Adjustable Height Outfeed Table?

[David Genrich]

I would like to create a rolling outfeed support table for my Jet Contractor Saw. Building the table is not a problem, but I was wondering if there is a good way to adjust the height to make it level with the table top.

I was thinking of using threaded inserts into the top of the table frame, with adjustment screws in the top so I could adjust the height of the 4 corners to be level with the top of the table saw.

However, I am not quite sure how to have the adjustment screws both hold the top on, and adjust for height.

I am also not sure if this approach would be stable enough (would the top wobble?)

Thanks,
David Genrich

[David Genrich]

I found an example of what I am looking for in ShopNotes Issue 60 (http://www.shopnotes.com/issues/060/extras/adjustable-height-assembly-table/):

However, I am not sure how they have the table top actually attached.

Does anyone have a copy of ShopNotes Issue 60 that they can sell me? I can get the backissues, but only with Issues 55 through 60, for $29.95, but would prefer not to spend that much. Like everyone else, I am on a tight budget and lucky if I can buy wood !

Thanks,
David Genrich

[Paul Zonneveld]

David what I have done in the past is to weld a 1/2 inch or larger nut into the end of a piece of steel tubing (serves as the table leg) and then install a bolt into the nut with another nut on the bolt that serves as a lock nut. Adjust to the correct height and then tighten the lock nut up agaist the nut previously welded in place. The same thing can also be done in the end of a square of lumber. Forsner bit and then force the nut into the hole. Another option is to use a large diamter T nut with a hole drilled down the end of the wood serving as the table leg. This method will work its just not as robust. If you dont move the table much then the latter methods should work just fine.

[David Genrich]

Paul,

Thanks for your reply. It sounds like your talking about adjusting the leg height? I need to be able to roll the thing around to move it since I have a 2-car garage workshop (space is limited).

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

I was of the impression that you want the out feed a tad lower than the Cast Iron - just a schoosh.

[David Genrich]

If I route dados for the miter slots, I can have the table exactly level I believe (or a tad lower). Don't want it any higher than the table saw though.

My garage floor has a slight downward angle. So, having a level table would not be complely level with the table saw. Having the table height adjustable at the 4 corners, I can compenstate for the floor, move the table when I need to align the saw (which is one of the reasons I don't care for a folding outfeed suport - too hard to do adjustments to the table top), use the inside for storage, and have an extra assembly table.

[Chip Olson]

Is the table side going to be supported by the saw? If so, you can align that with the saw top without making it adjustable, and put standard leveling feet on the ends of the legs.

[Paul Zonneveld]

David what I have been doing for a while now (I have a 2 car garage as well) is to assemble the legs to the table each time I need to use it and then adjust it as needed. Its a pain in the you know what but for now its what I have to do until I can get some more space. I actually store my outfeed table top on top of the table saw when its not in use.

[David Genrich]

I have the Incra LS Table Saw Fence (http://www.woodpeck.com/tslssystem.html), so having an attached outfeed table interferes with the fence. I could attach one, but trying to keep it out of the way of the fence (which I remove often) would be a pain. Plus, having an attached outfeed table makes adjustments more of a pain (would have to remove it to get to the back of the saw).

So, was thinking of a seperate table on wheels that I can move around as needed, but that has a top that is height adjustable. This then also serves as a location to store some of the smaller power tools and as an extra assemply table.

Since the orginal post, I have found an idea of what whould work here (http://www.shopnotes.com/issues/060/extras/adjustable-height-assembly-table/). But, I am not sure how the table height screws are actually used in that example.

[Eddie Darby]

Why not attach the outfeed to the backside of the table and have it so it can fold away on the side?

This plan has a micro-adjust leg:

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articledisplay?id=11184

I've seen these brackets used to make a folding outfeed table.

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=40037&cat=3,43648,43651&ap=1

[Clint Winterhalter]

David,
I more than likely have #60. I'll currently in San Antonio on business. I'll check over the weekend. If I have it I'll shoot you a PDF of the article.

Clint

[Jules Dominguez]

David, I wouldn't worry myself excessively about having the outfeed table be exactly in the same plane as the saw table. It's not, practically speaking, possible to do anyway, given that your floor isn't a perfect plane, and it's also not necessary for accurate sawing.
Like Cliff said, you want it to be just a tad lower than the saw table. It's irritating and dangerous for a board being ripped to bang into the outfeed table. If a board has even a very slight bow, and it's concave side down, it will hit the outfeed table if it's not low enough.

[Vic Damone]

This is one way to get around the rear fence rail.

http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7542&highlight=outfeed+table

Vic

[Don Bullock]

David,
I'm planning to eventually make something like the "Floating Table" that Jointech has for their fence system.

http://www.jointech.com/tablesaw_floating.htm

Extra sections of Incra rail can be bought on eBay if I make some like the Jointech tables, or I can just buy some extra rail attachment brackets from Incra and attach the table to the back rail using them. It may even be possible to use a Jointech Floating table on an Incra. I'll have to check that out at the next woodworking show I go to, but that won't be for a while.

[Don Bullock]

David,
I more than likely have #60. I'll currently in San Antonio on business. I'll check over the weekend. If I have it I'll shoot you a PDF of the article.

