Sawstop mobile base build

[dragginbalz]

I finally pulled the trigger and purchased a new table saw (after saving for two years). At first I was going to get their mobile base, but there were two reason why I decided against it.

1. It only had two swivel casters, so pushing it against the wall would be more of a challenge.

2. The saw is only 34" high. My old saw was 36" and I would have liked that a bit taller as well.

I decided to purchase some casters and feet, use some steel I had laying around and go to work!

Phase 1 is complete, hopefully I can finish today and start getting the saw assembled! Thanks for looking!

Sketch

Tubing cut

Fit up

Tacked miter

Ends capped

Main base welded

Some of the better welds (maybe I'll get the hang of TIG someday..)

 

[dragginbalz]

Prepping for the level mounts

Feet ready to be welded

Test fit

Welded up mounts

 

[dragginbalz]

OOPS....I had to fix a boo-boo today. I used the measurements online to plan the base. When I received the saw (but of course after I welded it up) I double checked and the measurements were not exactly accurate. The saw would have been extremely close to the saw, probably too close to use a socket to adjust the feet, which is what I want to use. So, on to fix the error. I added 3/4" to the length.

Spacer tacked in place

welded up

Layout the caster mounts

Bust out the cut off wheel

Rough cut and drilled

I got a late start tonight. Tomorrow I will smooth out the caster mounts, weld them in place, finish grind and weld everything and get a coat of paint on it.

Thanks for looking.

 

[TerryH]

Excellent work!!!

 

[sberry]

Yours is better built, also did one to replace a wood deal that managed to limp around for 40 yrs.

 

[dragginbalz]

I was able to finish it up today and with the help of my brother, get the saw lifted into place. Overall I am happy with how it turned out.

I assume from the number of views but lack of posts, most people like looking at pictures and not reading (me too!) so here are some pics. Let me know if you have any questions.

The only thing I still need to make is a stop to keep the saw from shifting front to back (side to side is locked in) and get some longer bolts for the leveling feet.

Thanks for looking!

Caster mount smoothed out

Welded on

I had these tabs laying around and worked perfectly to cap the feet mounts and add a bit more thread for the leveling feet.

Painted (3 coats of Zero Rust)

Completed

 

[aggierailroad]

Looks really nice!

 

[madosta]

Wow. You're right about the pictures vs posts. But try and do something wrong and you'll get a bunch of responses!!! HAHA.

I must comment on your "richy rich" table saw you pansy. You must really like your fingers - got em all buttered up and soft for a lady?

HAHAHA...

All joking aside, I have access to one of those saws and it's a great machine - but the CEO is a scare tactic salesman and I'm not blaming him. It's a good insurance and quality saw.

Nice work!

 

[dragginbalz]

Wow. You're right about the pictures vs posts. But try and do something wrong and you'll get a bunch of responses!!! HAHA.

I must comment on your "richy rich" table saw you pansy. You must really like your fingers - got em all buttered up and soft for a lady?

HAHAHA...

All joking aside, I have access to one of those saws and it's a great machine - but the CEO is a scare tactic salesman and I'm not blaming him. It's a good insurance and quality saw.

Nice work!

It's funny that you say that. I have a theory that there are only two ways to get a lot of posts. You can either do something totally crappy and/or unsafe or do something totally outstanding. I am just too average so I will take the lack of posts as proof of my average skills, which I am 100% fine with!!

As far as the saw goes, I have been saving for a while. I have been using my table saw quite a bit over the years and would prefer to keep all my fingers, thank you very much!!

Of course, I try to be safe when using all my tools, but it only takes a few seconds to have a life changing accident so if I can reduce the chances of that, I am all for it. Not that I am going to stop using push blocks or anything, but the added insurance is worth it in my opinion.

As you mentioned, I am really looking forward to the performance of the saw as well. I have not heard anything bad about them, other than the cost and people's opinions of the company owner...Wimp? Yeah, I probably am..

Thanks!

