hey fellas, I’ve been making models lately and have developed a need for a small tablesaw. I am already familiar with many on the market but the sizes don’t seem compatable with my needs and the prices are more than I wish to take a chance on.
So what I wish to do is make my own small tablesaw using a 4″ blade and a motor (ideally a dremel motor but possibly an old drill motor or standalone motor).
Can anyone direct me to some plans for such a setup or close. I could probably figure it out for myself but a headstart is appreciated.
While on the subject, I wouldn’t mind plans (more for ideas) to make a small bandsaw, belt sander, disc sander or mitre saw. I have found plenty of plans for small router tables which makes me believe there are more plans out there.
Thanks guys!
GK
Replies
making a machine as you describe is very dangerous and unnecessary. There are many saws on the market that will do you well. If you want to go cheep get a ryobi and put a good blade on it. It will cut pices as small as a tooth pick.
Mike
I agree. There were some plans in FWW decades ago for a shop-built saw, but it was a biggie. The secret to safely cutting tiny bits of wood is how you hold them, not the machine you use. I use my industrial-strength MiniMax to rip and trim and shape bits of wood down to a few cms in size.
MalcolmNew Zealand | New Thinking
mike,
I was slightly offended to hear that something I would make would be unsafe. The saftey of a tool is part of the engineering of the parts. That is to say that even if I were to buy a manufactured tablesaw it would not ensure that the saw was built or designed safe. To say that the saw I made would not be safe in some ways says that I don't have the intelligence to incorporate credible saftey into the tool. Not that I am ranting here, more like FYI and I do appreciate your response.
thanks
gk
Gabe, I'd like to request that you change your font setting for your posts. It's extremely tiny. I'm too old to crane my neck like this, LOL!!!
Above, tiny is #1. The rest is #2.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Forestgirl,
Yeah, I don't know why but each time I go to post it starts me out at super-micro font (we're talking size 1/16). It never used to be that way and it is a little annoying. I will post #3 from now on.
thanks
gk
I looked for a place to set default font, but didn't see one. If you provide answers to the following, I'll see if I can troubleshoot: What kind of computer and operating system do you have? Which browser do you use?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Judging by your thinking about using a drill or dremel I suggest you buy ready made. Far cheaper in the long run. Dremel is too fast and low hp and drills are too slow. You will come out way ahead to buy ready made on all your machine choices. I have welding and machine shop facilities and the only reason to make your own machines is because you want to, not to save money as it will cost you far more. You build machines only for the fun of it. With the imports you cannot come close to what you can buy.
Rick,
I was sure to search the internet as extensivly as I could prior to posting. The problems I encountered with ready made saws was that they either were far more expensive than what I felt was reasonable or they lacked the features which I felt were important to me. Hence the notion to make my own. I did question my ideal to use a dremel or a drill...half of the reason I ask you all for advice. The dremel ideal was in hopes to create an easily crafted arbor; possibly a couple of washers, a nut, and some sort of bushing. Another reason I ask here was to get insight into what sort of home made saws are out there in order to judge for myself what sort of effort would be involved.
Post some pictures of your home made machines...I'm quite curious.
Thanks for posting.
gk
I'm curious as to what features you find lacking! With all the imports available today it's far simpler to modify a tool than to build from scratch. When you figure the time it takes to design a tool or machine you will find that unless it is something so unique you will be better off and cheaper to buy it off the shelf.
While a lot of stuff is on the net searching in the old ways will result in more fruitful searches such as going to the library and looking in old books and popular mechanics magazines. Before the imports one only had Sears as a source of tools or buying large industrial stuff and learning how to deal with htree phase power. the old Popular Mechanics had tons of articles on making lathes and various tools. You should subscribe to http://www.lindsaybks.com Reprints of the kind of publications I'm talking about.
So what exactly are you making that you can't use off the shelf stuff for? Why can't you use an older Delta 8" saw with a retrofence. If you are looking to use a 4" blade you are not in the minature category but could use some of the smaller full sized tools.
In older back issues of FWW was a company called Gilliom that sold plans and components for making tablesaws, Bandsaws, etc, Not sure if they are still in business as I think the imports are a better deal considering you can buy a complete tool for what a kit would cost. You can buy table saw arbors with a pulley and mount them on whatever. We used to buy them a lot years ago for about $20. Haven't seen them lately but I think they are still available.First pic is of a saw some guy in Mexico made as he didn't have access to much money or things that we take for granted in this country. Note the zero clearance table top.Second pic is a horizontal drill we made as nothing was available to do such a task. We can drill holes in timbers and whatever up to 11' by drilling from each end. A work in progress as we are always adapting it for different jobs that come up.
