Making an outfeed table for table saw

[Travis Conner]

I see a lot of people make table saw outfeed tables and they connect them to the saw. All I see this doing is make it harder to move the saw. Then I got to thinking, why not just make more of a work bench type of thing that's the same height and put it up against the saw. Yeah there will be a 2" gap but I'll make it just a tad lower so it doesn't get hung up on the edge. Opinions?

[ChrisA Edwards]

I made mine on wheels, so I can move it if necessary or rotate it 90 degrees to support a longer piece on the outfeed side. I also wanted storage, so I built it with 3 drawers.

The top is a torsion box and is adjustable in height, so if I move the cabinet and the floor is not level, I can fine adjust the top.

As it spends most of it's time in the position in the first photo, it is clamped to the table saw rail with knobs.

Here's a few pictures.
https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT6_zps5g5vhbii.jpg


https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT9_zpslwdxv47v.jpg

https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT7_zpsq61mqyaw.jpg


The feet for the torsion box top sit on the four corner columns.

https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT4_zpsuatyeebb.jpg


The torsion box top being built, the four solid blocks are for the height adjustable feet used to find tune the outfeed table height to the saw.
https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/TorsionTable_zpsxbbnzk63.jpg

[Travis Conner]

Nice! They make combination castor/levelers so you get the best of both worlds.

[Rick Potter]

I have had one the way you suggest for years. It has 4" wheels on it, and I can roll it out and unload plywood off the truck right on to it, and take it back inside.

[ChrisA Edwards]

No, the locking castors on the bottom and adjustable leveling feet are mounted in the top and sit on the columns of the cabinet.

This is what I replicated.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K81qQofCeM

[ChrisA Edwards]

There's about 6 videos


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4v3RoldOuc&t=1061s

[Jim Becker]

Back when I had a cabinet saw, I designed an outfeed solution that had a narrower portion physically attached to the back rail of the saw with the remaining portion of the table hinged so it could be folded down when the tool needed to be moved or I needed the space for something else. There was no impediment to mobility and the surface was always coplanar with the table saw's top surface.

[Travis Conner]

Can you use plywood in place of that mdf stuff everyone uses? I want to still put that laminated countertop stuff on.

[mike stenson]

Can you use plywood in place of that mdf stuff everyone uses? I want to still put that laminated countertop stuff on.

You can, but MDF is generally flatter and cheaper.

[Steve Mathews]

I think the main reason for attaching an outfeed table to the saw is to make it folding. Standalone tables are great for the extra features they can provide like underneath storage, etc. but they come at the expense of floor space. Having a shop of over 2000 sq. ft. I still struggle floor space. I just purchased an inline router table for my SawStop ICS and shed a dedicated shaper/router. I don't know how it will work out but I'm hoping the extra surface area at the saw and added features of the router setup will be a step in the right direction. If not I'll remove the router table and convert it to a standalone setup. I also plan to make a folding outfeed table for the same space saving reasons. It won't have the ability to store stuff underneath but will serve as a temporary assembly area when needed. The best folding table design I found so far is the one by April Wilkerson, which folds a distance from the saw top to allow clearance for the rear SawStop dust port.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g66UhNaxivo

[Doug Garson]

I prefer the design by Laney Shaughnessy, the table mounts to the back of the saw similar to April's design but rather than legs to support the back end it uses a sliding dovetail support at 45 degrees back to the saw base. With this design you can move the saw around with the table and it is unaffected by an uneven floor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s51gLEsCeY

[Michael Drew]

I made mine on wheels, so I can move it if necessary or rotate it 90 degrees to support a longer piece on the outfeed side. I also wanted storage, so I built it with 3 drawers.

The top is a torsion box and is adjustable in height, so if I move the cabinet and the floor is not level, I can fine adjust the top.

As it spends most of it's time in the position in the first photo, it is clamped to the table saw rail with knobs.

