Has Anyone Ever Tried To Make a Table Saw Top - like the Rousseau "PortaMax Jr 2600?"

Hi there Tom. I just wanted to let you know that I found for my my jobsite saw the skil folding stand 80092. It cost me $45. I realize that there may be ways to make these but for 45 dollars I wasn’t really complaining. It increased the rip capacity to 30 inches and comes with a T square fence. It didn’t make my little skil a cabinet saw but it made it a lot better. You might also check out the movable carts others have constructed here (you probably have so ignore this if you did). I know that JCC made one for a contractor saw, but that could be converted to jobsite. Hope this might gibe you some ideas. If you want measurements on my folding stand just PM me and I will be happy to send them (metric or standard, I use both).

-- Just trying to build something beautiful

Unfortunately, that SKIL 80092 Folding Table Saw Stand doesn’t seem to be available any longer . . .

http://www.amazon.com/SKIL-80092-Folding-Table-Stand/dp/B0007DFX34/ref=cm_cmu_pg_t

I was actually kind of interested in the idea of creating an entire “top” for a benchtop type table saw – again, similar to the images posted above of the Rousseau idea, but even further customized/improved upon in terms of surface material, customized miter slot(s), etc.

http://www.megatech.tk/jj/index.php?name=Products

That “OJJ” is a bit more elaborate than I was thinking … but amazingly innovative nevertheless.

It does lend itself to some interesting ideas, though.

What about an MDF based top/cover … with an attached aluminum plate top?

Perhaps something similar to the idea this person utilized—> http://hackaday.com/2013/03/25/a-tiny-custom-table-saw/

Thoughts?

An aluminum top would probably cost more than most benchtop saws. Is your goal just to increase rip capacity?

-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/

I liked the Jimmy Jig Loren until I saw their picture of a hacked off finger and hand ripped open. Bad sales technique

@ Rick M . . . .

For the most part, my goal was/is to find a creative ancillary and/or quasi-replacement DIY table saw “top” for a smaller benchtop type table saw – such as (for example) . . .

or . . . . .

again, perhaps somewhat similar in concept to the following (for example) . . . .

nobody ???

for what its worth I just made this….

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/83819

-- "despite you best efforts and your confidence that your smarter and faster than a saw blade at 10k rpm…. your not …." - Charles Neil

The “hackaday” link was more toward a “materials” idea than it was relative to the general concept of my original posting (i.e. aluminum sheeting for the table top as opposed to wood, mdf, melamine, etc.)

easy … easy now . . .

I’m merely in the “brainstorming” phase of this idea/project. I don’t need it completed yesterday … I’m simply bouncing ideas back and forth – and seeing what ideas others may have – to eventually lead to my deciding on how I will proceed.

Nothing wrong with this process, is there ??

Nothing wrong with brainstorming. I get an idea to do something and may not actually get around to it for months if I don’t need it right away. Melamine covered sheet wood (ply, particle board, or mdf) would make a good top, durable, slick, flat; cover the sides with oak strips that have a bevel.

-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/

I was thinking the same thing about the melamine covered/laminated sheet wood.

I suppose if I wanted to get real creative – for a more “authentic” look – I could apply something like Thomas' Liquid Stainless Steel or stainless steel contact paper.

Upon a bit more brainstorming/thinking about possibilities with this project idea, I’m wondering if utilizing phenolic coated plywood might be a viable choice of material for constructing a custom table top.