Double tablesaw setup

[tealetm]

Figured I’d post a picture of my newest layout concept. Two 10” saws attached side to side sharing a fence. This is just for my one man hobby shop so it’s overkill but I got the second saw for a “can’t turn it down” price. Both nice barely used Deltas, one a Unisaw and one an “industrial” version which is a little different but for all intents and purposes it’s a Unisaw too.

It’s a nice big work surface for sure and right now it’s all cast iron table extensions plus the router extension on the right side.

I may have to rearrange things a bit (not much fence room on the right side of the right hand saw plus the side cover for the right hand saw no longer fits on with the router top). Once I get the setup to a point that I like I'll build a small 2-3" platform to raise the saws up a bit to a more comfortable working height.

Anyway, how would you wire up outlets for this setup? Both are 220v 3hp motors. I would never use both at the same time (in fact I’d like it if it were dummy proof so you can’t use both simultaneously). Two circuits? One circuit with some sort of selector switch betwen the two?

Pardon the disaster state of the shop- I told myself I wouldn't load it up with tools until the interior was complete but as you can see I've gone way past that point. Currently rebuilding a 20" grizzly planer, an on 12" jointer (1910ish), this tablesaw project, wiring the walls, insulating the ceiling... etc. etc.

 

[Augus7us]

Is there an actual use for two table saws side by side like that? I mean something beyond a one time specialty project? Were it me I'd sell the non industrial one and spend the money on tools.

I think its code that they have to be hardwired, I may be thinking of 5hp and up though. Two circuits would be the way to go, kill the breaker on one when not in use.

 

[tealetm]

Benefit is it takes nearly the same floor space with a larger rail, so instead of making a laminate extension table I have a second saw.

Advantage on two saws is saving a few seconds doing blade changes (some shops have dedicated dado or rip saws).

A luxury, not a necessity by any means.

 

[shoot summ]

There is a member on woodworking talk that has 3 side by side.

Nice work on yours, I tend to use old table saw tops for extension wings.

 

[Zeke]

Is there an actual use for two table saws side by side like that? I mean something beyond a one time specialty project? Were it me I'd sell the non industrial one and spend the money on tools.

I think its code that they have to be hardwired, I may be thinking of 5hp and up though. Two circuits would be the way to go, kill the breaker on one when not in use.

Yes, one right tilt and the other left tilt. Common set up.

On the switch I think you could very easily use a rotary change over switch and individual magnetic switches at each saw.

 

[PoorUB]

Yup, two 30 Amp contactors in a box and a single pole double throw switch to energize the contactors to power which saw. Hardwire to the contractors and then to the saws.

 

[ez-duzit]

For many years I have had 2 table saws married. Have a total of 3 table saws permanently setup in my shop. One with carbide rip blade, one with carbide combination crosscut blade, and one with carbide (1/2") dado. One saw is married to a router table.

Photos of old and new shops.

 

[mike93lx]

Nice. Many of the setups I've seen have them facing each other but offset. Left side extensions on both make for great out feed support and a huge work surface.

 

[Prospecter]

I am limited in available power. I have my RAS and Tablesaw on the same circuit. Not code, but in a one person shop, I can't use two tools at once, so it works out. If somehow I developed 10' arms and a desire to run two saws at once, the breaker would trip, so safe enough!

 

[macgyver37]

I had mine offset facing each other for awhile thinking it would be better and didn't like it, now I have them like this. The one I have on the right has a power feeder on it and it has done alot of ripping that way. The one on the left is the quicker gen use set up.

As for powering them up, I think it would be fine to just wire them both up to the same circuit and not worry about making it so you can only turn one on at a time. The only reason I could see to do that would be if you have kids in the shop.

 

[jar944]

Im not suggesting anyone do this, but you can have at least 15hp of ww equipment motors idling on a single 30a 10g circuit, and still use one 5hp machine (at a time) to its full extent without popping a breaker.

 

[Innovate1]

I have an extra Craftsman table saw that the motor is bad. Was thinking of scrapping it but perhaps I should keep it and make a way to attach it to the working one as an extension table. Might be just as easy to just make an extension table with a plywood top though... Being able to attach it on different sides depending on where it is needed is an interesting idea. I have just been using a roller stand but that has its limitations.

 

[Hank11]

One receptacle on the wall.
You could never run more than one at a time.