Here's a few pictures.
https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT6_zps5g5vhbii.jpg


https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT9_zpslwdxv47v.jpg

https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT7_zpsq61mqyaw.jpg


The feet for the torsion box top sit on the four corner columns.

https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT4_zpsuatyeebb.jpg


The torsion box top being built, the four solid blocks are for the height adjustable feet used to find tune the outfeed table height to the saw.
https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/TorsionTable_zpsxbbnzk63.jpg

That's friggin awesome! I'm totally going to rip off your design once I get more space. For now though, unfortunately, I don't have the floor space.

What's the purpose of this "torsion box"?

[Jim Becker]

Can you use plywood in place of that mdf stuff everyone uses? I want to still put that laminated countertop stuff on.

You can use any material you want to...just consider what you need to do to keep whatever you choose flat over time.

[Steve Mathews]

Back when I had a cabinet saw, I designed an outfeed solution that had a narrower portion physically attached to the back rail of the saw with the remaining portion of the table hinged so it could be folded down when the tool needed to be moved or I needed the space for something else. There was no impediment to mobility and the surface was always coplanar with the table saw's top surface.
That's the approach I intend to take with my outfeed table build. Could you elaborate more on your design? I was thinking of taking advantage of the space under the unhinged narrow portion of the table similar to April Wilkerson's design except for storage, e.g. crosscut sled, etc.

[mike stenson]

That's the approach I intend to take with my outfeed table build. Could you elaborate more on your design? I was thinking of taking advantage of the space under the unhinged narrow portion of the table similar to April Wilkerson's design except for storage, e.g. crosscut sled, etc.

Mine's the same as hers, well was, but I used a piano hinge (because I had it). Most of the space was taken up by support pieces and the dust collection. Here's an old pic from when I was in the process of building it, you can see how it worked out. BTW, this was a quick throw together because I needed it.. supposed to last a few weeks before I made a 'good' one. It lasted almost 15 years.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3z5zzHr/0/5474da8a/L/i-3z5zzHr-L.jpg

[ChrisA Edwards]

What's the purpose of this "torsion box"?

It lets you build a surface that is flat and rigid, and stay that way, but is also reasonably light weight.

[glenn bradley]

Nicely done. thanks for sharing that.

[Von Bickley]

Mine is nothing fancy, but it works for me as an out-feed table and my assembly table.


Don't know why my pictures get rotated.... Maybe somebody can help me with that.

[Steve Mathews]

Mine's the same as hers, well was, but I used a piano hinge (because I had it). Most of the space was taken up by support pieces and the dust collection. Here's an old pic from when I was in the process of building it, you can see how it worked out. BTW, this was a quick throw together because I needed it.. supposed to last a few weeks before I made a 'good' one. It lasted almost 15 years.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3z5zzHr/0/5474da8a/L/i-3z5zzHr-L.jpg

Nicely done Mike! How deep did you make the fixed surface? Did you extend the slots into the folding platform?

[mike stenson]

Nicely done Mike! How deep did you make the fixed surface? Did you extend the slots into the folding platform?

Thanks Steve, as I recall the fixed section was 10" deep, which made the thing just deep enough to handle 8' stock. I did not initially extend the slots, but did so about a month after I built it. For a temp build, it evolved several times which is kind of funny. I did finally get rid of it when we recently moved. Now, I'll build a freestanding one, but my shop space is significantly bigger.

[Tom Dixon]

I found that I was using my delta folding outfeed table way too much for assembly which got in the way of using the table saw. So I recently constructed a full size table that runs the length of the table saw replacing the folding one so I could use the extra space for assembly and also when breaking down sheet goods. I have plans to build 3 cabinets of drawers for under the outfeed table but I haven't started them yet. The outfeed table is attached because I don't move the table saw around in my new shop because of my permanent dust collection.

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[jeff norris 2011]

A pure outfeed table does not need to be all that fancy. It does not need to be all that flat even as it is just for catching wood. You get into the super flat design as people like to use them as assembly tables.

For me I LOVE having an ample outfeed table. I like to make sure I have around 50-54" behind the blade. Basically I want and 8 foot long piece of wood to be half supported after the cut. As long as more than half is supported it should tip.

I also a big fan of mitre gauge slots going into the outfeed table.

