Table saw upgrade

[Outlawmws]

I've had my current double table saw setup for near 20 years or so, but because the saws tables were different depths I never really got the full benefit of having them all in one the way I did it. It didn't help that I'd never completed the extension I wanted to add to the front of the small 8" Delta Milwaukee Homecraft. (I'm not a heavy duty work with wood all the time guy...)

Why two? One setup for ripping and I used the 8" for dado's and rabbits.

So getting another Sears King Seeley Craftsman, that while it was an early 60's (Crown label) saw, was near identical to the 50's King Seeley I've been using for years,was a no brainer. I'd been watching for a deal on one to match for ages, but they were always more than I was willing to lay out.

But a free Craftsman Table saw, (Needs Motor) was too good to pass up and I took it without knowing what model it was. Turns out the motor is fine as is the switch in the switched extension cord, but the cord was dead. no biggie, I tossed both (but kept the switch for parts...) Even better, while they changed the box under it a fair bit, everything else is identical or close enough to not matter!

Here is the Combined saw before; Note the Masonite spacer, and that the left end of the fence scale is broken off, (bought that way... ) This actually worked out in my favor!

Got the Homecraft off and the 1/4" Masonite spacer I had used to get the two dissimilar saws even

And the saws setup together; I had to redrill all eight mounting hole to get them both completely on the stand, but they do fit! The broken scale was moved to the "new saw, and that saw's scale was moved to the old. I cut the broken bit off square and then used a 4" mini grinder to grind a concave section that mated reasonably close to the convex end it needed to mate with. I used one of the extension table wings from the new saw, to align the gear teeth, and tightened the two scales. Perfect gear mesh on the fence!

I added the left side side extension but for now am leaving the right side extension off so it still fits in it's pocket in the garage, but It's being kept with the saw and can be bolted back on in a couple of minutes...

Finished top size without the 2nd extension is 48" wide, and a full 27 deep everywhere now. I can bump the width another 10" with the other extension.

It's nice to get a long term project completed...

 

[zuk123]

Cool setup Outlaw. I know what you mean about long term projects! I've got some that are 10yrs old. It would be nice to knock off one or 2.

Since you aren't a 'heavy duty wood guy' why do you find it helpful to leave the dado head set up? I'd think it wouldn't take too long to swap over if you only use it very infrequently...

zuk

I guess if you want the bigger table surface it is just a bonus to have the other saw always ready.

 

[Rust]

Thats a nice set up. I like that alot. I have a 50's King Seeley Craftsman 8" and I love the thing. I made my own table extensions from high density plastic and poplar wood and have been looking for a blade guard..seem to be tough to find.

I'm wrapping up a restoration on a 1939 10" 1-HP Walker Turner tilt top bench saw.
The saw is done..been for a while. The stand is proving to be more work than the saw.
I'll post some pics when it's done.

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool setup Outlaw. I know what you mean about long term projects! I've got some that are 10yrs old. It would be nice to knock off one or 2.

Since you aren't a 'heavy duty wood guy' why do you find it helpful to leave the dado head set up? I'd think it wouldn't take too long to swap over if you only use it very infrequently...

zuk

I guess if you want the bigger table surface it is just a bonus to have the other saw always ready.

The primary reason I wanted two saws wide was to get the table width extension, especially as when I originally bought the first Craftsman, It was on a badly made steel stand, was top heavy and was in constant danger of falling over. It was well before Eprey and Craig's List, so finding table extensions was not that easy or likely (It didn't have any).

But the other advantage was I rarely do anything with this saw except the ripping and dadoing. So if it's going to be there, I just made it semi permanent. Set the the fence or miter and blade depth, and go.

One thing I will do before its all over is a single long wood bar on two of the miters. So when I'm dealing with a longer piece in a cross cut, I can expect it not to yaw to the side from drag. If I need an angle it will be more painful, as I would need to unscrew it from one miter, set them both, and then reattach, but not that big a deal. I have at least 4 miters for these, so dedicating two isn't a bad idea.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Nice. Looks good. Gives you a nice big table top.
Now does the fence stay nice and parallel with the blade and miter slot(s) all the way down the rails?