This should help:
Company Name: Gilliom Manufacturing Co.Firm Type: Private Company, Headquarters LocationLocation: United StatesPhone: (314)724-1812Fax: (314)723-0080Primary SIC: Workworking MachineryPrimary NAICS: Sawmill and Woodworking Machinery ManufacturingDescription: Workworking MachineryDan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
Updated phone number...didn't answer when I called!
There was an article in FWW many years ago about a fellow that made a table saw with sliding table from HD particle board.
You might try searching articles for it.
Don't bother! Chicago electric already makes one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=46379
For the price, it will be far more accurate and safe than anything you could build.
Browse around the harbor freight site. they probably have other mini versions of the tools you need.
Tony
Edited 2/28/2005 10:42 am ET by woodhoarder
Tony,
I saw that in my search before posting. I really only had two problems with it. One was that it lacked the ability to bevel cut. The second is that it is offered by harbor freight whom I despise for the cheapness of every power tool of theirs that I have ever used. So I guess what I am saying is that albeit a low cost option, I am a little scared that it would become a short lived tool.
If I were to buy from them, I might go for a tile saw instead...just change to a wood saw blade.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=91511
I just wasn't sure if there might be some hang-ups in doing such.
thanks for the post
gk
Gabe, there is an article in Machinist's Workshop Vol 17, No. 4, August/September 2004 that's exactly (well, almost) what you're talking about. I bought the magazine simply because the saw was so amazing!
I'm not saying it's safe, mind you, but it's fascinating. If you can't get a copy of the magazine, LMK via email. Here's one set of pictures:
View Image
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Edited 2/28/2005 7:19 pm ET by forestgirl
Wow!
That guy must have a lot of time on his hands!
Ha ha,
Mikeplease excuse my spelling.
No doubt! I dunno, these machinists...... Well, guess I'd better not say, LOL!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Jamie,
If you keep reading this stuff you are going to get too interested in metalworking, just like me and Jazzdog (I know you saw that thread). Just what you need, another hobby! LOL
Woody
When Ron and I were at the Grizzly showroom, we were fairly astounded at those great big lathes they sell for the metal-working crowd. Came to the conclusion neither of us has "that type of mind" LOL! Throw in a Z axis, and I get all kerfluffled. Ask for that kind of precision, and I just cry.....
YIKESView Image
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Edited 3/2/2005 11:46 am ET by forestgirl
OK, Grizzly, you've got another one hooked -- all you gotta do is just reel her in! I can see the glean in her eye.
Woody
Forestgirl,
That's a good start...although the blade is a bit limiting. I was hoping to adapt a 4" blade to the motor but that seems like it would work for many of the cuts I would be making (maybe basswood 1/16"-1/4") I would love to see more pictures of that setup.
Thanks for the post.
gk
That's kinda cool. The two thoughts that enter my mind are:1. Sheet stock will be a bit awkward.2. I wonder what kickback is like at 25,000 RPM's?:-)John
Sheet stock = popsicle sticks. ROFL!! forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Gabe.
I don't know what are your needs exactly, but I can cut 1/8¨ X 1/8¨ sticks using a zero clereance insert and a Grripper push block on my contractor saw. 80$ cnd in investment, and as safe as can be.
Good luck
Fred
Fred,
I had thought of that too. I have a bench saw but it still seems too big for the majority of the stuff I want to cut. It is also just way too loud for in-home use.
BTW...$80 seems a little too expensive for inserts even in canada.
thanks for the post
gk
80$ is the price of the Grrriper push stick. I made the insetrs myself.
Fred
gabe:
woodcraft used to carry a very small table saw. It had some nice features.
If you search "miniature table saw" in google, you'll get plenty of hits. You can also try miniature tools for model making. Good luck.
Datachanel
Doing things the hard way
DC,
Yeah I did alot of searching before posting here. Proxxon (the brand offered through Woodcraft) seems to be the leader in the small tools market. Microlux is another brand. Then there is Central Machinery. I found one or two other brands but they were either too expensive (c'mon, $375 for a mini-tablesaw?) or they lacked what I wanted (bevel).
Part of what I want to achieve is to mitre strips of 1/8" bass wood. If I wanted all square cuts I would just use a knife.
thanks
gk
hmm, mitre 1/8" thick strips. How about a beveled mat cutter, like they use in framing?Datachanel
Doing things the hard way
I have a bevel mat cutter that I tried, the problem became that the mat cutter doesn't cut the wood as much as it splits the wood when ripping and crosscuts are difficult and tear the grains.
gk
Here's a non-powered idea. Mount a hand plane (#5 or so) upside down in a vise. Make a fence out of wood at the desired bevel angle and clamp it to the plane. With 1/8" basswood, you should get your bevel in two or three passes. It's quiet, and much less dangerous.
