Sheet cutting table

[chippy1970]

I am thinking of making a sheet cutting table 3' x 7' from a 3 x 2 framework covered in 6mm ply both sides just like a hollow core door.

This will go on top of my fold up saw horses and I will fix 10mm mdf pieces as spacers so the ply does not get cut.

What are your thoughts on the 3 x 2 s do you think I would get away with using 2 x 2 s bearing in mind it has ply on both sides do you think it will be rigid enough. At the most I will be cutting 25mm mdf on it.

 

[Scrit]

You'd get away with 3 x 1s, which are probably going to be more rigid that 3 x 2 and weigh less, however, you still need some sort of sacrificial surface as otherwise your saw will be going through the torsion box skin. I'd also suggest that you could easily get away with a smaller support box, say 5-1/2 x 2-1/2ft (1650 X 750mm), unless you envisage cutting stuff thinner than 3/8in (9.5mm)

Scrit

 

[chippy1970]

Thanks scrit I think your right with the 3 x 1 I am sure it would be just as stiff but half the weight. Good to get an idea of what size to build it I was just knocking a foot of the size of an 8 x 4 sheet but I suppose I could go smaller. My workshop is just 4m x 4m so the smaller the better.

 

[chippy1970]

I suppose i could just buy a large plywood hollow core door whats your thoughts on that maybe too bendy?

 

[ivan]

A fire door on trestles makes a good assembly table; also, quite versatile, flat and (relatively) cheap. Hollow core is quite strong and rigid, but the weight of the solid fire door, probably solid MDF under the skin, vastly improves stability.

For sizing full sheets only, I'm not sure you need the ply skins? If your framework is constructed with halving joints, and arranged so the longer say 8' lengths are on top of the shorter say 4' cross pieces**, the whole lot can be slotted together for use and dismanted after for transport or storage. Set the saw just over the sheet thickness, to just cut into the framework, which will take no real harm. If the frame members are straight, this is a lot more comfortable than having bits of the stock falling off the scrap you've used to protect the surface you're cutting on.....


** like a rectangular noughts and crosses grid - arrange the horses under the shorter 4' cross pieces

 

[Keith Smith]

If you get some 25mm polystyrene and loose lay that on the surface it acts a great sacrificial surface and last a reasonable amount of time. A hollow ply door will work fine it's surprising how small a surface you need to cut 8x4 sheets.

 

[Paul Chapman]

If you look at the table this pile of oak is sitting on, it's my sheet material cutting surface

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It's two sheets of 18mm MDF, glued together and lipped. There's a batten on the underside to clamp it in a Workmate-type bench. I've routed two grooves, slightly off-centre to give somewhere for the sawblade or router cutter to go and not cut through the surface. It's been very successful, stayed flat and was cheap to make. You could make it whatever size you like, or perhaps make two and use them together. When not in use I just lean it against the wall.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[OLD]

These vids may help :-http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?cat=3
for the box details.

 

[chippy1970]

Thanks for the replies I think the wood whisperers bench is way over the top I would only build a bench like that if it was going to be the last bench that I would ever need to build. I only need a basic sheet cutting bench but interesting vids anyway thanks.

Good idea with the torsion frame though I might be able to use that in some way.