[Derek Cohen]

Back when I had a cabinet saw, I designed an outfeed solution that had a narrower portion physically attached to the back rail of the saw with the remaining portion of the table hinged so it could be folded down when the tool needed to be moved or I needed the space for something else. There was no impediment to mobility and the surface was always coplanar with the table saw's top surface.

Ditto. I did exactly the same.

This outfeed does not need to be large - 12” long is large enough to support most work.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Bob Falk]

I built an adjustable height outfeed table that is mobile:

https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?271572-Yet-another-table-saw-outfeed-table-This-one-with-height-adjustment&p=2893550&highlight=#post2893550

[jeff norris 2011]

I almost forgot, I designed this outfeed table and sold the plans to Wood magazine back 2007. It jacks up to store over your table saw and turn you table saw into a worktable. I got rid of my version years ago as no longer needed to save space in my shop, but it is still a cool option for some people.

https://www.woodmagazine.com/video/tablesaw-outfeed-tablebench

[ChrisA Edwards]

I almost forgot, I designed this outfeed table and sold the plans to Wood magazine back 2007. It jacks up to store over your table saw and turn you table saw into a worktable. I got rid of my version years ago as no longer needed to save space in my shop, but it is still a cool option for some people.

https://www.woodmagazine.com/video/tablesaw-outfeed-tablebench

That was neat.

[Rich Engelhardt]

I designed an outfeed solution that had a narrower portion physically attached to the back rail of the saw with the remaining portion of the table hinged so it could be folded down when the tool needed to be moved or I needed the space for something else. There was no impediment to mobility and the surface was always coplanar with the table saw's top surface.I'm a bit hungover (celebrated my birthday w/three 32 ounce Coors Light at Red Robin last night) so I just copied and pasted what Jim typed - that's exactly what I did... ;).

[Jim Becker]

That's the approach I intend to take with my outfeed table build. Could you elaborate more on your design? I was thinking of taking advantage of the space under the unhinged narrow portion of the table similar to April Wilkerson's design except for storage, e.g. crosscut sled, etc.

What Mike shows is essentially how mine was designed. The plans I created are no longer available as I shut down the website years ago, but there are undoubtedly some threads here at SMC about it and various adaptations that folks have made over time. The fixed section on my unit was 12" and supported by struts that connected to a piece of metal angle attached to the back of the saw cabinet.

[Michael Drew]

Mine's the same as hers, well was, but I used a piano hinge (because I had it). Most of the space was taken up by support pieces and the dust collection. Here's an old pic from when I was in the process of building it, you can see how it worked out. BTW, this was a quick throw together because I needed it.. supposed to last a few weeks before I made a 'good' one. It lasted almost 15 years.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3z5zzHr/0/5474da8a/L/i-3z5zzHr-L.jpg


This weekend's project is building an outfeed table similar to this design. I do not have the floor space for another table....

I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate the support legs into this hinged table. The legs need to have adjustable feet due to the floor's slope and irregularities. I thought I might use a combination of 1/2" pipe, all thread and threaded levelers, and build hollow support legs that would be hinged to the outfeed table. The goal being extended feet adjustment through holes in the outfeed table with the legs in position. Before I continue sorting through the details of this cobbled together adjustment assembly, I was wondering if anyone has built something similar?? I do not have a welder at the moment, so I am stuck using threaded connections. That's limiting my creative freedom here.....

[mike stenson]

This weekend's project is building an outfeed table similar to this design. I do not have the floor space for another table....

I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate the support legs into this hinged table. The legs need to have adjustable feet due to the floor's slope and irregularities. I thought I might use a combination of 1/2" pipe, all thread and threaded levelers, and build hollow support legs that would be hinged to the outfeed table. The goal being extended feet adjustment through holes in the outfeed table with the legs in position. Before I continue sorting through the details of this cobbled together adjustment assembly, I was wondering if anyone has built something similar?? I do not have a welder at the moment, so I am stuck using threaded connections. That's limiting my creative freedom here.....

I used nutserts and threaded leveling feet put into wooden legs , and folding leg brackets (rockler, amazon, etc should all sell them).