Clint

Clint,
I'd appreciate a PDF of that article as well. That table looks like a good project. Thanks.:D

[Paul Dwight]

If you need more than about an inch of adjustment this won't work, but for small adjustment ranges I use quick-connect cabinet hardware like item G on this page from the Lee Valley catalog: http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=45375&cat=3,41306. The explanation of how I use this is kinda hard to put into words, so bear with me. The basic concept is that the round head of the bolt is captured between two layers that are laminated to form the work surface. A hole in the bottom layer allows the threaded portion to extend below the work surface and engage a threaded insert in the fixed portion of the cabinet. A hole in the top layer lets me use a hex wrench to turn the bolt and adjust the height of the work surface. A shallow countersink accomodates the head of the bolt and allows it to turn without binding on the laminated wood. After I have the work surface tweaked to the correct height, I lock in the adjustment with regular hex nuts that are threaded onto the bolt and snugged down against the threaded inserts in the fixed portion of the cabinet.

I find this works well for outfeed table-type applications. It's not sturdy enough to handle any pounding, though.

Hope this helps. -- Paul

[Craig D Peltier]

This is a little in other direction but how about a adjustable height roller table, Grizzly has two I know off, one folds to 19 inches wide to get it out of way and its something like 4 feet or more long.
I think its like $140 for folding one.

[Eddie Darby]

http://www.woodcentral.com/articles/powertools/articles_636.shtml

[Keith Outten]

http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=40319

[Eddie Darby]

Ahh found it!!!

http://www.woodsmith.com/files/issues/sample/sample-04-05.pdf

[Eddie Darby]

ShopNotes No. 93 has an outfeed table (http://www.woodsmith.com/files/issues/sample/sample-04-05.pdf)

[Dan Boschen]

Here's what I did with my Unisaw:

http://pages.suddenlink.net/dbosch/outfeed.pdf

I needed a way to roll my saw around just like you. I can roll the saw around with the outfeed deployed or not. The link on the back of the saw can be modified to work around a rear rail if necessary. The height adjustment is performed by sliding the two yokes that hold the rear support towards or away from the saw. It sits rock solid and has been a good addition to the saw. I wanted something that would deploy in a handful of seconds and store with the saw. I have to store my saw at the back of the garage, up on a stoop and it travels well with the saw going up a steel ramp, onto the stoop.

Dan Boschen
Amarillo, TX

[Dave Morris]

David, I recently finished making a mobile adjustable height shop table, with micro-adjustment of the height, for infeed/outfeed jobs at various tools. Let's see if I can attach a picture to this post--- I've never tried here before.


If the picture works, it's showing the table set up as an infeed for my bandsaw at 47-1/2". It can easily be lowered to serve as infeed or outfeed support for my table saw at 34-1/2". If the table seems to be something you'd like, I can post more pics and construction details in additional posts, but it's pretty basic construction... nothing fancy.


Dave

[Narayan Nayar]

Hi David.

You mentioned that you have an Incra TS. I do too, and I use a Woodpecker outfeed table (http://www.woodpeck.com/outfeedtable.html). It's easily adjustable for height; I have to do this often because my garage floor is far from level and I move my saw around a lot.

You could easily rig up something similar with the t-slot in the back of the LS' back rail. I like the Woodpecker and am contemplating getting another. They're not cheap, but just about all my woodworking time this year has already gone towards the shop, and I need to start making some furniture :)

Let me know if you want detailed pics of the mounting system. Might take me a day or two.

[Pat Germain]

Nobody is interested in Norm's adjustable outfeed table?

http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct3.cgi?0603

It looks kinda complicated, but very slick. Both the height of the rollers and the table itself are adjustable. The table has adjustable feet to compensate for uneven floors, which is pretty much every shop floor.

I know some folks like to bust on Norm for not being a true woodworker. I give him major props on this project for making his own, wooden, adjustment handle.

[Roger Wilson]

My table saw outfeed table is simple: 4'x4' plywood top (with miter slots) on top of 4 legs with aprons. A couple of supports between the aprons to keep the top flat. The ends of the legs (the part sitting on the floor) just have lag screws driven into them (pre-drill). Screw them in or out to raise or lower the table.

If I were to do it again I would build a cabinet that size to add more storage space to the shop.

[Dave MacArthur]

David (and Pat),
I happened to stay up late last night working through my TIVO'd Woodworks and New Yankee Workshop videos, and I saw Norm build that fully-adjustable rolling outfeed support table. It was broadcast earlier this week. Indeed, that is a slick looking device, and I would think you could either design the rollers on top to be on a removable platform (so you could use the thing as a work surface), or make a "lid" to sit over them for work surface. It also appears you could put some storage along the sides of the column. This is what I will be building.;)

[Robyn Horton]

David Here is the outfeed table that I built for my saw , it has casters to roll it around and the top is independent from the cart itself so it can move up and down around 2". The adjusters are from Rockler and the part # is 81239, heavy duty lifting leveler.

[Pat Germain]

Hey, that's really slick, Robyn. I think I'd like to build that same outfeed table. Unlike Norm's table, the top is ready for use for other tasks. Thanks for posting the pics.

[Robyn Horton]

Thanks Pat the table works great in my uneven garage. Its 4'X4' and all the casters are the swivel locking type. The top is covered with Formica so the wood slides easy on it.
This picture shows a close up of the top and adjuster.

[Paul Douglass]

David (and Pat),
I happened to stay up late last night working through my TIVO'd Woodworks and New Yankee Workshop videos, and I saw Norm build that fully-adjustable rolling outfeed support table. It was broadcast earlier this week. Indeed, that is a slick looking device, and I would think you could either design the rollers on top to be on a removable platform (so you could use the thing as a work surface), or make a "lid" to sit over them for work surface. It also appears you could put some storage along the sides of the column. This is what I will be building.;)

I like Norm's table. One thing I would try to do on it is add some pull out outrigger on the top do when ripping a wide board or sheet of plywood you can pull out the outrigger to help stablize the pieces after they are ripped. Did that make sense?