 

[F-117HWK]

I love it. Pure beef. Where are some pics from further back showing the whole setup?

Two actual fab questions:

What did you use to smooth our the caster mounts after cutting? They look great.

When you cut the frame to add the spacer, what did you use to add the angles to the pieces to allow the weld to sit down in the valley like that?

 

[Steevo]

That's a beauty.
The saw and the mobile base!

 

[stinkity stoink]

nice work!!!

 

[franksinatra]

beautiful work!

 

[dragginbalz]

I love it. Pure beef. Where are some pics from further back showing the whole setup?

Two actual fab questions:

What did you use to smooth our the caster mounts after cutting? They look great.

When you cut the frame to add the spacer, what did you use to add the angles to the pieces to allow the weld to sit down in the valley like that?

I'll take some more once I get the saw put together. I will need to lengthen the legs for the support wing as well, so I will take some then.

To smooth the caster tubing, I have a multitool belt sander. I got it a few years ago under the "Blue Point" brand for like $100. I am happy with it.

I just put a new belt on, but am not sure what grit it is ha-ha. (I found in a box and the old one was shredded). If I remember correctly when I purchased them it was probably 100 grit. I had a red scotchbrite roloc on a 3" grinder and just hit the inside of the mount quickly as well.

To bevel the sides of the tubing, I just used a 40 grit flap disc on my 4.5" grinder at about a 45° angle. It makes a strong weld with very little grinding needed to flush it up with the existing tubing without removing much of the weld.

Thanks!

 

[metaleltr]

Make sure that your saw is grounded, it looks as if all points contacting the ground are insulated. If the saw does not have a ground to the floor it will not properly activate the safety.

 

[dragginbalz]

Make sure that your saw is grounded, it looks as if all points contacting the ground are insulated. If the saw does not have a ground to the floor it will not properly activate the safety.

Thanks for the concern. I contacted SawStop directly and they assured me that this is not an issue.

 

[tarbellb]

That is a great looking setup. Super beefy, and mobile to boot.

Question: do you feel like the floor mount points have a large enough foot print? Seems to be about the same as the cabinet itself? Any tipping or wobble issues?

Also, stop with the teaser shots, take that plastic wrap off and lets see the whole bute:]

 

[dragginbalz]

That is a great looking setup. Super beefy, and mobile to boot.

Question: do you feel like the floor mount points have a large enough foot print? Seems to be about the same as the cabinet itself? Any tipping or wobble issues?

Also, stop with the teaser shots, take that plastic wrap off and lets see the whole bute:]

That is a very good question and one of my concerns as well. I will let you know! My initial thought it to try and use the feet as "brakes" only, put enough pressure on to keep the base from moving, but the casters still make contact. If I have any issues, I will make adjustments and post!! I am not afraid to show my mistakes!

I did not get into the garage today, so no assembly yet. Tomorrow, I promise...

 

[rharman]

It's funny that you say that. I have a theory that there are only two ways to get a lot of posts. You can either do something totally crappy and/or unsafe or do something totally outstanding. I am just too average so I will take the lack of posts as proof of my average skills, which I am 100% fine with!!

As far as the saw goes, I have been saving for a while. I have been using my table saw quite a bit over the years and would prefer to keep all my fingers, thank you very much!!

Of course, I try to be safe when using all my tools, but it only takes a few seconds to have a life changing accident so if I can reduce the chances of that, I am all for it. Not that I am going to stop using push blocks or anything, but the added insurance is worth it in my opinion.

As you mentioned, I am really looking forward to the performance of the saw as well. I have not heard anything bad about them, other than the cost and people's opinions of the company owner...Wimp? Yeah, I probably am..

Thanks!

That is a beautiful build. Very impressive. SawStop is at the top of my wishlist when I win the Lotto - I've told my wife that for years.

Not happy with the lawyers advertising to sue if you had a table saw accident. I think everyone would have been better served if the SawStop licensing was more reasonably priced and other manufacturers had embraced it rather than avoid it out of fear that adopting it was a tacit admission that their product had been faulty all along. That strategy is not working.