[Michael Drew]

Thanks. I have all that. What I'm pondering, is how to adjust the levellers from above the out feed table top, verse at the foot of the legs. I was thinking about using a pipe nipple to couple the height adjusters to a piece of all thread. Then I could just turn the all thread through a hole in table top. As the allthread rotates, it would drive the pipe nipple down, or pull it up - moving the leg foot up/down.

Or, I could just stop being lazy, kneel down to the floor, and use the levelling feet......

[Brett Luna]

I prefer the design by Laney Shaughnessy...

I think Laney based his build on the same source I did: a Woodworker's Journal article (Feb 2009) by Chris Marshall. I'm also in a small garage/shop and I've been happy with it.

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[Jan Smith]

My version of an out feed table.
https://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=427041&d=1582979550

[Ole Anderson]

I prefer the design by Laney Shaughnessy, the table mounts to the back of the saw similar to April's design but rather than legs to support the back end it uses a sliding dovetail support at 45 degrees back to the saw base. With this design you can move the saw around with the table and it is unaffected by an uneven floor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s51gLEsCeY I made that one, just smaller and I felt the sliding dovetail was way more complicated than necessary. I don't handle full sheets, a half sheet is all I can handle in my basement shop. Old pics before I updated dust collection and extended the miter slots into the folding table.

[Doug Garson]

I made that one, just smaller and I felt the sliding dovetail was way more complicated than necessary. I don't handle full sheets, a half sheet is all I can handle in my basement shop. Old pics before I updated dust collection and extended the miter slots into the folding table.
Can't tell from your photo, did you use an alternate to the sliding dovetail? I recall seeing a video of a better alternative after I built mine but can't recall what it was.

[Mark Daily]

Mine is nothing fancy, but it works for me as an out-feed table and my assembly table.


Don't know why my pictures get rotated.... Maybe somebody can help me with that.
Pictures taken with an iPhone need to be taken in “portrait” mode- not on its side (landscape). Something about the site software not being able to “fix” pics taken in landscape mode.

[Mark Daily]

I almost forgot, I designed this outfeed table and sold the plans to Wood magazine back 2007. It jacks up to store over your table saw and turn you table saw into a worktable. I got rid of my version years ago as no longer needed to save space in my shop, but it is still a cool option for some people.

https://www.woodmagazine.com/video/tablesaw-outfeed-tablebench

Wow- that is a great idea! I might build something similar for my shop. Thanks for sharing Jeff.

Do you know what issue it appeared in?

[Mark Daily]

This weekend's project is building an outfeed table similar to this design. I do not have the floor space for another table....

I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate the support legs into this hinged table. The legs need to have adjustable feet due to the floor's slope and irregularities. I thought I might use a combination of 1/2" pipe, all thread and threaded levelers, and build hollow support legs that would be hinged to the outfeed table. The goal being extended feet adjustment through holes in the outfeed table with the legs in position. Before I continue sorting through the details of this cobbled together adjustment assembly, I was wondering if anyone has built something similar?? I do not have a welder at the moment, so I am stuck using threaded connections. That's limiting my creative freedom here.....
Check out the pics in the link in post 24. Looks like what you’re wanting to do.

[Jan Smith]

Wow- that is a great idea! I might build something similar for my shop. Thanks for sharing Jeff.

Do you know what issue it appeared in?

Looks like #178 September 2007.

[Randall J Cox]

Back when I had a cabinet saw, I designed an outfeed solution that had a narrower portion physically attached to the back rail of the saw with the remaining portion of the table hinged so it could be folded down when the tool needed to be moved or I needed the space for something else. There was no impediment to mobility and the surface was always coplanar with the table saw's top surface.

i did what Jim did, built one attached to the back of the Unisaw with hinges. When not in use, its down. I only put it up when needed due to space limitations. Its just a flat piece of 3/4" plywood, nothing fancy, has worked fine for me for the past 20+ years. Randy

[Mark Daily]

Looks like #178 September 2007.
Thank you- I have that one!

[Rod Sheridan]

When I had a cabinet saw my outfeed table was a torsion box design with a melamine top.

It was hinged to the rear rail of the saw, with a couple of fold out post legs.

