Cabinet Table Saw and Portable Stand
Kurt_Battles
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
Does it undermine the integrity of a cabinet saw to put it on a portable stand? It seems the dead weight on a concrete floor dampens vibration and putting it on a stand increases it. It also appears you need to put it on a stand before assembly or forever hold your peace. It weighs almost 500 lbs. assembled. Thanks.
Replies
When you say “portable stand” do you mean mobile base? If so, my 600# table saw, 700+# jointer, 440# band saw, etc. are all on mobile bases and work fine. BTW, the base for the band saw was installed while the saw was in the upright position, very easy.
Yes, mobile base. Nice to know, thanks!
You’re welcome! BTW, I saved a lot for my Laguna 18BX base by going with a Grizzly Bear Crawl, which is the base I installed while the saw was standing up. My Sawstop TS and Powermatic 882 jointer both have their proprietary mobile bases. The saw’s base was installed with the saw on its side, the jointer’s by hoisting the jointer up with a come-along the few inches to get the base under.
I am buying a Grizzly cabinet saw and Bear Crawl also. I think I will install the base when I put the saw together. Thanks.
There are some flimsy mobile bases out there, and they are bound to cause vibration issues. But a good base is fine.
I can't imagine lifting a 600 pound table saw to put a base under it. A 300 pound drill press was serious work, but it was doable.
He’s getting the Bear Crawl, rated at 1,200 pounds, and the instructions show how to install it around the saw, tilting one side of the saw up a few inches. I used my elementary school lever and fulcrum lessons with a block of wood and crow bar, didn’t break a sweat. BTW, I think the Bear Crawl has a version with 4 swivel casters if you need that, mine has 2 swivels and 2 fixed.
I have a couple of 4 swivel caster bases. Far superior to 2 swivels.
I have a Bear Crawl base, put on after saw assembled easily - works great.
I just found this Bear Crawl 4 swivel base. Thanks for the feedback. Grizzly T31566 - Bear Crawl All Swivel HD Mobile Base
Buy a sawstop industrial mobile base and have it adapted to your machine. Best unit out there.
At 3 times the price of the Grizzly all-wheel-swivel model it had better be the best. I own a Sawstop PCS with a mobile base, but I still bought the Grizzly for my band saw. It works great, did I mention the SS base is 3 times as much? :-)
Short answer: Yes, it is. Especially in a small shop. True 4-wheel swivel, no straight wheels and having to parallel park with every move. I can spin my jointer/planer in place to go from j to p and still aim it at the dust collector port on the wall.
When the gear hits the ground it is on the ground, not on 2 wheels at a small angle towards me. The hydraulic lift is awesome.
I paid the money AND a welding shop and I would and will do it again. Did I mention it is totally worth it?
Every move? Not worth it in my opinion, the Grizzly has true 4 wheel swivel for 1/3rd the cost, not counting the hassle and cost of having custom welding on top of that. . I can move my nearly 800 pound jointer with only 2 swivels without any problem. It may take a minute longer than if I had 4 swivel wheels. Let’s see, $260 saved (at a minimum), divided by the 2 times, maybe, I’ll move my jointer or table saw in a year, times one minute each move. I think I’m saving a fortune. :-)
My first search only turned up the 2-wheel swivel... so yes, griz has a 4-wheeler, but with the 4 corners all having kick ups and the equipment resting on threaded rods it does not really compare. Having to get to the back corners every time you move the saw is not for me, and if the floor is uneven break out the wrenches.
Yes, you saved some volume of money, and you got what you paid for. The SS hydraulic is a superior product and costs more as a result. Fair value for us both I suppose.
Most of us have financial constraints. But most of us also spend money on stuff that makes people think we are utterly daft.
The hydraulic lift on the Sawstop mobile base is in a class all by itself. A few pumps on a pedal and a 700 pound table saw is up on all four wheels, and a press of the pedal lowers it to the ground. Far easier than pressing or releasing all four corners, especially if they aren't easily accessible.
Is it better? No question. Is it worth the extra dough? It depends on how much money you've got, and how necessary the features are.
There’s that phrase again, “everytime you move the saw”. :-)
My shop is tiny. Everything has to be moved when in use. Even the bench. The only thing that stays put is a bench with the miter saw on top and the lathe. But in order to use the lathe I have to move the drill press and bandsaw.
I've developed clear preferences when it comes to good mobile bases and poor ones.
My shop is not that small but I too have to move my saw from time to time - it's a toss-up between the trouble of shifting it and the inconvenience of having to sashay round it when it is in 'long workpiece' configuration.
I like the Hammer mobility kit that came with the saw - very cheap and simple, but integral to the design of the machine so not really transferrable. Would be easy to copy though.
I have to move my saw repeatedly each time I spend a day in the shop, so yeah....every time.
:-) How do you guys get any actual woodworking done? Moving your saw, and even your bench, each time? Wow!
I just play that little plastic game with the 15 sliding numbers in the 4x4 tray. When I rewired the shop i knew I would only need one 220 outlet. Resawing sucks the most, going bandsaw- planer and back again is tedious to say the least. Thankfully my bench has a permanent home, until I have to shoot video. I've been eyeing the next room for a while now... maybe next summer.....
I have a spare bedroom that I do most of my hand tool work in. Dovetailing, planing, etc. Great light, wood floor, just a pleasant spot. But all if the power tools are in the basement, along with boiler, oil tank, washer dryer, Lally columns, and so on. There's lots to navigate.
Thanks for all the insight. I purchased the Bear Crawl 4 swivel base. Easy to assemble around the saw and works pretty good. I say pretty good because my garage floor is rough in some places that can give anything on wheels problems.
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