Setting up table saw to rip full sheets?

[bball09124 10+ year member]

I want to build a little workshop in my garage and I was wondering if someone could show me some examples of how to build around the saw to make 1 big table, so I'd be able to rip full sheets of MDF fairly easily. I just bought a Dewalt table saw (without the stand) for $75 of Craigslist. Sells for $530 new. I'm gonna pick up a Freud blade and build a table setup and I should be set.

Here's a link to the model of the saw.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100609509

Click to read more...

 

[808_bass 10+ year member]

good score. i just made a 4ft by 8ft table out of 2x4s and (4) 4x4 posts. first i framed the table with the 2x4s then i cut the 4x4 posts the height that would make my table the same height of my saw, then i sheeted my framed table with some 3/4 ply. kinda overkill but it also makes a great work table after cutting is done.

hope that makes sense sorry i dont have pictures

 

[bball09124 10+ year member]

good score. i just made a 4ft by 8ft table out of 2x4s and (4) 4x4 posts. first i framed the table with the 2x4s then i cut the 4x4 posts the height that would make my table the same height of my saw, then i sheeted my framed table with some 3/4 ply. kinda overkill but it also makes a great work table after cutting is done.
hope that makes sense sorry i dont have pictures

Yeah I can follow that. That is basically what I had in mind. Anybody have any pics of their setup? Or any other tips/tricks?

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

Shops I've worked in that had nice setups for full sheets allowed you to fully support the sheet on the table or rollers before it gets to the blade and after the blade to help it glide straight without binding the blade or have pieces fall off the table. Basically about 14' x 5'. With an adjustable fence that runs most of that length. That's alot of space, but it makes a huge difference when trying to wrestle an 8 foot/100lb piece of MDF onto a blade and make clean straight cuts.

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

Make a table. make a cut out for the saw to sit flush. I would do it only like 5' on the right side, and like 2' on the left. Then make sure the front edge is straight so you can make a fence to ride on it. Then clamp the fence to make the cuts.

You dont need 8' of table imo, say you need a piece 7' long, just take 1' off the board.

Need 5' ? take 3' off.

as Im lazy and cheap, I just clamp a piece of 5'x 2' 1/2 ply to my saw top, clamp a straight edge to it as a fence. Then run the saw and raise it thru the ply to make cuts. Takes a little longer in the set up for diffrent sizes, but it works for the occasional cuts I need to to.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Yeah I can follow that. That is basically what I had in mind. Anybody have any pics of their setup? Or any other tips/tricks?

Poor view of the table, but shows the important part.

I actually have the other section of it, so a full 4x8 sheet can be turned around, but I don't have the room to set that up yet //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[fasfocus00 5,000+ posts]

if you go to Home Depot, i'd check out the Simpson Stong Ties, they have a workshop table kit to make a workshop table out of 2x4s and full sheet of wood. the kit is like 25 bux. that should help out in building the extentions.

 

[bball09124 10+ year member]

bump for ideas

 

[JBLCAMRY 10+ year member]

I want mine to look like this,

This is Bj's by the way.

 

[bball09124 10+ year member]

That looks like a nice setup. I almost expected it to be nicer considering how perfect BJ's boxes come out.

Anybody else?

 

[on1wheel01 10+ year member]

How do you guys keep the cuts straight with the extension? I am about to purchase a used delta for like 70 bucks with the stand, but will need to make a extended table like shown. Didint know if you made some kind of device for the slider to extend on. Or maybe just clamp a 2x4 into place i guess a level would check and make sure it's straight.

 

[timaishu 10+ year member]

I have an old craftsment table saw that I want to learn to use and make a few boxes. Its pretty cool. I think we originally bought it for around 700.