Anyway, congrats on the purchase and build. It's a solid product and your base is a great addition to it. I'm very jealous.

 

[dragginbalz]

That is a beautiful build. Very impressive. SawStop is at the top of my wishlist when I win the Lotto - I've told my wife that for years. ....

Thank you!

I am an amateur woodworker at best..this is by far out of my league as far as tools are concerned, but I don't regret the purchase at all!!

What I did was just set up a separate saving's account a few years ago and called it "Sawstop". Every paycheck I would throw in a few bucks. It was amazing how much money I was able to save by doing that! Once I had enough, I made the decision and told my wife, "When they run another promo, I am going to buy one." (I can't buy anything that isn't on sale or something! Since they do not run these on sale, the free-bee would have to do).

No more thinking about it, no more procrastinating. Once the money was saved specifically for the saw, it made that part of it a non- issue. When I received email of the promo, I called up the tool supplier that quoted me in 2010 and ordered it (before I could talk myself out of spending the money ) It was paid off a month before I even received the saw! I don't miss the money since it was specifically put aside for this purchase, a little at a time.

Not sure if that helps you, but it did for me. I would not have this saw if I did not save specifically for it. I couldn't justify the purchase since it is just for a hobby.

 

[F-117HWK]

I'll take some more once I get the saw put together. I will need to lengthen the legs for the support wing as well, so I will take some then.

To smooth the caster tubing, I have a multitool belt sander. I got it a few years ago under the "Blue Point" brand for like $100. I am happy with it.

I just put a new belt on, but am not sure what grit it is ha-ha. (I found in a box and the old one was shredded). If I remember correctly when I purchased them it was probably 100 grit. I had a red scotchbrite roloc on a 3" grinder and just hit the inside of the mount quickly as well.

To bevel the sides of the tubing, I just used a 40 grit flap disc on my 4.5" grinder at about a 45° angle. It makes a strong weld with very little grinding needed to flush it up with the existing tubing without removing much of the weld.

Thanks!

Thanks for the reply. It looks like Snap-On released that around 2001. I cant find one anywhere for anything near $100 so sounds like you got a deal! They look to be around $4-500. Very cool attachment.

Gotcha. I havent used a flap disc yet, but I just ordered some the other day after all the praise I have been reading about them. Ill have to try that, thanks.

 

[John11]

awesome mobile base, love the idea.

 

[John11]

great pics and instruction on your base build, thanks.

 

[Angerman]

Great job. I'm debating whether or not I should build something similar or just buy Delta's mobile base.

 

[dbonne]

No wonder you don't want to unwrap it, I just saw the price!!! Holy Balls that is a nice saw!!

Oh, Yeah, Killer Base to boot

 

[98TJ]

Nice work.

When we move back to the mainland I plan on picking up a SawStop.

 

[BMW Rider]

I just bought the same Sawstop Professional series 3.0 hp. Still waiting for the 36" fence to come in, but got the rest of it setup and ready to go. I just opted for the basic mobile base as I will very seldom move it anyway. Its just to make the job easier if I ever do need to.

Nice work on your base, I'd bet it would hold the weight of four or five saws. Stability is a good thing and that base won't wobble FYI, you can use the heavier Industrial saw mobile base on the Professional saw. It does have four swivel casters, but you would still not gain the extra height you wanted. Just another option for others to keep in mind.

 

[dragginbalz]

FYI, you can use the heavier Industrial saw mobile base on the Professional saw. It does have four swivel casters, but you would still not gain the extra height you wanted. Just another option for others to keep in mind.

True that is a viable option! The price of the industrial base and the fact that it doesn't fit the non-ICS saws well (it is based on the 30" depth instead of the 27" of the PCS) are two other reasons why I did not consider that one besides not lifting the saw to a more comfortable height for myself! Otherwise that is a very nice mobile base with the foot pedal lift and drop!

Thanks on the comment everyone!