DIY miter station on the cheap

[dwasifar]

I got this Delta sliding miter saw:

It has articulating arms instead of rails (like the Bosch) and I bought it with the intention of building a miter station.

I did it on the cheap and it turned out better than I'd hoped:

I have construction pictures, but I won't clutter up the post with them unless someone asks to see them.

One sheet of ply, two sheets of OSB, and I think 10 ordinary 2x4s, plus that outlet strip and some glue and screws and stuff. Worked out well, I think.

 

[Rarified27]

Looks like a smart design!

How do you like the saw? I've been wondering if it's worth upgrading from my DW779.

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[WWheeler]

Nice job. How do you like that saw?

edit: lol, rarified beat me to it.

 

[Rarified27]

Nice job. How do you like that saw?

edit: lol, rarified beat me to it.

Lol, nice. Glad to know I'm the only one!

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[WWheeler]

Any plans to add an extended back fence with a flipstop? It'll give you repeatability that will save you a lot of time on projects.

 

[dwasifar]

Looks like a smart design!

Thanks. It's basically a flat bench with two torsion boxes attached. I did it that way so I could shim the boxes to perfect flatness when attaching them.

How do you like the saw? I've been wondering if it's worth upgrading from my DW779.

It seems high quality, but I just got it, and built the bench around it as soon as I unboxed it. Haven't really put it through its paces yet. But everything is silky smooth, with no bumping or rattling like you get from operating a cheap saw.

 

[dwasifar]

Any plans to add an extended back fence with a flipstop? It'll give you repeatability that will save you a lot of time on projects.

Yes, in fact, I plan to do exactly that. I'm still working out the design in my head.

 

[Rarified27]

Yes, in fact, I plan to do exactly that. I'm still working out the design in my head.

Please keep updating this thread so I can steal your ideas, lol.

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[WWheeler]

Yes, in fact, I plan to do exactly that. I'm still working out the design in my head.

I look forward to seeing it. I'm sure there's going to plans and video how-tos all over the net now to inspire you, but here's what I came up with roughly 20 yrs ago now for a non-slider and meant to be somewhat portable (sorry for the potato pic, it's all I got of it right now)...

 

[dwasifar]

I look forward to seeing it. I'm sure there's going to plans and video how-tos all over the net now to inspire you, but here's what I came up with roughly 20 yrs ago now for a non-slider and meant to be somewhat portable (sorry for the potato pic, it's all I got of it right now)...

What I'm thinking of is a braced L-shaped rail that sits flat on the benchtop, with pegs on the bottom that slot into holes in the top. I'll have to experiment with it a little to see if that will be stable enough. If not, maybe a couple of flush-mounted T-nuts and wingbolts to lock it down.

The idea is for it to be removable so as not to obstruct the benchtop for other uses.

 

[dwasifar]

I look forward to seeing it. I'm sure there's going to plans and video how-tos all over the net now to inspire you, but here's what I came up with roughly 20 yrs ago now for a non-slider and meant to be somewhat portable (sorry for the potato pic, it's all I got of it right now)...

What'd you make that out of, laminated MDF? It looks really straight and solid.

 

[WWheeler]

What'd you make that out of, laminated MDF? It looks really straight and solid.

It was made out of one 4x8' sheet of 3/4" melamine.

edit: Like this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Melamin...ctual-750-in-x-49-in-x-97-in-461877/100070209

 

[dwasifar]

It was made out of one 4x8' sheet of 3/4" melamine.

edit: Like this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Melamin...ctual-750-in-x-49-in-x-97-in-461877/100070209

Nice. Now I wish I'd used that for the boxes.