TS Router Extension w/o legs - can I get away with this?

[Doug Shepard]

I spoke to Chris at Quality Grinding today regarding one of their router extensions for my PM66. I want to replace the 24"x28" black wooden one in the pics below. Chris estimates the weight for the extension around 115 Lbs and I figure the router and lift are good for another 10-15 Lbs. This needs to stay mobile (on the existing mobile base) so no fixed leg under the extension. Can I get away with just bolting it on as-is or should I plan on some support arms angled up from either the mobile base to underneath the far end of the extension or attached directly to the saw?

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=17638

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=17645

[John Keeton]

I would say yes until you lean on it, or set something heavy on it. Honestly, I wouldn't do it Doug. Just seems that keeping everything flat would be a problem, and putting 120+ lbs extended that far away from the center of gravity would concern me. I know the saw is heavy, but I am always setting something on my saw temporarily - sometimes stuff that is very heavy. Maybe I am just being overly cautious??

[Andrew Nemeth]

Doug, I'm going to have to agree with John on this one. I think that is a lot of weight to have cantilevered off the one side if you were to stack something on it or lean against it. I think the table itself would probably be okay if you add an angled support bracket mounted back to the saw. If you absolutely must go this route you may be able to add weight to the cabinet base to help shift the center of gravity back towards the saw.

Have you considered just getting a larger mobile base to accommodate support legs?

[Bill White]

If that puppy tips over, ya got a problem.
Bill

[Mark Carlson]

Doug,

Would a mobile base extension work?

http://www.amazon.com/Woodstock-International-G8684-Extension-Mobile/dp/B0000DCZ7A/ref=pd_sim_hi_3

~mark

[Ray Schafer]

I have a similar mobile base (to the one Mark points to) and that is what I would recommend. You could build your own legs and put casters on them, also.

[Bruce Page]

Doug, put some legs under it. Not a big deal to install and could be a major big deal if you don't and it tips over on someone - not to mention the damage to your beautiful 66.
BTW, I don't know what router/lift combo you are thinking about but my PC7518 weighs in at 14+ pounds all by itself.

[Doug Shepard]

I've got one word for youz guys.
Buzzkill

Course if I didn't have some nagging thoughts of my own, I wouldn't have asked. Guess I'll have to go to a Plan B. I had wanted to keep that area under the extension open as I had plans of something else sliding underneath when not in use. Plan B says I'm going to have to get a different mobile base which will also have to have a cabinet of storage drawers on top of the base, underneath the extension.

The EX series of HTC bases looks like it might do the trick
http://www.htcproductsinc.com/downloads/HTC_Catalog_2006.pdf

But a past thread here means I may have to do a bit more research. I think I've got the same vintage saw with a dust port location that causes some problems.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=738829

Muchos gracias y'all

[Doug Shepard]

...
BTW, I don't know what router/lift combo you are thinking about but my PC7518 weighs in at 14+ pounds all by itself.

The PC7518 + Woodpecker PRL is about the only thing from my current setup that I'm keeping. So I guess maybe 20-25 Lbs more for the router and lift.

[glenn bradley]

As opposed to a mobile base extension I cobbled together some braces that went from the outer corners of the RT (where vertical legs would go) and then angled back to the saw base. This worked fine although it looked like something out of Mad Max

[Bruce Page]

The PC7518 + Woodpecker PRL is about the only thing from my current setup that I'm keeping. So I guess maybe 20-25 Lbs more for the router and lift.

Actually, the 14.4 pounds includes the PC plunge base, so deduct a few pounds for that…:o

[scott spencer]

It might be just fine, but the risk is pretty high if it tips....really easy to remedy anyway.

I'd either counterbalance it, support it, or....put a rolling cabinet under it that doesn't quite reach the underside of the table. You'll get some storage, under table DC, and a safety net if it ever tips. The cabinet pulls in and out as needed. Worked out well for me.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/hewood/RT/NRT6-1.jpg

[Doug Shepard]

Well folks. The QG extension showed up today (no pics yet) and I dont think I truly appreciated how heavy this was going to be so I'm glad you steered me towards supporting it. According to the UPS tracker, the package is 112 Lb and there cant be more than 1 Lb of that in packaging. Thankfully there's still a thin film of snow packed down on the drive and I was able to slide the box from my back door to the garage without too much trouble. Before the weight was just a number. Now that I've had to handle it, it's a beast.
I placed an order for the longer HTC base to allow for a support/cabinet and that finally came in Friday. Now I just gotta find some helpers to swap mobile bases and possibly hang the extension as well next weekend. I may just go with a couple lumber supports at the corners temporarily so I can pop the router/lift in and measure better for the cabinet.

[Keith Outten]

Doug,

I installed a 24" QG extension on my saw and had to add a leg to support the weight. Several months later I ordered a matching extension for the opposite side of my saw both for the additional router lift and to balance my saw.

The angle iron on the front and back of your saw will easily support the weight of the extension. The problem is balance, adding supports from the outside of the extension to the bottom of your saw cabinet won't do the job. You are going to have to add the legs or a cabinet underneath for support.

Even with two extensions on my saw I have added one leg on opposing sides at the extension wings outer edge. My saw is well balanced but I tend to stack sign blanks on the saw while I'm routing and they can get a bit heavy so the legs take care of stability.

.

[Mike Goetzke]

As others said, time to add mobile base extension and cabinet. Mine needs to be put away when not in use too:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/Unisaw%20Cabinet/th_IMG_0902_1_1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/Unisaw%20Cabinet/?action=view&current=IMG_0902_1_1.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/Unisaw%20Cabinet/th_IMG_0904_2_1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/Unisaw%20Cabinet/?action=view&current=IMG_0904_2_1.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/Unisaw%20Cabinet/th_IMG_0381_1_1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/Unisaw%20Cabinet/?action=view&current=IMG_0381_1_1.jpg)


--------------------or before Uni-------------------------------

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/My%20Tools/22124%20TS/th_IMG_2717_1_1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/My%20Tools/22124%20TS/?action=view&current=IMG_2717_1_1.jpg)


It's a great project plus you will love the extra cabinet space.



Mike