Miter Saw mounted to the Ceiling?

[windward]

Calling all you engineer types.

I have a miter saw on a portable stand that takes up precious wall space in the garage. I could fold up the stand and hang it from the wall, but then it would be a pain if I just needed it for one quick cut.

I was thinking about cobbling together a contraption that would be mounted to the ceiling, which could be pulled down and locked into position when I wanted to use it. I am thinking either an articulating arm of some sort or a scissor extension, attached to a platform on which the saw is mounted.

Anyone have any thoughts about where I might be able to source such a contraption that could be modified to work, rather than trying to fabricate my own from scratch?

Look forward to hearing your ideas.

 

[SilverBulletZ06]

Counter-weighted stand on a rail?

 

[bullnerd]

Make sure you play this music when your using it! lol!

Something similar to this should be pretty easy to do.

 

[windward]

Make sure you play this music when your using it! lol!

Something similar to this should be pretty easy to do.

Had not seen this one. Could be a contender.....minus the music.


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[Kaizen]

wouldnt a shelf system be better where you can put the miter saw until needed on a universal stand? this whole ceiling mounted system seems overly complicated.

 

[HoosierMark]

How about an arm mounted to the wall that tilts up and out of the way for storage. Put a pivot point in a little further from the wall then the height of the saw then simply attach a hand winch and pull it up when not needed.

 

[6768rogues]

Sounds cool but it will be hard to make it stable. Maybe use a mechanism from a retractable attic stairway.

 

[windward]

wouldnt a shelf system be better where you can put the miter saw until needed on a universal stand? this whole ceiling mounted system seems overly complicated.

The darn thing is heavy and cumbersome. Putting it on a shelf will be a lot more work when I want to use it.

Plus I find it to be an interesting project to do.


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[windward]

How about an arm mounted to the wall that tilts up and out of the way for storage. Put a pivot point in a little further from the wall then the height of the saw then simply attach a hand winch and pull it up when not needed.

The only reason I was trying to avoid something wall mounted is there is always a lot of stuff near the walls. So when I want to use it I have to move a motorcycle, mower or other stuff. The center of my garage tends to be more open.


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[bullnerd]

"this whole ceiling mounted system seems overly complicated."

LOL! Have you heard of this web site called the garage journal?

That should be the motto! lol!

 

[windward]

"this whole ceiling mounted system seems overly complicated."

LOL! Have you heard of this web site called the garage journal?

That should be the motto! lol!

Yes, simplicity is not in our nature.


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[SouthLake]

My miter saw had to suffer the same fate in my home automotive shop. Built a shelf over a tall cabinet and moved it there. It’s a little cumbersome to get down but it’s worth it for occasional use, and the saved bench space.

I wouldn’t overthink it. Build shelf, stow.

 

[gearhead1]

Use the tool swing

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=381521&highlight=Tool+swing

 

[gearhead1]

Another option, find a forklift with a blown engine and use the mast.

 

[gtcs]

What about making a pivoting top? You could leave the other side empty, of double up like they did

It has moving parts so its kinda complicated...

 

[Copymutt]

I reached a point where there was no room for large infrequently used power tools. Got a nice Mennonite shed for storage of same. Parked it close to the garage. Now have once again run out of room

 

[bullnerd]

Use the tool swing

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=381521&highlight=Tool+swing

Is that guy still in business?

Cant find his website.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Got a workbench it could sit under ? How about just mounted it to a plate on a section of tubing and fasten some receiver tubing on the underside of your workbench ?



EDIT: many member have done this including myself to mount tubing benders, vises, grinders and other tools. Rather than to clutter up benchtop space, put them away till they are needed.

 

[thin_concrete]

What’s going to happen when you are working with long pieces that need support?

 

[windward]

What’s going to happen when you are working with long pieces that need support?

The saw itself has some extensions and I have adjustable stands that can be used for support.


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[bullnerd]

What’s going to happen when you are working with long pieces that need support?

They swing down too!

I like this swing down idea. Think of all the space up there being wasted!

 

[windward]

Got a workbench it could sit under ? How about just mounted it to a plate on a section of tubing and fasten some receiver tubing on the underside of your workbench ?