 

[Norcal]

It's rather simple to prevent both saws from being used at once, but might be hard to find accessories for the off breed mag starters that Delta uses, but auxiliary NC contacts on each starter would not allow one to run when the other is operating, and since it's control wiring only needs to be 14 or 16 AWG.

 

[RPH]

Yup, two 30 Amp contactors in a box and a single pole double throw switch to energize the contactors to power which saw. Hardwire to the contractors and then to the saws.

Use reversing contactors that are mechanical interlocked. Only one can be active at a time.

 

[walta]

I would wire it up with 2 relays as shown. Only one saw will run at a time. Note you will need to cut the wire where the green dot is.





Walta

 

[Renegade1LI]

For a one man shop just add a second receptacle on the same circuit. As long as everything is rated the same shouldn't be a problem.

 

[jar944]

I can invision times where the use of both saws at the same time makes sense (as long as you have 2 fences) is there a reason you want to limit that ability?

 

[mike93lx]

I can invision times where the use of both saws at the same time makes sense (as long as you have 2 fences) is there a reason you want to limit that ability?

What's the application in a one man shop? I get having both in play for a project, but both on at the same time?

 

[karoc]

Nice setup guys, I always wanted power feeder but never use one before nor could I justify the expense

 

[Renegade1LI]

I had two saws, one set up with a combo blade, one with dado, nice not to change set ups, especially with two fences. Once I got a track saw it changed everything, sold the second saw in a month. With the track saw I can almost eliminate the table saw, not to mention breaking down full sheets.

 

[jar944]

What's the application in a one man shop? I get having both in play for a project, but both on at the same time?

Any time you have a multi-process cut, especially if it's more than 2 setups. Cut on saw 1, cut on saw 2, stack and repeat. I don't do it with saws (since I don't have 2) but I'll do it across other machines. Even something as simple as a rabbet.

Is it necessary, no but if you have 2 machines side by side.

 

[mike93lx]

Any time you have a multi-process cut, especially if it's more than 2 setups. Cut on saw 1, cut on saw 2, stack and repeat. I don't do it with saws (since I don't have 2) but I'll do it across other machines. Even something as simple as a rabbet.

Is it necessary, no but if you have 2 machines side by side.

I am with you. But they won't be running at the same time.

 

[jar944]

I am with you. But they won't be running at the same time.

For sure you don't need to run both simultaneously, but if you did you would save a few steps and handle the material less.

 

[mike93lx]

For sure you don't need to run both simultaneously, but if you did you would save a few steps and handle the material less.

We are talking about different things.

I agree that having two saws setup for different operations is advantageous. But a single person can't be using two saws at the exact same time. So having them on a single circuit will work fine

 

[jar944]

We are talking about different things.

I agree that having two saws setup for different operations is advantageous. But a single person can't be using two saws at the exact same time. So having them on a single circuit will work fine

Agree one circuit is fine, I just wouldn't modify the starters to lock out the other saw as I would run both simultaneously. Only one would be cutting at a time.

 

[mike93lx]

Agree one circuit is fine, I just wouldn't modify the starters to lock out the other saw as I would run both simultaneously. Only one would be cutting at a time.

You would leave a saw running while not standing at it?

 

[Toolfool]

In my shop in WA I did end to end with an 8'x6' outfeed table in between. The 8'x2' section eventually became a downdraft table.

 

[jar944]

You would leave a saw running while not standing at it?

Yes, but in this case you would be standing next to both while running. The board never leaves your hand while running through the saws
1. Grab board from stack
2. Run through saw 1
3. Run through saw 2
4. Place board in "finished stack"
5. Repeat.


This isn't quite the same but the saw, feeder and jointer are all up and running at the same time here while I'm processing stock. I'll do the same with shapers sometimes and frequently with when resawing (joint, resaw, joint, resaw)

 

[tealetm]

Great input, thank you all.

Installing one outlet and just plugging in whichever saw I want to use is the easiest and most foolproof way of going about it, but I have a feeling I'd get lazy and not want to unplug it each time... so I'm leaning towards a rotary selector switch which will cut power to one saw and redirect it to the other.

 

[mike93lx]

How about a triple saw setup?

 

[turbowoodworker]

When I bought my Unisaw, I kept my Delta contractor saw and built an arrangement much like ToolFool’s with facing saws each offset to the left corner of a large outfeed table. The Unisaw is for ripping and the occasional wide crosscut ( most cross-cutting done at miter saw station). The smaller contractor saw is set up as dado saw.
This all works well, but I envy the OPs set up for its inherent better dust collection than the contractor open base.