Outfeed Table

[Tapper]

After years of using a roller stand for outfeed support, I decided to go to a table instead. I wanted something that was attached to the saw but was also portable (saw is on casters.) Drew up a sketch and took it down to a friend who owns a local cabinet shop; he made the top. Two pieces of 3/4" MDF sandwiched together with a laminate top surface. Rubber banding on the edge. He also cut the slots for the miter gauge blade.

Bought the leg and hinge kit from Rockler (hinges not shown in the photo.) Legs are adjustable vertically and swing up and lock in place under the table when table is retracted.

[attachment=53037]
[attachment=53038]
In this photo, you can see where the hinges are attached to the rail with two sets of bolts, left and right. There was only one hole drilled in each location; second hole (one on the left on each side) had to be drilled.
[attachment=53039]
Had to mill an extra slot in each hinge bracket for the second bolt. Bridgeport did the job nicely.
[attachment=53040]

One of Murphy's Laws seems to always creep in. This time it was "everything takes longer than you think." Overall, pleased with the result.

Doug

[EdL]

Looks good Doug, well done.

Ed

[Tapper]

Looks good Doug, well done.

Ed

Thanks Ed!

Doug

[stav]

That's a great out feed. Does the saw still feel stable when you move it with all of that weight in the back?

[Tapper]

That's a great out feed. Does the saw still feel stable when you move it with all of that weight in the back?

Back when I bought this Sawstop PCS on the Field Test Program, one of the options was to upgrade to the ICS mobile base (heavier duty), which I did. When the outfeed table is retracted its weight rests directly over the two rear wheels of the mobile base, allowing good support.

Seems to move as smoothly and easily as before.

Doug

[fall]

Doug, how do you like the leg system you bought? I was looking at them on line and they seemed like they are a nice set for a set up for a drop table like this.

[Tapper]

Doug, how do you like the leg system you bought? I was looking at them on line and they seemed like they are a nice set for a set up for a drop table like this.

I really like the leg system. It offers about as much flexibility as you would want for this application. When I first installed them, when folded up they were jammed up against the rear rail on the saw and prevented the table from folding down. I moved them back towards the rear edge of the top and that provided adequate clearance and solved the problem. 

Works very smoothly now.

Doug

P.S. Just as an aside, I've ordered several things from Rockler in the past few years. Quality items and their CS gets high marks IMO.

[fall]

I really like the leg system. It offers about as much flexibility as you would want for this application. When I first installed them, when folded up they were jammed up against the rear rail on the saw and prevented the table from folding down. I moved them back towards the rear edge of the top and that provided adequate clearance and solved the problem. 

Works very smoothly now.

Doug

P.S. Just as an aside, I've ordered several things from Rockler in the past few years. Quality items and their CS gets high marks IMO.

       
     Doug I was looking at the Rockler site and they offer a leg set up with quick connect pin hinge connecters so the table can be taken off easily. I did call Rockler and asked if they are going to sell the set and offer a extra pin hinge separately (second set) so you could use the portability of the out-feed table on other machines and the tec stated they were looking into that for multiple usage as well

      https://www.rockler.com/rockler-rock-ste...utfeed-kit. 

Also if you look at some of the reviews it shows others using them on bandsaws and work benches and such..

[Tapper]

Yeah, I saw that kit. I suppose it would work for certain applications but was not for me. This outfeed table is pretty stout and therefore kind of heavy. I did not want to have to disconnect the table from the saw, fold it up and then haul it somewhere and store it.

With this setup, I can just fold down the table quite easily, and move the saw when necessary. I have a pretty good sized shop but like most, find there are times I need to move equipment around to free up space. All my stationary tools are on mobile bases.

If I need outfeed support for my jointer, planer, bandsaw, etc. I use a roller stand. Typically in my experience, the tablesaw will benefit mostly from an outfeed table largely because of the number of repetitive cuts necessary in many projects.

Doug

[abernat]

I did make an outfeed table with the removable pins and decided to overengineer by going with a torsion box. The top skin is 1/2" ply, the bottom is 1/8" hardboard, and the ribs are 1/4" ply. I definitely wouldn't want to try to remove 1 1/2" of MDF - that's going to be hella heavy.

It also must have taken 5x as long to make