When working with wood, one of the most popular tools is a circular saw. This device, characterized by productivity and convenience, can significantly speed up the process of sawing moldings or sheet materials. When carrying out work in significant volumes, it makes sense to think about making a special stationary structure with a saw, which will improve the safety, speed and quality of the work.
DIY table for a circular saw - drawings
Materials
When assembling a cutting table from chipboard with your own hands, you should maintain an optimal balance between functionality, safety, time and money. This can be achieved by selecting parts and materials with the necessary parameters. It is possible to reduce costs by using old parts of other structures - furniture, frames of wooden houses and outbuildings.
Tabletop
The main requirements for a saw table are resistance to heavy loads, shocks and vibration. The tabletop must be smooth enough to move and not bend under a weight of 50 kg or more. Suitable options might be:
- Metal (steel or duralumin) 3–5 mm thick. The advantages of metal countertops are high strength, almost unlimited service life, the disadvantages are heavy weight, decent cost.
- Laminated chipboard or moisture-resistant plywood with a thickness of at least 2 cm. The cost of this option will be the most profitable, but the strength is noticeably reduced.
- Textolite 15–20 mm thick. The material is more durable than plywood, but inferior to metal. In terms of cost, textolite countertops are also between metal and plywood sheets.
Plastic, chipboard or OSB are not recommended as countertop materials. A structure made from this raw material will be unstable to vibration from the saw. It is possible to make a table entirely from natural wood, but it is too expensive.
Metal
laminated chipboard
Textolite
bed
At the base of the table for sawing boards there can be wooden beams, secured under the lid to increase rigidity. Elements with a cross-section of at least 5 x 5 cm are placed at a distance of 50–90 mm from the edge of the tabletop. For the sawing table, it is recommended to choose bars made of hard wood - beech, hornbeam, oak. The advantages of wood are low cost, easy installation using self-tapping screws. Disadvantages - less strength and service life, high probability of fire.
The upper part of the table frame for cutting chipboard and other materials is often made by hand from the same sheets that were chosen for the table top. For the legs of a wooden structure, it is recommended to use timber, securing it with metal corners. The pros and cons of wooden supports are similar to the features of a frame made of the same material.
The basis of the table for cutting and sawing boards can be metal. Stability increases when choosing metal corners or channels with sides of 25–50 mm. To save money, they are purchased at scrap metal collection points or replaced with profile pipes. The frame parts are connected by welding. The use of bolted connections is not recommended due to the possibility of loosening due to vibration. The reasons for choosing a metal frame are maximum strength, reliability, and easy maintenance. Disadvantages: high cost, need to use a welding machine.
Metal
Wooden beams
Chipboard plywood
Making stops
The last stage of making a sawing table with your own hands is installing stops. A standard part of most circular saws is a rip guide. Traditionally, the stop is made from an aluminum cornice or a wooden block. Its size is chosen so that the part runs across the entire table - parallel to the saw and from edge to edge.
Cross stops are also often used on sawing tables. They are used to cut parts at an angle of 90 degrees and trim boards. To make a stop, follow these steps:
- Prepare an ordinary plywood sheet 1 cm thick.
- Secure a block at least 2 cm high to it.
- Attach a second rail perpendicular to the first on the bottom side of the base.
- Cut off excess base.
The transverse stops are attached to the workpieces using clamps or fastening devices made from wooden washers. Such homemade clamps provide fastening of guides to parts of almost any width. If you fix the block on the underside of the base at an angle of 45 degrees, you get a corner stop. After all work is completed, the surface of the circular table can be treated with a grinding machine and coated with a layer of protective varnish. This will protect it from various mechanical damage, and in general will extend its service life.
Perhaps such a table does not look as attractive in appearance as a factory one. However, from a technical point of view, it is in no way inferior to it, so even a novice carpenter can safely take on its manufacture.
