Small Garage - Table Saw Dominates the Space, Ideas?

[Dan in Pasadena]

The "workbench ideas for a small garage" thread and Jack Olsen's fold up benches got me thinking about the things that limit the useability of my littel garage. Like Jack's, my garage is a detached 80 year old, two car garage and my tablesaw (which I don't use much) dominates the space. Especially because the motor sticks out the back and so you can't put it solidly up against a wall.

Its a nice saw I bought from my brother-in-law for a good price. I hate to sell it in favor of a contractor's saw which I could put under a work bench, but that is what I have been thinking of to address the problem. Mine is a big Delta with a Unisaw fence - but again, I'm no woodworker. I could get by with a lesser saw for the few projects I use it for. All ideas appreciated.

 

[Sammy7]

I had the same problem when I lived in Oklahoma. It's not too creative, but I put it in a storage locker when I moved to Utah since I barely use it. Not sure what I'm going to do when I move again this summer.

 

[fotoflojoe]

A Unisaw is a hell of a lot of saw if you don't use it much.

How about putting it on a heavy mobile base. Then, you could at least roll it out of the way.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

A Unisaw is a hell of a lot of saw if you don't use it much.

How about putting it on a heavy mobile base. Then, you could at least roll it out of the way.

Its not a Unisaw, it is a good Delta and only has the Unisaw rip fence. BUT, it is already on a heavy mobile base. My problem is my garage is small and the motor sticks out the back. Plus the table is fairly long.

I really am thinking of selling it - I only paid $450 for it from my brother in law so I should have no trouble getting my money out of it. Then buy a small contractor's saw and one of those foldable tables for it. I'd hate to do it, but it probably makes the most sense space-wise.

 

[Jim Stabe]

Is there any space in the overhead? There are a couple threads about using winches to hoist up tools for additional space. I did it in my shop with a trap door in the mezanine.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31693

Jim

 

[rieferman]

In my floor plan, the chop saw and the table saw are both set at the exact same height - this allows me to position the table saw to the left of the chop saw, wind the blade down beneath the table surface, and use it as a support table for longer pieces being cut. Use a small thin piece of laminate to protect the saw surface, lockable casters to make it a mobile cart basically.

In other words, my table saw is a rolling counter top until I need it to be a saw. Therefore I don't mind it being "in the way".

 

[ultgar]

this is why I sold my Delta contractors saw and went to Festool saws with multiple guide rails. Great for rips and cross cuts, good dust collection and they store away in very little space. A lot easier to take to jobsites too! SD

 

[autoist]

Not only do I use my table saw for off-feed on my chop saw, but with the blade run all way down, I have a heavy piece of cardboard I lay over it & it becomes a great workbench!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

The use-it-as-a-workbench idea is a good one. It still doesn't solve the problem of the motor sticking out the back though. If I remove the belt from the motor, it drops lower allwing me to get it closer to the wall, but still not completely out of the way. I actually thought of framing out a small box in the wall for the motor to protrude into! Its about my only option. The good nes about that is that 4" of the motor protrusion would be in the stud/wallboard space, but I would still need about another 4-6".

Anyone have a recommendation on the best-for-the-buck homeowner small contractor saw and the foldable type table?

 

[Jose Cuervo]

You can probably get away with using a smaller contractor or benchtop saw.

I'm thinking of building this and rolling it into my shed when not in use:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34618

 

[shovel]

I have a uniwsaw with a sliding table attachment. It is on a Delta mobile base. I store a 14" bandsaw and a shop press behind the saw. Yeah, it does eat up way too much room, but when I have to do woodwork, it is the only way to fly. You'll regret getting rid of the saw.

 

[Kevin54]

I also have a Delta Contractors saw. Heavy cast iron top and motor hanging out the back. I stored it in the garage but it takes up way to much space. It now stays out in the shed. I've thought a hundred times about selling it as it may set for a year without getting used. But almost everytime i think I have it sold, I need it. So a handtruck and to the shed it goes time after time.

 

[ddawg16]

Not only do I use my table saw for off-feed on my chop saw, but with the blade run all way down, I have a heavy piece of cardboard I lay over it & it becomes a great workbench!

That is basically what I do with my Ryobi table saw....it has the drop leaf attachement so I end up using that quite a bit.

When the garage is done, my wife and I are going to build a roll-around woodworking table that we can mount the table saw to...

 

[rjstaaf]

I have a Delta Contractors saw and it is taking up more than it's fair share of my 20x23 which I mainly use for working on the vehicles. I have come to the conclusion that it needs to go to the basement. Unfortunately the basement is under an addition to the house and only accessible from the outside.