Gilliom Manufacturing
P.O. Box 1018
St. Charles, Mo 63302
636-724-1812
They are still in business. If you really want to make your own saw I suggest you get their kit and plans.They have the saw arbor that you would need. If you are talking about a 4" blade it's really just a slighy scaled down standard saw. I can saw small things like you describe with my 10" cabinet saw. I use a zero throat plate insert and sleds and sometimes a bit of double stick tape. Still plenty of older Delta and Craftsman 8" saw out there as well that would readily fit the bill.
Gabe, I've recently made my own table saw, using
an old Skilsaw attached under slung from it's table
Had to cut off most of the saw's handle and blade guard to conserve space, but using a 6-1/2" thin kerf blade, it is very accurate.
Made and use aluminum drop in zero clearance inserts for both straight and 45% cuts.
Routed two miter gauge slots and crafted a solid adjustable wood rip fence too.
The overall dimentions are: 9" high X 15" wide X 20-1/2"in length
Since the fence is hand tightened by wing nuts, I have to use several lenghts of straight parallel strips to set the fence parallel to the blade. I also scored a bunch of parallel guide lines in the table top to make fast'Eyeball' setup of the fence. Blade height ia 1-3/4"
An auxilarry 'Outriger' fence will accomodate a width as much as 24"
It can be carried about with one hand and is fitted with an ignition type key main switch as well as a 'Run'toggle switch.
The auxilary stand brings the total height to 27".
I cut all hard or soft wood also phenolics, aluminum and brass.
Steinmetz
Edited 3/1/2005 8:42 pm ET by steinmetz
steinmetz,I was always told that doing this sort of thing was a huge accident waiting to happen. I remember once when I first got involved in this hobby and was taking a woodworking class, I made a reference to building my own table saw. What did I know? It seemed to me, at the time, that a table saw was just a circular saw mounted in a table. The teacher used my question to lecture everyone in earshot about how horribly dangerous this idea was.
Maybe he was wrong and I was right?
Matt, You were both right.
Bet you'll find teachers who'll tell you it's folly to build routers into a table too. BEEN THERE DONE THAT TWICE.
Or,maybe to build a power hacksaw of steel when not quite 14 years old.
My dad taught me at a tender age how to use all tools He and I built our first tablesaw right after that and guess how we cut all the 3"x3" aluminum angle To fabricate that saw? THe mechanism to raise and lower the blade we made from an old orange squeezer (Rack and pinion)The tablesaw I made recently of which I mentioned in that post, was not the only one I had built. For an old friend ,I made one that accommodated a skilsaw, a router, a small belt sander and a upturned saber saw. Each of the power tools were attached to it's own flush insert plate and could be inserted into the table as required.
Operated by a foot control switchI made a small wood turning lathe utilizing a 1/2" drill for it's drive. It even can turn steel,brass or aluminum in a pinch. I still have an all steel power jig asw that I built using a cut off Milwaukee Sawzall,. when I needed to cut out a hundred or so of stainless steel lock strikes that were too tight for the cylinder locks in a school full of teachers. If any one would peruse the history of most hand power tools, they will find a tale of a guy who attached a motor to his wife's sewing machine and converted it into a jig saw.During the second world war,(Due to the shortage of soap), My mom and dad made our and our neighbors'own soap. Mostly in brick sizes My Dad and I decided to make soap powder too and though soap flakes were not made then, we did.
And colored the flakes blue to boot.Feeling that he was 'On a roll', Dad experimented in 'Scented' soap flakes' BIGG mistake!! (The cheap perfume bought in Woolworth's was overpowering.) So much so, that we preferred old dirty sweaty clothes instead.
The machine was made from another old motor with a perforated disc made from a tin pie plate and resembled a rotating cheese grater.Steinmetz.
gabe,
FWIW.
Don't know if your aware of:
http://www.micromark.com/
It's the place I bought a lot of model building tools.
You might consider trying to find an old Dremel table saw. I saw a few on ebay. The old dremel is a pretty good saw. I had one for many years. Micromark still sells blades for it.
Jarmac makes one too.
http://www.pennstateind.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PSI&Product_Code=MTS2&Category_Code=TB
Enjoy.
GK,
I am surprised nobody here has mentioned it. Taunton has reprinted groups of related articles and there are two you need to get. One is Making and Modifying Woodworking Machinery (or something like that) It talks about building not just table saws but jointers and shapers. Not tiny ones either!
And another one has an article about someone building models who build a small setup that included a table saw. Anyone know which one has the article?
I don't blame you for not wanting to buy anything off the shelf, the small units are all crap and you want something of high quality.
Someone mentioned Lindsey's Publications. DON"T ORDER their catalog, you will go insane wanting to order and build and read everything they have. Great stuff actually.
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