Prepare parts for the longitudinal stop
Assemble mounting brackets
Place the bar on the table
Clamp the crosscut pieces together
Attach the cross supports using clamps
Cross stop is ready
Features of a circular saw
Knowledge of these features is extremely important; you must take into account the operating modes of the saw, know the type of loads and take all possible measures to strengthen the most important components. Only with this approach can long-term and safe operation of a homemade machine be achieved.
What are the common features of woodworking machinery?
High speed saw teeth. This ensures the quality of sawing. But high speeds of the saw blade cause serious injuries; during the manufacture of the machine, great attention must be paid to safety precautions. All devices available on industrial copies must be installed without fail. Do not think that some of them are superfluous, and you will be able to modernize factory samples for the better. All safety rules are written in the blood of injured people, do not repeat tragic mistakes.
Strength of all nodes
This means the inability to withstand significant static loads, although this is very important. The table can easily absorb large forces of this type, but at the same time vibrate under the influence of even relatively minor dynamic multidirectional loads. This condition does not have a negative impact on safety, but noticeably deteriorates the quality of the cut.
Marks of teeth are noticeable on the surface of lumber, it is difficult to maintain specified linear dimensions, etc.
Fire and electrical safety. Absolutely all electrical devices, motors, starters and other special fittings must be installed in strict accordance with the requirements of the PUE. You need to know that dry sawdust not only burns well, but also forms an explosive mixture at a certain concentration in the air. By the way, burning sawdust is difficult to extinguish; it floats on the water and continues to burn.
There is no need to make the simplest machine at the expense of safety devices; strictly follow the recommendations of the designers. Decide what you need, a woodworking machine or fresh problems?
Workbench arrangement for a manual circular saw
Essential elements:
- a frame on which the saw itself and the work table are attached;
- Desktop;
- ready-made saw unit, the manual circular saw itself.
Sometimes the frame is covered with sheet material from the sides. Alternatively, such side material can be quite thick and durable and at the same time serve as a frame.
When covering (closing) the sides, two points are taken into account:
- Removing sawdust should not be difficult;
- The space should have open areas so that the engine heats up less.
Adviсe
- Before you start using an electric saw on a table, you should check the blade of the saw itself using a square, since some unscrupulous manufacturers do not install the blade exactly at an angle of 90 degrees, as a result of which the cuts end up beveled.
- If during work you plan to use the table also to store tools on it, then the dimensions of the tabletop should be larger than a square meter in area.
- For manufacturing it is better to use high-quality and durable materials, otherwise the table will not last long.
- The table can be supplemented with anything you like, for example, some manage to attach a special vacuum cleaner or a riving knife with protection for the disk to it, so that shavings and residues from cutting wood do not fly to the sides.
- Select a place to install the table in advance, and also make sure that the floor where the table will be installed is level.
- If you have the desire and certain skills, you can make a folding tabletop or a lifting table, but this will require more time and materials.
- If the table wobbles or vibrates during operation, adjust the height of the legs using suitable pieces of rubber.
Manufacturing stages
Before assembling the machine for cutting boards, logs and blanks, you should prepare all the necessary materials and tools. To work you will need:
- moisture-resistant plywood;
- sheet material suitable for making the body;
- elements for the body and legs (bars 40 by 40 mm).
Fastening will be done with self-tapping screws using a screwdriver. All necessary parts are cut with a jigsaw. A saw with a disk of suitable diameter is also prepared.
Algorithm for creating a table:
- Sawing all parts into pieces with the required dimensions.
- Marking the mounting areas for the saw and legs on the table top.
- Making a case, which is usually a rectangular box without a lid or bottom.
- Installation of countertops.
- Cutting a hole that should be 5–10 mm longer and 4–6 mm wider than the disc.
If you cut the material at a certain angle, the resulting slot should resemble a trapezoid (inverted) in shape. For smooth sawing, a regular hole is made. Before cutting out the groove, you should apply a saw and adjust the marks.
