Folding Outfeed Table

[Guy Belleman]

Another posting fueled some thoughts and questions I have about folding outfeed tables, and so I thought it best to just start another thread.

I have used a couple of the roller extension tables at military base woodshops, they seem easy to put up into place, but get rusty and provide a bumpy ride for some boards. I was cutting some large oak timbers a while back and it did occur to me that they might be heavy enough to tip over my saw if I was using a folding outfeed table rather than roller stands. The roller stands are less than ideal.

All in all, I do want to install a folding outfeed table for use in my small workshop and for most of the work I do. I would like it to have a solid top. Designing it isn't the issue as there are many great ideas available. The issue is finding a source to purchase the nice steel folding support leg that is used in the commercial tables. There seem to be some alternatives mentioned, but not of the same quality.

I made one 8 years ago for another saw that had fold down legs, but the threaded feet had to be adjusted every time to make the table level with the saw top due the irregular surface of the driveway where the saw was rolled out onto. It would seem to quicker have a table with a folding support off the tablesaw that would tend to keep it level all the time.

Seems to me there might be a market for a good commercially sold, wooden, melamine top, folding, tablesaw outfeed table. Is there one? Is there a good source of the folding leg supports?

Thanks in advance.
Guy

[ken gibbs]

I made an outfeed, fold down type table for my Unisaw out of 3/4" plywood and laminate. I installed two miter tracks in the extension table and used large door hinges to secure it to the saw table. Just cut a 1" X 2" the correct length to prop up the table when you need it and take out the prop when you want to put the table away. The outfeed folds down nicely when not in use. I got a piece of scrap counter top grade laminate for this extension for about $12.00 at a local cabinet shop.

[Richard Wagner]

I am not sure that I understand "folding outfeed table". Are we talking about a table that simply drops down or one that folds up.

I utilize an outfeed table that drops down (hinged at the outfeed edge of the table saw. The limitation is that it can only be as long as the table is tall.

I dream of a shop where I can have a permanent table built around my TS.

[Fred Belknap]

If you put the out feed legs against the bottom of the saw it won't help in the tip over problem you mentioned. The legs would have to go against the floor.

[Paul Murphy]

This fellow has posted some nice plans, the extended top has legs that should fully support the top.
http://sawsndust.com/p-outfeed.htm

[Cary Falk]

I used the part of a roller stand. I connected it at the table and it sit in a holder at the base. If I do it again, I will make it connected to the base and some kind of qucke connect at the table. You have to adjust to level each time but the screw lever makes it quick.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/DSC_0004-1.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/DSC_0005-1.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/DSC_0002-1.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/DSC_0001.jpg

[Don Morris]

The "this fellow" is Jim Becker and Jim is/has been a moderator on Sawmillcreek. I've built the outfeed table pretty much to Jim's specs and it's a winner. I had to modify it a little to my machine (the rails primarily as I remember), a Grizzly 1023SL but that was nothing impossible. Been using it for several years now and wish I had done it before that because it took me two years to get to it. If my house ever collapsed and I lost my TS...when I got a new TS, the first thing I would do it go to Jim's site, download the plans and make a new outfeed table to his specs. Simple, straight forward, works. Makes my TS and workshop (workspace) ever so much more functional.