I am new to woodworking and I’m finding it hard to work with my table saw because the stand was built for a much taller person not a 5’1” person such as myself. My solution is to build a cabinet for my contractor’s table saw with a router table extension. I found two plans. Both plans use plywood panels with rails and stiles for the cabinets. Will rabbit joinery reinforced with screws be strong enough or do I need to use the panel construction for it to hold the weight of the saw?
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My second question is can I build one cabinet 33 ½ “ long or should I build two cabinets and attach them?
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What do you suggest?
Replies
Another simpler alternative would be a step stool to stand on.
Rabbets and screws should be fine, as long as the back is solidly attached (that is, the box should have at least five solidly connected sides).
I would build one cabinet, but put a vertical divider in the middle to support the top.
-Steve
Steve,
Another simpler alternative would be a step stool to stand on.
You did mean t put a :-) after that?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 6/18/2009 10:15 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
Another simpler alternative would be a step stool to stand on.
WOW! I can't think of anything more dangerous than operating a tablesaw while standing on a step stool. I hope the original poster doesn't try that.
Lee
Perhaps I should have been more explicit: I'm not talking about a dinky little thing, but something more like a platform, maybe 3-4' wide by 2' deep.
-Steve
You're still crazy.
If you were to dig an 8"-deep, saw cabinet-sized pit in the floor and put the saw into that, it would be fine, right? What's the difference between that and building a platform? How large would the platform have to be to extend to the limit of the "sphere of influence" of the saw?
-Steve
The difference is that a trench the size of the saws footprint can't trip you because the edge is blocked by the saw. The edge of a platform is not the same.
Personally, after working around tools for 4 decades and seeing some truly horrendous injuries; I don't want anything to worry about tripping me up within a good 8' of a table saw in all directions. It only takes once and it only takes a second. So, I guess if you continue the progression from stool to platform to a raised floor; I'd be happy. Though, I do think the op's idea of adjusting the cabinet height would be easier.PeteEdited 6/19/2009 1:16 am ET by habilisEdited 6/19/2009 1:17 am ET by habilis
Edited 6/19/2009 1:21 am ET by habilis
Thank you all for you input. I had thought of the platform too but I was worried about feeling safe. When operating a table saw, if I don't feel secure about my safety I won't take the risk.
So I'll come back to my original question will a simple cabinet with rabbit joints secured with screws be strong enough or do I have to use frame and panel construction?
A low cabinet would make some sense in your situation. Rabbets and dados with screws and glue would likely be fine. You'll probably need some intermediate supports (dividers) inside the cabinet and you might want to consider what else the cabinet will need to do. For example, will you want storage inside for blades? Will you need to allow access under the central part of the saw for dust collection?
As for the length, you could make the cabinet a bit longer to allow a place to store the rip fence and/or miter gaurge when they aren't being used.
Maggie, I think I got something to say....to you
you make that saw support whatever height you want, and rabbets glued and screwed or even just stapled will likely be sufficient unless you got a honkinheavy beast of a saw. I had a craftsman saw on such a base, and it survived multiple moves and trips to sites.
But here's a perspective that makes a tad of sense to me....
If you look at a cabinet saw, say a General 350, theres a huge cavity to fill up with sawdust. Back in the day before affordable dust collectors, this was required, but not now.
So your support for the table saw can be a drawer box within which you might store blades, mitre gauge, dado set, tenon jigs, and other table saw paraphenalia. perhaps with a small tray for wrenches , dial indicator, angle gauge, sape measure, etc. in the front. Somehow the stuff just finds it's way into your life, and it is so nice not to have to walk across the room to get it.
Make it out of 3/4 ply, and then if your floor ain't level, you can add levellers to the bottom to make it level, allow 3/4" for the levellers,
The box for the craftsman saw I mentioned, I added a 2x4 on the back with castors which just cleared the floor, and added a couple of small wheelbarrow type handles on the front. When I wanted to move it, just lifted the handles and wheeled it wherever.
hope that helps....I know you cannot see it from here...
Eric in Calgary
I'd make the base only large enuf to support the saw, that way the edges are supported all round. If you make a larger cabinet, the weight of the saw might be cause the top to sag.