EDIT: many member have done this including myself to mount tubing benders, vises, grinders and other tools. Rather than to clutter up benchtop space, put them away till they are needed.

No room under any of the workbenches. I have all this unused ceiling space which is why I started thinking about some sort of drop down mechanism. I too use a receiver setup for my bullet vise, but would rather not use it for the saw.

GJ people are the most ingenious people on the planet. I figure if we noodle on it for a couple days someone will have a light bulb idea.


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[PugetDude]

Finished ceiling or open rafters?
How high is the ceiling?
How much attic height above the ceiling/trusses?
Pics?
Need more information...

 

[Sureshot]

I might do the same thing now that it is brought up. I am thinking an arm that pivots at the rafter and is long enough to hit the floor nearly vertical. Roll the saw up to it and us a rope hoist or ???? to lift the bottom up to the rafter. My ceiling is open with just bubble wrap under the tin. I have a mobile table saw and mobile miter saw stand, both on bigger wheels. My rafters are also 5' apart.

 

[PugetDude]

Find a surplus long pneumatic cylinder, mount the saw (or a saw-holding platform) on the bottom of it and use a manual remote valve to lift the saw up into the space between the rafters...or, if you have the height, sufficiently high enough below the ceiling that you don't bump your head when it's in the raised position. A cam or locking pin would keep it from dropping down when it's not energized.

Of course, you'd have to solemnly proclaim " Beam me up, Scotty" every time you sent the saw skyward...

 

[Kaizen]

The darn thing is heavy and cumbersome. Putting it on a shelf will be a lot more work when I want to use it.

Plus I find it to be an interesting project to do.


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Ok then here is what I would do depending on ceiling height. I’d use a hand crank winch. Attach at side of the garage up to ceiling then over to the tool. But I’d make a bench for the tool. Winch cable attaches to corners of bench. Folding legs under the bench. So when lowered you can open legs and keep lowering. When stored only takes two feet of headroom.


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[icthruu74]

It’s on a portable stand? Why not something like a canoe hoist system? You could hoist it up to the ceiling on the stand and lower it back down when you need it. The only problem I see is that my saw and stand are top heavy so it would want to flip saw down in something like that.

 

[windward]

Finished ceiling or open rafters?
How high is the ceiling?
How much attic height above the ceiling/trusses?
Pics?
Need more information...

Good catch. I clearly did not give enough information.
9' finished ceiling.
24" OC trusses
4/12 pitch roof

Height of the saw is roughly 2'
Bottom of the saw currently sits at 3"
So I need to be able to extend or pivot the saw down 4'.


In line with what others have mentioned, here is one method, which could be coupled with an electric motor. The bad thing is I would need to drop it down onto a table or my portable stand to use it.

My goal was not just to find a way to store the saw, rather make a contraption where it utilized wasted headroom, yet was easily accessible and usable. I want to reach up and pull it down and immediately use it, then push it right back up to get it out of the way. Something similar to how a desk lamp works.

I think I need to work out something using some gas springs to pivot down a platform, similar to the bike video posted above. Or something with a couple articulated arms, which I assume would have to use friction instead of hydraulics.

 

[NUTTSGT]

No room under any of the workbenches. I have all this unused ceiling space which is why I started thinking about some sort of drop down mechanism. I too use a receiver setup for my bullet vise, but would rather not use it for the saw.

GJ people are the most ingenious people on the planet. I figure if we noodle on it for a couple days someone will have a light bulb idea.


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OK, next thought.

Got any wall space left for a set of overhead garage door tracks ? Mount a set of tracks to the wall 12-24" apart. Build a platform for the saw to sit on, but be a basic "L" shape to allow placement of 4 garage door rollers.

Saw will go up and down on the tracks and sit where you design it too. . . . height wise. Power to raise/lower could be a hank crank or a cheaper electric model like the unit from HF, all coupled with a pulley or two hooked on the saw base/platform.

 

[thin_concrete]

If you have overhead cabinets, can you mount it below those on a pivot so that it lies against the wall when not in use and then stands on legs when you put into it’s using position?

