Cheap man's Router Table

[JAlvis]

Ok....so I'm not the only one who has done this!

Blog for article:
http://blog.lostartpress.com/2012/12...-router-table/

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=g4NJwXnGFEQ

This is obviously dangerous but like most things in reality it still produces results.

[Jerry M]

My first "router table" looked just like that! Except i didn't think to include a "starter pin"

My second router table was a piece of plywood with a hole in the middle, fence was a 2 x 4 with a notch in one edge. Used that one for years. I think i still have it somewhere

[newman]

been there done that :)

when I was younger (read stupid) I'd rip boards with a Skilsaw inverted.

[dave_k]

been there done that :)

when I was younger (read stupid) I'd rip boards with a Skilsaw inverted.

That was the standard job site table saw for millwork installers in the 1970's - 80's before portable table saws came onto the scene. Some guys had fancy benches with a fence but more often than not you screwed the worm drive to a piece of ply, plunger it and turned it upside down. We used a piece of ply for a fence and just like any other TS you used a push stick. I've never had an accident with one of them but I've had 2 accidents including a lost finger with portable job site table saws.


Go figure.

[newman]

That was the standard job site table saw for millwork installers in the 1970's - 80's before portable table saws came onto the scene. Some guys had fancy benches with a fence but more often than not you screwed the worm drive to a piece of ply, plunger it and turned it upside down. We used a piece of ply for a fence and just like any other TS you used a push stick. I've never had an accident with one of them but I've had 2 accidents including a lost finger with portable job site table saws.


Go figure.

yeah, that's the way I did it, I had an old wood cabinet that I mounted a skilsaw under and had a light switch in a junction box mounted in front for the on/off - fancy stuff! death was of no concern in those days... :)

[Al (Ca.)]

Here is a home made table saw in action built by someone in England, probably.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f92MIxp9jTM

[newman]

Here is a home made table saw in action built by someone in England, probably.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f92MIxp9jTM

I just love how he uses the "proper" technique to push the work piece from both sides of the blade, and than removes the cut piece from the front of the blade, avoiding kickback... :)

[Al (Ca.)]

I noticed that, too.

[newman]

I noticed that, too.

and he's cutting MDF - I'd like to see the guy try that with any type of real wood and see if the kickback doesn't @#$% him up!

[JAlvis]

That table saw doesn't appear any more dangerous than most job site saws. Until recently my portable saw didn't have a riving knife.

Its the technique that made me jump!

Although I felt the same way with the router. Using ones hand to push the material especially small pieces is a disaster waiting to happen!

[brthomas]

Here is a home made table saw in action built by someone in England, probably.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f92MIxp9jTM

That individual technique on the home-built TS makes me cringe with fears of him losing appendages just to save a few British Pounds. Very very unsafe.

[Lamar Horton]

Ok....so I'm not the only one who has done this!

Blog for article:
http://blog.lostartpress.com/2012/12...-router-table/

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=g4NJwXnGFEQ

This is obviously dangerous but like most things in reality it still produces results.

Where was the unsafe part?

[JAlvis]

Where was the unsafe part?

Its unsafe to use your hands instead of Feather Boards, push sticks, and push pads. This is especially important on small pieces because the bit can grab the small piece and throw it which in return will cause ones hands to be pulled or pushed into the business end.

Small pieces being cut or shaped by any tool is very dangerous.

I say this from experience and have the scars to prove it!

[Spectaculartrim]

I was ok with that makeshift table saw until I saw him slide the piece between he fence and blade backwards after he cut the stock. The delta bench top table saw I had wasn't much better