Clever Sawtable System

[Beachside Hank]

Just saw the neatest shopmade saw table system on a Craigslist ad. A benchtop unit nests in the corner, it also has a router table built in, and storage bays for in- process work, but the really ingenious thing the guy did was to make the legs folding, and to roll the cabinet about on it’s side with casters, taking up only a fraction of floor space for storage yet quickly drops down, ready for use with a rather generous work surface. Ad states it belonged to a professional carpenter, and the build details tend to confirm that; note the back taper cut on the legs, ensures minimal contact with the floor yet distributes the weight at the maximum extremes, just as found in fine furniture. Only putting it up here because this may be of interest to those who are space- challenged but don’t want to compromise functionality and multi- use potential.

 

[bad_idea]

That is genius.

 

[bazzateer]

Neat

 

[TerryH]

That's a very cool idea!!

 

[OccupantRJ]

At first glance it looks good, but think about what it takes in grunt power to pick up a complete table saw along with the weight of the cabinet to stand it on end like that. Some of us ain't 20 any more. I have also found that the more you have to do to use something, the less likely you are to use it.

 

[lilredex]

At first glance it looks good, but think about what it takes in grunt power to pick up a complete table saw along with the weight of the cabinet to stand it on end like that. Some of us ain't 20 any more. I have also found that the more you have to do to use something, the less likely you are to use it.

Kind of what I was thinking too.......kind of ShopSmith like in a way. Good maybe, for somebody that frequently moves and has to do it in a hurry, and move through narrow doors. But, otherwise leaves it set up ready to use.

 

[theoldwizard1]

At first glance it looks good, but think about what it takes in grunt power to pick up a complete table saw along with the weight of the cabinet to stand it on end like that. Some of us ain't 20 any more.

Small block and tackle attached to the top plate.

I have also found that the more you have to do to use something, the less likely you are to use it.

I have to agree with that. Something like this is great for cutting down large 4'x8' sheets of material. Usually I just have the yard cut them down for me.


Still a good idea.

 

[Zengineer]

Put the wheels on the table saw end, then you don't have to lift it.

 

[Zeke]

Put the wheels on the table saw end, then you don't have to lift it.

I doubt the TS end weighs any more than all the wood at the other end. It will still be like picking up 3 sheets of plywood from one end. Some Ron Paulk style lightening techniques would help that beast immensely.

 

[67carl]

Curios as to what he's asking for it...

 

[Beachside Hank]

Curios as to what he's asking for it...

"Asking" $95, includes Skil 10 inch table saw (Model 3400-Type2) , which is a pretty good saw for a benchtop model. it's at:
Crescent City (n. of Deland) FL.

 

[RRich]

That thing has been on CL for a LONG time.

 

[alden]

that's really clever. Even without the ability to fold up, that seems like a pretty nice setup.

 

[BearCuda]

Actually, that table saw is pretty light. That's the exact one I told about finding in the finding tools in the road thread. Neat set up.

 

[Beachside Hank]

Actually, that table saw is pretty light. That's the exact one I told about finding in the finding tools in the road thread. Neat set up.

I was one of the original Skil tool demo guys just before they married Bosch. Back in the ‘80’s Skil was looking to penetrate the then promising benchtop tool market, and gave us toolies a spread of different equipment to use and comment on. I was given a Sears 8” p.o.s. benchtop saw, used it as best it could be employed and gave my handler my feedback, same as others. Just a few months later they rolled out the 3400, gave us all a copy and again wanted feedback. Not much to improve on, they did their job well, it was far above most consumer benchtops at the time and probably still is a good saw.

 

[DenisG]

When you have to move plywood sheets over a stationary saw, you need twice the area to support the sheet. It seems that you'd still need to support the sheet from the left side if you were using that set-up. I already have a table saw, but if I had to start over, I'd be looking for a tracksaw. Especially if my workspace was tight.

 

[Zeke]

When you have to move plywood sheets over a stationary saw, you need twice the area to support the sheet. It seems that you'd still need to support the sheet from the left side if you were using that set-up. I already have a table saw, but if I had to start over, I'd be looking for a tracksaw. Especially if my workspace was tight.