When not in use it was folded down and didn't interfere with the moving of the saw.

[Bob Riefer]

Not a fold down design, but an option to throw into the mix...

I bought a used drafting table that was constructed with steel frame where each of the 4 corners had height adjustment capability. I added a bigger top and adjusted each corner until I was happy with fit behind my saw. It's sturdy as can be, cost me about $70 total, and it was nice to be able to account for minor inconsistencies in the concrete floor.

In my case this is stationary, but adding some locking swivel casters could allow this sort of setup to move around the shop.

(edit: old pic before adding miter slots and upgrading dust collection in my shop :-) )

[Ole Anderson]

Can't tell from your photo, did you use an alternate to the sliding dovetail? I recall seeing a video of a better alternative after I built mine but can't recall what it was. I presume you are speaking of my alternate to the sliding dovetail knee brace? Thumbnail pic #1 shows it quite clearly. Just a piece of ply, beveled each end with a ply stiffener. I start by lifting the table above horizontal, and wiggle the brace until it seats in the french cleats on the table and saw.

[Doug Garson]

I presume you are speaking of my alternate to the sliding dovetail knee brace? Thumbnail pic #1 shows it quite clearly. Just a piece of ply, beveled each end with a ply stiffener. I start by lifting the table above horizontal, and wiggle the brace until it seats in the french cleats on the table and saw.
OK, I see it now, thanks for clarifying.

[Brian Tymchak]

Hi Chris, are those gold anodized brackets you use to attach the off-feed to the saw an Incra product? They look just like the brackets for the Incra fence.

Thanks!

[ChrisA Edwards]

Hi Chris, are those gold anodized brackets you use to attach the off-feed to the saw an Incra product? They look just like the brackets for the Incra fence.

Thanks!

Yes that's exactly what they are $16.95 for a pair, part # PTSL-800100.

[Benjimin Young]

I made mine on wheels, so I can move it if necessary or rotate it 90 degrees to support a longer piece on the outfeed side. I also wanted storage, so I built it with 3 drawers.

The top is a torsion box and is adjustable in height, so if I move the cabinet and the floor is not level, I can fine adjust the top.

As it spends most of it's time in the position in the first photo, it is clamped to the table saw rail with knobs.

Here's a few pictures.
https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT6_zps5g5vhbii.jpg


https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT9_zpslwdxv47v.jpg

https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT7_zpsq61mqyaw.jpg


The feet for the torsion box top sit on the four corner columns.

https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/OT4_zpsuatyeebb.jpg


The torsion box top being built, the four solid blocks are for the height adjustable feet used to find tune the outfeed table height to the saw.
https://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/SawStop%20Outfeed%20Table/TorsionTable_zpsxbbnzk63.jpg

very nice !!. If I had the room for a table style out-feed I would copy your beautiful design. Unfortunately fo me, space dictates I have to make it folding. Great pics and details too.

[Benjimin Young]

Nice! They make combination castor/levelers so you get the best of both worlds.
Hi Travis, I am interested in researching combination castor/levelers as everything in my shop is on wheels and the concrete is not very level. Can you share or PM me with who makes them?

[Bruce Page]

Here's mine:

[Brian Tymchak]

Yes that's exactly what they are $16.95 for a pair, part # PTSL-800100.

Thanks Chris!

[Michael Drew]

Finally finished my out feed table. Figured it would serve double duty as an assembly table, so I built a semi-torsion box, 2.5" thick. Used 3/4 baltic birch ply for the top, and 1/4 for the bottom. Red oak frame and support with cheap laminate I found at Lowes.

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Tried to make most of thing adjustable, as my floor is uneven.

428988

Some all thread, couplers, and boxed legs so I can adjust the levelers from the top. I had some 5/8 poplar collecting dust, so I used that for the legs.

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[Michael Drew]

I have about 52" of table past the blade.

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Miter slots cut in the fixed part. The folding part is attached with some pretty stout piano hinge.

428995

Having a sturdy OF table sure makes using this saw more enjoyable. Wish I would have done this years ago. Now I get to day dream about having a real shop.....