Brad Patch
12-30-2011, 2:24 PM
Occasionally the subject comes up on this and other forums regarding methods of attaching sacrificial surfaces to Radial Saw tables. Usually the methods consist of brass screws, brass tacks, or double sided tape. My method avoids all these methods and allows the sacrificial top to be removed and reinstalled in minutes. I started with 1/2 inch thick MDF cut to the proper size. I used my biscuit jointer to cut kerfs at the four corners, (a table or radial saw would easily cut the necessary kerfs.) Common hardware store 90 degree mending plates were cut down to allow one of the shortened legs to engage the kerf. The 90 degree plate can be rotated slightly when being screwed down to allow the sacrificial top to be snug with the other surface. The thickness of the sacrificial top allows it to lay level, but if not you can easily insert some shim material to bring it level. An added benefit of the 1/2 inch top is that its not so likely to being sawed thru and damaging the lower surface.