Sawing all parts into pieces with the required dimensions
Marking the mounting areas for the saw and legs on the tabletop
Case manufacturing
Installing the countertop and cutting the hole
Preparing to install the saw
Table saw
When choosing a circular saw, you need to be guided by the following characteristics:
- Saw power. If the amount of work is quite large, it is advisable to take a tool with a power of at least 1.2 kW.
- Cutting depth. The thickness of the material to be processed depends on this parameter. For hand saws it is 40–70 mm. But when installing it in a table there will be a decrease of around 10 mm.
- Button placement. The design of the sawing table must provide free and safe access to all control buttons, otherwise it will be necessary to modify the control system yourself.
- Rotational speed. For cutting wood, high rotation speed is preferred. This affects the cutting quality. For plastic, for example, this is not very good. Due to the high rotation speed of the circle, the plastic heats up. You need to choose average characteristics. 3-4 thousand rpm will be enough.
The benefits of making it yourself
The table is made taking into account the fact that the hand tool will be installed and secured on the table, thereby turning into stationary equipment
Constructing the element with your own hands allows you to make the saw most suitable for individual conditions. There will be no difficulties in the process if you carefully study the issue. You can adjust the product to the desired size, distribute everything so that it is convenient for you.
Making a table for a circular saw is within the capabilities of every craftsman.
A handcrafted model will be one of a kind, which makes it unique.
Small table stand for circular saw
Selection of dimensions
It is worth choosing the size of the sawing table depending on the square footage of the workshop. The small area of the room allows you to use a tabletop of 50 x 50 cm. Making the sawing table smaller does not make sense - it will be difficult to use it when processing long workpieces. The universal size, ensuring convenient sawing of laminated chipboards, is 80 x 80 cm.
To comply with safety requirements, it is recommended to place the saw in the middle of the tabletop at a distance of at least 25 cm from the edge - it is this indicator that leads to the minimum width of 500 mm. The location of the saw blade also depends on how it will be used. There are three types of design:
- for longitudinal sawing;
- for cross cutting;
- universal.
The depth and location of the disk installation depend on the workpieces processed on the machine. For boards and plywood, it should protrude above the tabletop by 50-80 mm, for logs - by 110-125 mm. The height of the upper part of the frame made of sheets of plywood or chipboard can be in the range of 35–40 cm. If you make the frame only from timber, this parameter depends on the cross-section. The remaining part of the structure consists of wooden legs, the size of which craftsmen usually choose to suit their height. The overall height of the sawing table is about 1.0–1.1 m, but can be reduced to 900 mm.
Blueprints
Diagram for making a table for a circular saw
Before starting work, it is recommended to go through the preparatory stage. You should definitely make a drawing. This will make the design creation process easier. First, calculate the dimensions of the table, then transfer the data obtained to paper. The hole made in the structure must exactly match the dimensions of the saw. It all depends on the brand of equipment. Therefore, it is impossible to make a universal hole. The base must be stable and withstand mechanical loads well.
DIY table drawing for a circular table
It is unacceptable to overhang the structure to one side. The dimensions of the tabletop must be suitable for the sawing flow. The final option is determined based on individual desires. Some people work comfortably with a folding table or a product with small dimensions.
Drawing of a universal tabletop machine
An important point should be taken into account in the drawings. If you plan to leave tools or materials on the table while working, then the dimensions of the tabletop need to be increased to a square meter in area. A suitable size would be 120 by 120 cm. You should draw the drawing carefully and slowly in order to do everything correctly.
Table diagram for a circular table with a detailed description
Safety requirements
One of the most common causes of injuries when using a circular saw is a cluttered workplace.
In addition, it is important to monitor the stability and strength of absolutely all components of the system, and if there is imbalance, take measures to eliminate difficulties. Before connecting the saw, you must make sure that it is well secured. If necessary, tighten the screws/bolts. It is strictly forbidden to hold the material close to the cutting site! This is dangerous due to the rebound of knots and shavings into the eyes or onto open parts of the body.
