and a base has to be constructed. I want to avoid too much welding because of the plastic motor cover.

Has anyone done this previously, and if so what is your advice? Will it be a dangerous thing to do?

Thanks!

I wouldn't even consider doing something like that. You're likely to end up with a cobbled up mess just waiting to hurt you.
Keep the metal saw for metal work, and find a proper wood cutting saw.