I didn't look at it closely, but the saw should have been able to be rotated so that the long dimension of the bench could be the outfeed table.

 

[ez-duzit]

...Something like this is great for cutting down large 4'x8' sheets of material...

No it isn't. Especially moving heavy sheets of 3/4" ply, by yourself, through a portable machine in a confined space. That table saw setup is better suited to ripping and sizing and for handling smaller sheet goods like cabinet doors that are a fraction of 4'x8'.

...if I had to start over, I'd be looking for a tracksaw...

The Festool track saw has revolutionized my shop. It is infinitely portable and stores in the tiniest space. It is so easy to make cuts that are at any angle. And to miter. And to make interrupted plunge cuts.

 

[Addrock]

I appreciated the reference to Ron Paulk, Zeke. Thanks very cool.

 

[Beachside Hank]

When you have to move plywood sheets over a stationary saw, you need twice the area to support the sheet. It seems that you'd still need to support the sheet from the left side if you were using that set-up. I already have a table saw, but if I had to start over, I'd be looking for a tracksaw. Especially if my workspace was tight.

Track saws have indeed come to dominate the once exclusive province of panel and tablesaws, but at close on to $600 for a basic system, is far beyond the reach of a non- professional. Myself, I am a dedicated DeWalt radial arm saw guy and although I can rip to the center of a 48” sheet, I prefer to have the home center do oversized near- net cuts and use the accuracy of my saw for the finished dimensions. I think that is the design concept behind this and other concepts. Ripping up a sheet to manageable portions really only takes a fraction of the build cycle, it’s the accurate final cuts that take more time (measure twice, cut once), and stock supports can be employed for the occasional need to begin full sheet sawing. Of course the pro would enjoy the efficiency of cutting to size at will with a track saw and minimize his handling, but a home enthusiast, with limited resources and need would find this an attractive alternative and thus is the purpose for the post.

 

[Zeke]

I have had a few sheets cut at the store or yard. The are never accurate. If I want a sheet ripped in half I expect 23 15/16ths for both. If I have to straighten out the cut I might as well make the original one.

$600 for a cut system is for the dedicated saw and the whole ball of wax. A professional shop can afford a saw that does one type of cut, I can't. I use a regular circular saw with a 60 dollar guide. I was using guides with the sheets on horses 30 years ago way before all these fancy tools came out.

After you push one sheet over a table saw by yourself you figure out something better.

 

[DenisG]

No it isn't. Especially moving heavy sheets of 3/4" ply, by yourself, through a portable machine in a confined space. That table saw setup is better suited to ripping and sizing and for handling smaller sheet goods like cabinet doors that are a fraction of 4'x8'.



The Festool track saw has revolutionized my shop. It is infinitely portable and stores in the tiniest space. It is so easy to make cuts that are at any angle. And to miter. And to make interrupted plunge cuts.

I've seen many videos of them and love the idea. I'd run out and get one, but money is tight and the price is steep. I wish I could understand why they are ten times the price of a regular circular saw.

 

[DenisG]

Track saws have indeed come to dominate the once exclusive province of panel and tablesaws, but at close on to $600 for a basic system, is far beyond the reach of a non- professional. Myself, I am a dedicated DeWalt radial arm saw guy and although I can rip to the center of a 48” sheet, I prefer to have the home center do oversized near- net cuts and use the accuracy of my saw for the finished dimensions. I think that is the design concept behind this and other concepts. Ripping up a sheet to manageable portions really only takes a fraction of the build cycle, it’s the accurate final cuts that take more time (measure twice, cut once), and stock supports can be employed for the occasional need to begin full sheet sawing. Of course the pro would enjoy the efficiency of cutting to size at will with a track saw and minimize his handling, but a home enthusiast, with limited resources and need would find this an attractive alternative and thus is the purpose for the post.

