Since off-the-shelf machine (router+saw) tables either don't have a good fence/guiding system, or are extremely expensive, on another thread I was told that I would be better off building my own.
Since I have a steel structure used for pallet stacking and such, I'll adapt that to build the frame. Once assembled it looks like this:
It's all steel (1.5mm thick sheet), hence the "hybrid" designation - and each level is rated for loads of up to 500kg. With the available parts, I can make one which is 450mm, 600mm or 700mm wide by 1200mm, 1500mm or 1800mm long - every combination is possible.
Then for the worktop, is 30mm MDF a good material? Raw/sealed or melamine faced?
The worktop would have 100mm overhang on all sides.
My main problem is how to adapt the circular saw and router to make them work like a proper table saw and router.
Here's a first iteration:
grey is for the T-tracks in which a fence (cyan) would slide. Blue is for the mitre gauge with its slide in green.
The router hole is in red and the saw in yellow.
I would add more stuff to the bench, like holes for further clamping options, definitely some type of track/rail on the sides (like the one on the Festool MFT 3) to allow clamping of long pieces vertically for planing and sanding, etc.
But first, the priority is to get the basics right: saw/router support and adjustment, fence for squaring and mitre gauge.
My questions are as follows:
1-is the overall layout sensible?
2-I found "Dakota" t-tracks on the rutlands website. It looks like it's good stuff (so does the shop?). Is this diy fence system a good option to ensure precision and square cuts, or are there ready-made, reasonably priced alternatives that would fit in this table (e.g. akin to the Incra LS system, but cheaper)?
If not, and Incra is the way to go, where should one buy Incra stuff from? The US prices don't seem that bad, but once you add customs tax, vat, international shipping... The UK prices seem to be direct $->£ and then some.
3-Same for the mitre gauge - using say an Incra V27 and a t-track.
4-most importantly, are there ready-made table inserts to allow table mounting of routers and circular saws? The reason for wanting a ready-made one instead of just screwing the base plates on is to allow easy access to the machines for blade and cutter changes, depth adjustment, blade angle changes and fine-tuning.
For routers I found a Triton RTA300 and a Trend router insert. Are these the only two options?
I can't find anything similar for circular saws.
Your input is very welcome and valued.
cheers,
Ze
Since I have a steel structure used for pallet stacking and such, I'll adapt that to build the frame. Once assembled it looks like this:
It's all steel (1.5mm thick sheet), hence the "hybrid" designation - and each level is rated for loads of up to 500kg. With the available parts, I can make one which is 450mm, 600mm or 700mm wide by 1200mm, 1500mm or 1800mm long - every combination is possible.
Then for the worktop, is 30mm MDF a good material? Raw/sealed or melamine faced?
The worktop would have 100mm overhang on all sides.
My main problem is how to adapt the circular saw and router to make them work like a proper table saw and router.
Here's a first iteration:
grey is for the T-tracks in which a fence (cyan) would slide. Blue is for the mitre gauge with its slide in green.
The router hole is in red and the saw in yellow.
I would add more stuff to the bench, like holes for further clamping options, definitely some type of track/rail on the sides (like the one on the Festool MFT 3) to allow clamping of long pieces vertically for planing and sanding, etc.
But first, the priority is to get the basics right: saw/router support and adjustment, fence for squaring and mitre gauge.
My questions are as follows:
1-is the overall layout sensible?
2-I found "Dakota" t-tracks on the rutlands website. It looks like it's good stuff (so does the shop?). Is this diy fence system a good option to ensure precision and square cuts, or are there ready-made, reasonably priced alternatives that would fit in this table (e.g. akin to the Incra LS system, but cheaper)?
If not, and Incra is the way to go, where should one buy Incra stuff from? The US prices don't seem that bad, but once you add customs tax, vat, international shipping... The UK prices seem to be direct $->£ and then some.
3-Same for the mitre gauge - using say an Incra V27 and a t-track.
4-most importantly, are there ready-made table inserts to allow table mounting of routers and circular saws? The reason for wanting a ready-made one instead of just screwing the base plates on is to allow easy access to the machines for blade and cutter changes, depth adjustment, blade angle changes and fine-tuning.
For routers I found a Triton RTA300 and a Trend router insert. Are these the only two options?
I can't find anything similar for circular saws.
Your input is very welcome and valued.
cheers,
Ze
