Cut and assemble the table
1 of 1Completed saw table
Join the doors together with hinges, then set the saw into the opening on the aluminum angles. Use the saw fence or make your own for larger pieces.
If you have a portable table saw, you
know the limits. That little bitty table
doesn't support sheet goods or long
boards very well, and with most, you
can only rip boards a foot or so wide.
Here's
how to make your saw cut anything the
behemoth stationary saws can handle.
You'll need two hollow-core doors;
any widths will do. We got ours from a
building salvage company. New doors are available at home centers.
Put them together and mark a notch 1/2
in. larger than the saw table. Cut out
the notch, then carve out the cardboard
webbing and glue in blocking to make
the openings solid. Screw aluminum
angle to the edge of the opening, placing
its lip so the table saw surface will
be even with the door tops. Add a couple
of hinges for fold-up storage and
you're ready to rip.
Clamp the saw to the aluminum angle
so it's flush with both door bottoms. For
really wide material, screw or clamp a
straightedge to the door. Then remove it
for the cut. Keep the fence parallel to
the door edge. With this setup, my
portable table saw works nearly as well
as my Delta Unisaw.