You must have a professional grade radial arm saw. My Craftsman RAS can only cut about 16" deep. I don't think that track saws can do everything better than table saws. You can't use dado blades, but on some systems you can attach a router. There are lots of ways to do woodworking (even some that don't involve electricity <gasp!>)

 

[ez-duzit]

Track saws...at close on to $600 for a basic system, is far beyond the reach of a non- professional...

Found mine on c/l for $350.

 

[DenisG]

Found mine on c/l for $350.

I'm jealous. Did that include the track(s).

 

[ez-duzit]

Yes, $350 for the whole 55 kit, in its original carrying case, including the wrench and a couple track clamps (which I have never needed) and the 56" track. Plus I added a 120" track which makes straightening lumber edges a snap.

These turn up all the time on eBay. Once you have used one you will wish you had simply ordered a new one, immediately. No chipping, front or back, on expensive veneered ply.

 

[DenisG]

Yes, $350 for the whole 55 kit, in its original carrying case, including the wrench and a couple track clamps (which I have never needed) and the 56" track. Plus I added a 120" track which makes straightening lumber edges a snap.

These turn up all the time on eBay. Once you have used one you will wish you had simply ordered a new one, immediately. No chipping, front or back, on expensive veneered ply.

Excellent deal! I haven't used eBay in a while, but I'll have to look for one when I get the chance.

 

[Trey T]

I was thinking the same "Ultimate Table"

I appreciated the reference to Ron Paulk, Zeke. Thanks very cool.

 

[budhabaier]

An awesome alternative to the Festool. EurekaZone
A lot cheaper and works with almost any saw. I've had one for six or seven years. Jeff

 

[ez-duzit]

Not even close.

 

[budhabaier]

Not even close.

True. The EZ seems to offer much more flexibility for less money.

 

[mike13u]

If you use the Amazon $25 off deal on Makita tools over $100, the Makita saw and track are $375. That is an awesome piece of kit for the price and, while its no table saw, it is very very versatile and in a small package

 

[Beachside Hank]

You must have a professional grade radial arm saw. My Craftsman RAS can only cut about 16" deep. I don't think that track saws can do everything better than table saws. You can't use dado blades, but on some systems you can attach a router. There are lots of ways to do woodworking (even some that don't involve electricity <gasp!>)

I said it would "rip" to the center of a 48" panel (nominally about 24"), your Sears should be capable of the same. I believe you were thinking "crosscut".

BTW, to crosscut wider than the machine's max. it is standard shop practice to simply flip the work front to back, giving you better than a 30" wide cutoff capacity. This can also be safely increased yet more, but that reply is beyond the scope of this thread, however feel free to p.m. me if interested.

 

[Beachside Hank]

Found mine on c/l for $350.

I buy and sell on C/L too, love it! I think however, when posts are made on forums extolling the virtues of any particular tool, the reader invariably wants to get one A.S.A.P. Those like you, me, and others that have the discipline to wait and take advantage of someone else’s need to sell are the ones that score as impressively as you did. My own motto is “time is the one great commodity I have in abundance, and so I spend accordingly”.

 

[txz28]

Was there a setup for a router there too? It looks like it from the photo.

 

[BPotts]

Hank, neat find. This looks like something a cabinetmaker would take to a significant project site that would require an extended stay by the tradesman. I can also see it as something useful to those who regularly move from home to home, like someone in the Coast Guard. This would really been a boon in those situations.

For those w/ limited space at home, it would be a pain to put up and take down, yet as a more permanent installation, it would be a real treat. In response to some of the complaints about its heft, I can see a couple of options for overcoming those challenges: 1) Vertically compress the storage bins to something more like Paulk uses, and 2) I would explore ways to break the whole thing into 3 or more clip-together pieces.

 

[383 240z]

I'm really drawn to that. I would move the router to the center on one side and the table saw to the center on the other. I (like a fool) decided to ask the wife if she wanted me to build new kitchen cabinets to match the large built in pantry I made. Of course she said yes, so now I'm going to have to make them. That would make it nice as I could set it up in my shop for when I was making them, and flip it up for when I needed to work on something else. Going to save those images, might knock one up at some point. Keith