Hey everyone. I’m somewhat new around here but here it goes…
I’m looking for a few good suggestions regarding material for an extension table I’m building for my 10″ Delta Contractor’s Saw. It has a 52″ inch Unifence on a mobile base.
I recently built one but I’m not happy with the results. I used 3/4 particle board with a Poplar frame (running underneath on all four sides and with 3 cross supports stretching from each of the frame’s sides. This was laminated on top and sides. Unfortunately the extension table has sagged about an 1/8″ in the middle. I think it’s the length of the 52″ rip fence.
Is there a better material or design I should use?
Thanks,
Solan
Replies
Solan , One mistake is to laminate one side .You need to balance the laminate by laminating both sides .Apart from that I use 3/4 baltic birch for my extension and laminate both sides .Ensure that the support is adequate.I use 4" rips every 8-10 inches.My tables have stayed flat with years of commercial use
All the best, Jako
My dream setup for a table saw in my small shop is to have a sliding table saw with a second tablesaw in the extension wing. That way, I can leave a dado head in the second saw. It seems that I cut a lot of dadoes with my rip blade because I'm too lazy to switch from rip to dado and back. And it always seems that I need to rip something in the middle of my dado work!
and www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Yup, laminate is perfect. You can use MDF since its dead flat and you definitely need to laminate both sides. Use contact cement and a roller and add some iron-on edge banding or to make it really nice, some hardwood edging. the top is then screwed to the support frame from the underside. I used to have a Craftsman contractor saw on a mobile base that I made extensions and outfeeds for using laminate and particle board (no MDF was locally available at the time). It stayed flat, but eventually began delaminating when I wiped it with mineral spirits to get oil and grease off of it.I now have a Sawstop cabinet saw that I made a mobile base for and added laminate side and folding outfeed tables to. I have a welder, so I welded up square tubing and angle iron for my supports, but it could have been made from hardwood.Edited 7/11/2009 12:23 pm ET by Michael666
Edited 7/11/2009 12:26 pm ET by Michael666
Unfortunately the extension table has sagged about an 1/8" in the middle.
Why worry about that? It just holds what is left over ...
Onto better things to worry about...
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