 

[Outlawmws]

The edge of the table is the primary indexing surface, and both tables are good and square, so the only real thing I need to do is verify the "new" table saw's blade has been properly positioned. I'll pick up on that part later, but it should not be an issue.

All the bolt on part does is provide a gear rack for moving the fence, and a scale that I never use. I always double check the fence for square to the table edge or a miter groove anyway before making a cut. Its' not a high end pro fence by any stretch, but if checked does just fine.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That's a pretty slick idea, I like it.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

If you wanted to, since the table is the full 27 deep, you could even get an align-A Rip fence, It's not really too bad of a fence.
The little 103.XXXX Craftsman saw I had was not the full 27" deep.
It was a nice little saw though.
I think it was actually built better than my 113.XXXX I have today.
Still would like a uni-saw one of these days.

Saw I have today, did upgrade to the align-a rip fence.

 

[camarotoolman]

Wish GJ had a woodworking section, I'm not into cars and welding!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Wish GJ had a woodworking section, I'm not into cars and welding!

Have you asked Ryan about starting one ?

 

[dandan111]

Great idea.

 

[Outlawmws]

Wish GJ had a woodworking section, I'm not into cars and welding!

Have you asked Ryan about starting one ?

In the meantime, why not do it in "Fabrication & Techniques"

 

[RedVise]

Looks like a big Record wood vise in the background in the last picture ?
The blue one...


Brian L.

 

[Outlawmws]

If you wanted to, since the table is the full 27 deep, you could even get an align-A Rip fence, It's not really too bad of a fence.
The little 103.XXXX Craftsman saw I had was not the full 27" deep.
It was a nice little saw though.
I think it was actually built better than my 113.XXXX I have today.
Still would like a uni-saw one of these days.

Saw I have today, did upgrade to the align-a rip fence.

I've considered doing something like this, but with the old setup I didn't need another "project" to get it to fit. and if I get more into working with wood probably will (or if I find one for a deal somewhere... )

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Yes, I got a deal on mine.

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks like a big Record wood vise in the background in the last picture ?
The blue one...


Brian L.

Actually there are two big wood vises, I know one has quick release, and I think the other does also, and dang it I meant to write down what make/model they were for my tool inventory, and didn't...

It's a semi big deal to get the saw out, and they are stored on its bottom shelf now...

 

[pfctblu]

Ditto that Camarotoolman.

My wife recently gave me a Lie Nielsen PP dovetail saw so I couldn't help but post in the new tools thread. Probably the finest tool I own. That saw deserves it own THREAD its so good.

Gotta love this site, but to me, garage=woodshop...with the occasional making of room for a car to park.

PS: dig the old crafty tablesaw setup in this thread. Do you guys really run dado stacks that often? I usually run all my sheet cuts and then setup for the dado and run them all at once. I suppose it would be nice to leave it, but doesn't seem like such a big deal to me.

 

[Outlawmws]

Ditto that Camarotoolman.

My wife recently gave me a Lie Nielsen PP dovetail saw so I couldn't help but post in the new tools thread. Probably the finest tool I own. That saw deserves it own THREAD its so good.

Gotta love this site, but to me, garage=woodshop...with the occasional making of room for a car to park.

PS: dig the old crafty tablesaw setup in this thread. Do you guys really run dado stacks that often? I usually run all my sheet cuts and then setup for the dado and run them all at once. I suppose it would be nice to leave it, but doesn't seem like such a big deal to me.

I already said why I added the second table (see above), and having the blade setup is just gravy.

I almost never run ply/sheet stock through the T saw (other than smaller pieces), as without an infeed/outfeed table I get much better results with a guide and a Skilsaw. For me the T saw is primarily ripping of boards.