Be sure to wear glasses before work and clothes with sleeves.
Making your own saw table is not as difficult a task as it might seem. If you have good material at hand, its characteristics are chosen correctly, and the power of the device ranges from 500 to 1000 W, the above instructions will be the basis of the work.
You should not lose sight of the fact that at any stage of table production you should control the accuracy of your own operations. Otherwise, if deviations in size or deformation of the legs appear when the ribs are tightened, it will be very difficult to restore stability. Nevertheless, making a table for a circular table with your own hands is an absolutely realistic task that will take several hours.
Deciding on design and construction
The simplest version of a table for a circular table is a design made of fairly thick plywood and boards
The base can be made of wood or metal. Leaf tree species are chosen for the tabletop. A special hole should be made in it for the disk. The key property of the created table should be convenience.
Circular machine bed
Care should be taken to ensure its stability. No loosening is allowed, otherwise it will negatively affect safety. The tabletop should have as smooth a surface as possible. This will reduce the likelihood of injury while working.
A table for a circular saw requires the presence of guides
The structure can be supplemented with a special riving knife. He can be removed. It is equipped with a special disk protection that allows you to get rid of chips flying at the worker.
Table guide carriage for circular saw
Some people remove the factory cover and replace the factory platform with a homemade one. If you are not going to cut at an angle, you can remove the parts that adjust the tilt of the blade.
Additional accessories for convenient work
On the tabletop parallel to the disk, lines are drawn every 10 cm to help cut the wood to size. Markers alone are not enough; you will need a longitudinal stop. It is convenient to use a profile pipe for its manufacture. It should move freely on the tabletop to install the required size and be fixed in the desired position.
One of the design options: transverse grooves 10 mm wide need to be made in the surface of the structure. In the thrust strip, 2 holes are drilled along the edges for M10 bolts. They fix the stop, threading the tabletops and planks through the body. This method weakens the product a little.
Use another option. The stop is cut 20 cm longer than the length of the table. On each side, 10 cm of timber is glued, the thickness of which is equal to the base of the structure. Iron plates of 3–5 mm are fixed to them with self-tapping screws. It turns out to be a bracket that clings to the table. Drill holes and weld an M8 nut. Screw in the bolts, preferably with wings. They fix the stop in the desired position.
For convenient cross-cutting, a sled is made. The structure is pressed against the table and moves along the disk.
Selecting lumber
The legs and frame for the shelves and base were made from:
- 6 pine boards measuring 50x200 mm, length 2400 mm.
- 1 pine board 50x250, length 2400 mm.
- 3 sheets of MDF 1200x2400 mm, thickness 12 mm.
- 1 sheet of MDF 1200x2400 mm, thickness 19 mm.
- 6 screw feet for height adjustment.
- T-shaped plastic molding.
- Titebond wood glue.
- Wood screws 50 mm.
Installing molding
The final step to finishing the countertop was to install the T-molding.
- For better adhesion between plastic and wood, I decided to use Titebond glue.
- I also used masking tape to hold the molding in place until the glue was completely cured.
At the corners, I used small pliers to cut the protrusion of the molding, which allowed it to bend well. Once the entire perimeter was secured, I used sharp scissors to trim the molding to its final length.
Expansion of functionality
In conclusion, let’s touch on the topic of expanding the functionality of the working structure you are making. If there is free space on the operating surface, additional woodworking equipment (an electric plane or router, for example) can be mounted. Having a plane and a wood router will allow you to expand the functionality of the machine and turn it into a full-fledged woodworking center.
In addition to this, such a milling cutter can be equipped with a special mechanism for adjusting the position of its working part, which can be changed within specified limits (the so-called elevator).
I carry out sawing of lumber
I cut the boards and used a jointer to smooth out the edges, then ran them through a planer to get a uniform thickness of about 30mm.