Your question of whether to make one cabinet or two is thereby answered, - make two. but leave some kind of space between them in which to store a cross cut sled,
hey steve,
there's a 17 year old boy attending my school who's full stature measures to just above my kneecap. ("knee-high to a grasshopper" comes to mind...) i have spoken to him about taking woodshop during his,soon to be, senior year. when ruminating about how to make it safe for him to operate a 5hp oliver t-saw, i picture a platform that fits your description and some sort of long push stick. the platform cum step-stool would need to be portable as well. i agree with habilis that to fall face first onto a running table saw would be a serious bummer, but i'm not yet ready to scrap the platform idea as i believe something ought to be worked out to facilitate the very short boy.
eef
FWIW, steps are commonly used in operating rooms to allow shorter staff to have the needed access for the task they do. Those steps are perhaps 12 or 14 x 20 inches and 6 or 8 inches tall. They are actually designed to stack and it isn't uncommon to see several stacked next to the operating table. Similar to this: http://www.dremed.com/catalog/images/p_1015sf_lg.jpg
I wouldn't use something that small at a power tool but I don't see much problem if the step is large enough to allow the user some flexibility in their stance. I would probably find the step more of a nuisance because I'd be tripping over it.
Edited 6/19/2009 6:03 pm ET by DaveRichards
I hope the step- stool suggestion was in jest. One needs to be able to quickly change position , impossible standing on a stool.
Tom
Please read the rest of the thread. I was talking about a large platform, not a little stool.
-Steve
My question would be, just how portable would you like to be? At one time I had a real nice box under mine, just the right height and great for storage. It had latches for easy removal if necessary. But whatever you do, DO NOT STAND ON A STOOL OVER A RUNNING TABLESAW.
Maggie,
First thing I would do is find out what height is comfortable for you. Is there a surface in your woodshop that might be the right height? Maybe even pantomine your move(s) when ripping/crosscutting.
With a router table in the extension I would recommend 2 cabinets then attach them together. Also I would suggest making a rough sketch and keep in mind that each piece you make becomes part of that height measurement that you found to be comfortable. Casters mebbe?
Once you find the height you could make 2 simple picture frames out of some straight 2" by framing (2"x3" should be big enough but I can never find straight ones so I rip 2x6's instead). If you can I would half-lap the joints and put together with glue & screws. This way you can cut the pieces to length
Skin 3 sides of each frame set with say 1/2" or 3/4" plywood with screws, leaving one side (front) open. Make one to fit the perimeter of motor standoff, make the other to fit your extension, may want the top to overlap the stand/cabinet?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Maggie,
I wouldn't stand on anything but sawdust while using my tablesaw. Just seems too risky. Especially if you're walking a big ol' sheet of plywood through the saw.
I made one of these
http://www.woodsmith.com/plans/table-saw-cabinet/
a long time ago for my old Craftsman TS. Got rid of the saw but still use the cabinet. The plans could be altered to suit someone of your height. It's plenty strong and better than the sheetmetal legs that come with most contractor-style saws. I used locking casters as called for in the plan, but you could use levelers if you did not need the mobility.
- Mahog
Maggie ,I know it has been awhile since you posted this but I just saw it,wow ,I was just wondering if you got your cabinet built and how it worked out for you? what type of saw it is(cast iron top?) and how did you attach your router table/and are you using your table saw fence as your router fence? if you are I would suggest that you make a sacrificial fence to straddle the table saw fence.Anyway would love to here/see how it worked out.
Dan
Maggie -
I just saw your post and heartily recommend making your own cabinet for your saw. Not only will you be able to get the height you want, but you can utilize all of the wasted space under the open stand you have now.
I've made two cabinets for my old Craftsman over the years and it's made my life much better since I have rather limited shop space. I got the working height I prefer (~38") and gained storage space as well as a pretty effective DC capability. Although the saw was rarely moved, the combination of wheels and solid "feet" gave me a solid platform that could be moved if necessary.
Here are some pictures of my setup. The cabinet was made from leftover 3/4" ply, and the faceframe and drawer fronts are beech left over from a large job I did last year.
You should definitely go for it. Not only will you get a setup that really works for you, but you'll sharpen up your cabinet design/building skills. I've had people tell me that my saw cabinet is nicer than some of their living room furniture. - lol
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