 

[windward]

OK, next thought.

Got any wall space left for a set of overhead garage door tracks ? Mount a set of tracks to the wall 12-24" apart. Build a platform for the saw to sit on, but be a basic "L" shape to allow placement of 4 garage door rollers.

Saw will go up and down on the tracks and sit where you design it too. . . . height wise. Power to raise/lower could be a hank crank or a cheaper electric model like the unit from HF, all coupled with a pulley or two hooked on the saw base/platform.

This is a great idea. That may be my next best solution if I cannot figure out how to ceiling mount it.

 

[Sureshot]

OK, next thought.



Got any wall space left for a set of overhead garage door tracks ? Mount a set of tracks to the wall 12-24" apart. Build a platform for the saw to sit on, but be a basic "L" shape to allow placement of 4 garage door rollers.



Saw will go up and down on the tracks and sit where you design it too. . . . height wise. Power to raise/lower could be a hank crank or a cheaper electric model like the unit from HF, all coupled with a pulley or two hooked on the saw base/platform.

Unistrut would also work great.



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[PugetDude]

OK, next thought.

Got any wall space left for a set of overhead garage door tracks ? Mount a set of tracks to the wall 12-24" apart. Build a platform for the saw to sit on, but be a basic "L" shape to allow placement of 4 garage door rollers.

Saw will go up and down on the tracks and sit where you design it too. . . . height wise. Power to raise/lower could be a hank crank or a cheaper electric model like the unit from HF, all coupled with a pulley or two hooked on the saw base/platform.

Nutts, good idea...
Why not just use a cheap garage door opener to lift it? If you used standard tracks, the saw would end up hanging at 90 degrees to the ceiling..

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nutts, good idea...
Why not just use a cheap garage door opener to lift it? If you used standard tracks, the saw would end up hanging at 90 degrees to the ceiling..

I just figured a electric hoist or something similar would be cheaper, easier and closer to the ceiling. A cheap GD opener could be problematic or an older used model could have issues and further complicate things.

 

[manwithtools]

Isn't it kind of hard to use upside down?

I vote for a cable and pulley arrangement to allow raising and lowering it. If you have not done a fair amount of engineering for gas cylinders, be prepared to spend a lot of money on trial and error on cylinders. I've done a fair bit of applications using gas cylinders and I dread everyone of them. Even after you do the calculations to the tee, there is generally a need to tweak it just a bit. By tweak I mean buy the next size up or down cylinder - which you don't find out until you test the operation with the original cylinders.

 

[windward]

I remembered why I did not want to mount it to a track on the wall. I can find room for the track and saw on the wall, but I never have the adjacent room to handle the long lengths of lumber.


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[MushCreek]

Now I want to figure a way to hoist some of my stuff up out of the way! I have a 12" miter saw on a folding stand, which is very portable and doesn't take up much room, but my table saw uses a lot of real estate. I could drill and tap holes in the table for eye bolts, and use an electric winch to pull it up. I have 12' ceilings, so height isn't an issue. The table saw is one of those tools that gets heavily used during a project, but then just takes up space the rest of the time. Something about a table saw dangling by a cable overhead worries me, so I'd figure out a way to secure it once it was lifted.

I made a freight elevator to get stuff up to my loft, and used a HF 120V winch. I tested it with about 500 lbs., but I never put more than 200 on it at a time. It's not big enough for the table saw, though.

 

[bugnut]

I'm with mushcreek a couple lifting straps and a 100$ HF 110v electric hoist on the location of choice.

 

[bullnerd]

Find an old aluminum ladder, (straight, like half an extension), cut to length, hinge the top, add gas cylinder, only has to hold it up, Add these feet to the bottom, make a plywood shelf for the tool and swing down arms for work support.

https://www.mcmaster.com/2728T21


Ladders are everywhere, stiff and light.

https://www.mcmaster.com/2728T21

 

[rustedgoat]

If you have 12' ceiling, just get taller shelves. If you want make a sliding trolley pulley thing to lower heavy stuff. Sometimes the change in projects changes the real estate consuming tools needed for them.