Shop Table modifications

[Bob Nazro]

I have been looking into purchasing either the EZ Smart Guide system or the Festool Plunge saw and guide. Both seem to offer the ability to cut sheet goods quite accurately. I ended up ordering the EZ Smart Guide with 2 - 50" rails and I picked up a new porta cable 324mag saw to use with the system. This saw offers a 1" dust collection connection. I will post a review when I get everything here.
What I needed was a work table to cut the sheet goods on. A while back I posted about shop helpers and homemade inovations and being stuck in the shop today with all the snow I came up with an idea to modify the table to make a sheet cutting surface. I cut some 2x4's to 48" and notched them to slide over the 2 long 2x4 runners on the table. The best part is that everything knocks down and slides in the overhead when not in use.

The original roll-around table:
http://www.woodworking.org/photo/albums/userpics/12008/bench_1.jpg
See "Bench 2" (http://www.woodworking.org/photo/displayimage.php?pos=-2032)

With the long runners:

http://www.woodworking.org/photo/albums/userpics/12008/Bench_2.jpg
See "Bench 1" (http://www.woodworking.org/photo/displayimage.php?pos=-2031)

With the cross members:

http://www.woodworking.org/photo/albums/userpics/12008/100_2047.JPG
See "Table" (http://www.woodworking.org/photo/displayimage.php?pos=-3036)

A closer look at the joint:

http://www.woodworking.org/photo/albums/userpics/12008/100_2048.JPG
See "Table 2" (http://www.woodworking.org/photo/displayimage.php?pos=-3037)

I love snow days. :-D

[Tyler Howell]

Look real solid Bob. Nice set up:cool:

[Frank Pellow]

Bob, that looks like it will work well with your new guided circular saw system. I look forwrd the hearing and seeing more once you have the system.

[Bob Nazro]

I just checked UPS and the guide should be delivered today. I shpuld have the new saw in a few days and can get things going. I only notched the crossmembers to allow them to slide on the long runners to accomidate different crosscuts. The table was made about 15 years ago and I added the long runners to help with unloading and moving sheet goods. It rolls right up to the back of the truck and everything slides on.

Well gotta go and look out the window for the brown truck. :D

[Jim Becker]

Bob, nice solution. I've been planning something along similar lines for use with my workbench, leveraging my parallel rows of dog holes to hold a cutting frame.

[Bill Simmeth]

Bob, nice table and congrats on the new saw system. If you haven't yet, make sure you ask Dino to send you the free little plastic dust shield for the PC Mag saws he offers or make one yourself. It makes a significant difference in the dust collection -- near perfect with a good vac.

[Bob Nazro]

Jim,
Using my workbench was my first choice, but I also wanted to be able to roll things outside, when possible. I like the idea of using the bench dog holes. I only have one row running lengthwise on my bench. I could add another row. I think some 3/4" dowels set into the cross braces would be plenty of support. I don’t think that one dowel pin would be enough.