As a keen hobby woodworker, I usually work on my own. I wish to build infeed and outfeed tables, with rollers to help when passing lengths of 2 metres or more over the table saw or planer thicknesser. What height should the rollers be ? Exactly the same as the machines or a mm or two lower? How do you overcome the challenges of an ‘under’ thicknesser such as a Sedgwick?
Infeed / Outfeed tables
- Thread starter simonridout
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Eshmiel
Established Member
Tables for this purpose are generally at a fixed height. They have a large area but I still prefer roller stands of the adjustable height kind. These are more versatile because: the height can be adjusted; they're easy to move between different machines; they don't get in the way as tables often can.
There are many varieties. I have two with cast iron bases consisting of a single vertical pole of chromed steel tube that slides up and down in the cast iron tube coming up from the base, with a large single locking nut and a roller on top. The roller can be pivoted out of the way to reveal a series of large captive ball bearings, which are sometimes a better otion than rollers for in and out feeding workpieces. I also have a Triton adjustable stand on a fold-out tripod with a pair of slide-over pieces on top.
There are many varieties. I have two with cast iron bases consisting of a single vertical pole of chromed steel tube that slides up and down in the cast iron tube coming up from the base, with a large single locking nut and a roller on top. The roller can be pivoted out of the way to reveal a series of large captive ball bearings, which are sometimes a better otion than rollers for in and out feeding workpieces. I also have a Triton adjustable stand on a fold-out tripod with a pair of slide-over pieces on top.
niall Y
Established Member
+ 1 for rollers - they can be very useful. The only downside is if your floor is not even, when they can be a real pain to reposition from one spot to another. Height wise, they should be exactly the same as that of the machine bed, for which the are an extension. I tend to set mine up with a long straight edge off the infeed and outfeed of the particular machine I am using.
They do, however, need a very positive locking mechanism, otherwise they can collapse under the weight of the wood. They also need to be stable at their base, or one is forever having to pick them up should you accidentally knock them with the piece of wood you are machining.
I also use a couple of roller tables that I keep permanently positioned either side of my Radial Arm saw. These are a godsend for positioning large, heavy lengths of wood. But, as they are tucked against one of the walls, they are not prone to getting in the way, as they might on my other machines.
They do, however, need a very positive locking mechanism, otherwise they can collapse under the weight of the wood. They also need to be stable at their base, or one is forever having to pick them up should you accidentally knock them with the piece of wood you are machining.
I also use a couple of roller tables that I keep permanently positioned either side of my Radial Arm saw. These are a godsend for positioning large, heavy lengths of wood. But, as they are tucked against one of the walls, they are not prone to getting in the way, as they might on my other machines.
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