Hi All,
I’ve just joined and I hope that someone can help with a problem I’m facing.
I’m setting up my first real workshop and will be purchasing all the basics (table saw, planer, and joiner to start). Here’s the hitch…I’ll be storing the machines in my basement and then moving them to the garage to use. My garage is located under my house next to the basement. The problem is that the garage floor is two steps lower than my basement floor. I thought of building a ramp to move the machines up and down. It would have to be a rather short ramp because of space, which means it will have a pretty fair pitch. That works for a jointer and planer, but the tablesaw is a is a whole different beast.
I’ve done a lot of research on cabinet, hybrid, contractor and portable saws. Although I might like a cabinet saw, the weight is out of the question (Being 5’6″ and 140 lbs, moving something that heavy up a ramp might be beyond my ability). Hybrids might be possible, but again weight is an issue. I have a doorway that I would have to go through that is 36″ wide, which is narrower than a contractor saw. That leaves me with a portable saw, which I hesitate on because I don’t know if it will adequately fiil my needs.
So, I’m really undecided which way to go and don’t want to make a mistake on such an important piece of equipment. Has anyone ever moved a tablesaw using the portable bases?…up a two step ramp? Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Gary
Replies
well gary, i have never heard of anyone being injured by a tablesaw by means of being run over by it. but it seems like by the time you get a cabinet saw up those steps, you won't have any strength to use it.
maybe this is good advice or just advice.
contractor saws- craftsman-bosch-dewalt are portable enough and lighter in weight than a cabinet saw. they also have good power and versitility. The craftsman has a 4.4 developed horsepower motor which can cut those sometimes stubborn hardwoods with ease, also it has a 27'' rip capacity and a table extension for larger pieces as do the other two brands.
another option would be (if a contractor saw is not "beefy" enough for you) is to purchase a good cabinet saw. the trick i would use is to buy a rolling base, and make a ramp for you steps, and incorporate a pulley system, one with a locking lever, you can find at home improvement or auto parts stores. then you can rely on raising or lowering it up and down.
with your 36'' space, i have no ideas for a cabinet saw to fit unless you did some remodeling.
on a different note, storing your tools in your basement can make them more suseptible to rust because of the lower level they are in due to the higher moisture content.
Thanks for the advice...I noticed that neither of you suggested that I go the portable route. Given that a Bosch portable goes for about $500, it seems to make sense to invest the little bit more to get a good contractor saw or possibly a hybrid.
I never thought of storing the saw in the garage. There is very little room and I don't believe it would bit, but it is worth the time to measure.
The rust aspect was something that I haven't considered. Most of my basement is finished (not where the tools will be stored) and I'm assuming that will help the climate control. I would think that the garage would be less appealing because of the radical weather differences in Wisconsin.
I guess I'm leaning more to the hybrid route because it would be narrower (no motor hanging out the side) and would fit through my doorway. Any thoughts as to who is doing the best hybrid these days?
Thanks,
Gary
For Contractor saws, WOOD just had an article and they also included the portables and had nothing good to say about any of them - the best had subpar cutting
On the contractor says (mid price $500-$700) the Ridgid TS3650 came out on top.
For the Hybrids the Craftsman has been getting some good press, on the other hand for the price of their good one you can get the Grizzly cabinet Saw ($950) and I have heard good things on it. - just add a mobile base.
Another thing for you to think of. if you haven't already, is the wiring. Do you have any 220 outlets in the shop? if not 1 or 2 might be advisable. Cabinet saws and some other equipment require 220 and some others that are 110 can be rewired for 220 and put less strain on the circuit.
1 - measure the board twice
2 - cut it once
3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go
4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
For just the table saw, is there no room in the garage for it, if it is on a mobile base and can be moved against a wall? (contractor or cabinet). It should only take up 30-36" when against a wall. what about kitty corner ina corner?
The only other option I can see would be a ramp that can be moved so you don't have such a steep pitch and that can be leaned up againt the wall in either the basement or the garage.
1 - measure the board twice
2 - cut it once
3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go
4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
(Being 5'6" and 140 lbs, moving something that heavy up a ramp might be beyond my ability).
Just think of it as a 'LOVER'
If you use your garage for cars, the table saw would fit in between the two cars at the front of the garage.
I have a jet contractor saw. The one thing you will need to do if you are moving a contractor saw is to attach the saw to the mobile base. Their is no weight to the bottom part of a contractors saw and the top is very heavy. If your going up a ramp it could get top heavy and tip easily. You should be able to come up with an easy solution but its just something to think about.
PAY ATTENTION to DDay's post! It has happened to me.. No damage but kind of scarrie!
Good advice to think about. I never thought about balance going up a ramp. I am limited with a one car garage, but I'll measure the back corner and see if there's room.
I heard the Wood magazine reviewed some portable saws and didn't think much of them. I just read an article from Woodworker's Journal on portable saws and they seem to have a more favorable opinion. Any thoughts? I would still prefer a contractor or possibly hybrid, but portable may be an option if I think of it as more of a short term solution.
In a review on portables, they will give you the best ratings and comparisons on each item reviewed, but as in the WOOD article if they are compared to a good contractor saw, they fall far short. It is a comparion issue apples to apples in the first and oranges to peachs in the second. 1 - measure the board twice
2 - cut it once
3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go
4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
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