This means I have to drag the saw around the house through the yard. The terrain rules out the typical mobil base units that are out there. I am working on a DIY mobil base with large lawn mower wheels to make wheeling the thing around the yard much easier.

 

[jamesemery728]

Had the same problem with a 40 year old Craftsman cast iron table saw that I bought new. Too heavy to move around any more, not as strong as I once was. Replaced it with a Ryobi BTS21 from HD. Caught it on sale for about $100 off. The legs fold up and it stores in the corner or almost anywhere. I realize that I had to trade heavy duty cast iron for aluminum and plastic but its only used once in a while now and I don't have to risk a hernia or a broken back to use it. I hated to sell my old Craftsman buddy but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do...

 

[rsanter]

pallet racking
install one section of pallet racking and slide the saw under the first shelf and then you have all the storage above that for storage.
my first little house was one of those 50s houses with the '2' car garage. yea, two of what 50s car will fit, MGs would have been tight.
so its really a 1.5 car garage. I installed one section of the pallet racking on the back wall and had ther table saw under it as well as the jointer.
I used the first shelf right above the table saw as a work bench and the the next shelf was positioned at a height that I would not hit my head and the one more above that.
that one rack held a ton of stuff

bob

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I have a Delta Contractors saw and it is taking up more than it's fair share of my 20x23 which I mainly use for working on the vehicles. I have come to the conclusion that it needs to go to the basement. Unfortunately the basement is under an addition to the house and only accessible from the outside.

This means I have to drag the saw around the house through the yard. The terrain rules out the typical mobil base units that are out there. I am working on a DIY mobil base with large lawn mower wheels to make wheeling the thing around the yard much easier.

Great idea except....."California" and "basement" don't belong in the same sentence.

When I get some time I'm gonna check out Consumers Report for a comparison of contractor's saws and folding support tables.

 

[rpmwwe]

Dan, you might want to try to find someone who has a portable saw and try theirs out before you downsize. You might be disappointed. I have both, portable style (with a folding mobile stand) and contractor style. Without a doubt, the contractor saw is superior. The portable saw wants to slide away from me when I run a larger piece through it and the motor peters out if I run too fast.

If downsizing is a must then you might want to consider replacing the table saw with a radial arm saw. Although it can take up about the same amount of space it can pretty much do everything the table saw does (including rip cuts) plus compound bevel miter cuts (eliminates any need for a miter saw). The radial arm saw can be mounted onto a work bench or it can be made portable on it's own rollaway stand, and the overall size of the table can be made as big or as small as you like. This machine could possibly replace a half dozen other tools you may already have in your garage that are taking up space. You can attach all kinds of stuff to these things like bench grinder wheels, buffing wheels, wire brush wheels, sanding discs, sanding drums, drill chucks, etc. There were some smaller models, using 8" and 9" blades, that were sold by Sears and Ryobi that you can probably now find on ebay or Craigslist in the $50 to $150 price range.

I have an old Montgomery Ward Powr Kraft TPC-2610C. This model has two auxiliary power shafts (one turns at 3450 rpm and the other turns at 20,000 rpm) for using the unit as an overarm shaper and router. If you can find one get it. They're heavy duty and parts and accessories for them come up on ebay semi-regularly.

 

[oldgoat]

Since you say that you don't use it much I'd put it up for sale. Then buy the contractor saw for the occasional use. My tools are all on mobile bases that put the table at the same height as each other. That way they can be a support for long pieces. The small saw can still do some decent work and will free up wasted space in the garage.

 

[Ruiner]

I'm considering a JET table saw for what little woodwork I do...sounds like you might need to look at one too...

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I am against the contractor saw idea. I will tell you why, their motor sticks out the back as well.

Now, there are some new hybrid saws, which might work for you, as well as some saws on portable stands (Craftsman 21829 which is basically a Ryobi BT3100. Bosch 4100 on Gravity rise stand). I also am a guided circular saw system fan, but my preference is the EZ Smart system, from Eurekazone. (made in the USA).

Might I add one more idea. Is your saw on a mobile base already? Just loosing workbench space?

See:

Look at all your options, before you make the wrong decission for you.

 

[Farmallgray]

How hard is it to remove the motor completly? I have a big one that I inherited from my step grandfather. I don't know what brand it is and I only use it about once a year. It takes just a minute or two to remove or replace the motor. It takes longer to bolt the table extensions on or take them off. I don't do much woodworking, but it sure is handy to have the saw around when I need it.