How to make a saw-table?

[VulcanJohn]

Hi everyone, when I need to cut long pieces of wood or boards, I find my circular saw awkward to keep straight, especially when I have to start leaning across the workpiece to get to the far side. I don't have a proper workbench, just an old Black & Decker workmate stand that I can clamp the pieces to. Now, If I could find  way to mount my circular saw under the workbench, so I could feed the work through it, I think that might be a solution. Yes, I could go and buy a table saw, but storage space is at a premium and I'm not sure I would use it enough to justify the cost. Any thoughts would be welcome.

[EricL]

Hi @Noyade

I wonder how accurate this table saw is? My only other concern is the safety aspect of the saw itself. A few timber screws holding the saw does not fill me with confidence. 

Eric

[Brad]

I think I will stick to my Bosch GTS 10 XC.

Unless someone wants to buy me a MiniMax CU410 Elite Combination Machine.

[Noyade]

Hi @Brad 

"Belt driven with a washing machine motor."

And I'm sure it worked a treat. My father's hybrid table saw is powered by a floor polisher motor - 1 1/2 HP.

[Noyade]

Not sure if this is a washing machine motor?

But he made a disc sander outta a spare motor from somewhere.

Used a belt pulley to mount the face.

[Brad]

Given the ease that the motor stalls I think it may be 1hp or less.

Used a linkage belt.

[VulcanJohn]

Some of these home-built contraptions are wondrous bits of ingenuity and lateral thinking, but somewhat scary in these OHS days. However, like many things, they were "of their time" and served a purpose without too many fingers being lost. You would have to hope that anyone clever enough to think of the design, and then build it, would have the common-sense to know how to use it safely!

My search for a machine for the current time has brought me back to the $699 Makita unit. (Bunnings i/n 0118523). I had a chance to get my hands on one and it seems to hit the sweet spot for price, build quality and being a well-known brand. Now I just have to start saving my pennies, and clearing a suitable space in the garage. Thanks to everyone for your information, ideas and stories about table-saws.

Happy building.

John.

[MitchellMc]

It's great to hear you managed to get your hands on the Makita and found it suitable @VulcanJohn. What convinced you that it was the most suitable machine? Less play in the guides?

I'll be looking forward to hearing your review on it.

Mitchell

[MikeTNZ]

Hi @VulcanJohn,

I bought one of the cutting guides from Bunnings a couple of years ago, for the very reason you're describing.

Best thing I ever bought, once you know the offset from the edge of your saw blade to the edge of the base-plate, it's too easy to make good,

straight cuts every time.

Sorry to go off topic here, but I was watching a YouTube video by a guy in the US and he was using some type of solid foam sheet insulation as a base for his timber and having the saw blade cut into it with the whole setup on his workshop floor.

Has anyone here heard of a brand name for this material and if it can be sourced down-under?

Cheers,

Mike T.

[Noyade]

Hi @MitchellMc 

I watched a fence contracting team trim the bottom of a newly installed picket fence the other day. They were using a Festool plunge saw and rail system.

Very impressive. They must be able to connect the rail as it was a 10 metre length? Wanted to ask, but they looked busy.

Does Ozitio still make a plunge saw? I only see the rail...

[MitchellMc]

The kit still appears on the Ozito website @Noyade, so we should be able to order it in. They might be changing the model hence it not appearing on the webpage. I can't imagine it's going anywhere as plunge saws are becoming more popular with D.I.Y. enthusiasts. I was using a Makita plunge saw a few weeks back and was very impressed.

Mitchell