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Miter saw stand / supports-any tips???

Duey | Posted in Construction Techniques on January 21, 2006 08:33am

    I have always just used my workmate stand/table for my saw and a sawhorse out on the end with the proper size blocks , but I have been seeing a real need for something better. I need something that it is relatively easy to move to and from the job as I do a lot of smaller trim jobs-one or two rooms(casing, base, and just lately, crown). It is actually the crown that I’ve been installing lately that has made me realize the inferiority of my past method.

      If anyone has some suggestions for a homemade system that works well for them, I would be very interested to hear them.Thanks!

                                                                                        Duey

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Replies

  1. davidmeiland | Jan 21, 2006 09:00pm | #1

    American Design and Engineering Saw Helper... the best one I've found. Not the absolute easiest to move but makes up for it in quality and usability.

    1. RyanBrant | Jan 23, 2006 12:51am | #17

      Ditto on the Saw Helper.  Best thing going.

      1. Duey | Jan 23, 2006 05:56am | #18

               Thanks to everyone for the suggestions! As always , the information was extremely helpful! Thanks again!!

                                                                                       Duey

  2. ponytl | Jan 21, 2006 09:02pm | #2

    i have several "homemade" rigs  welded one up yesterday for my plumber  he was knees on the floor and he's way too old for that...  but

    if i was you they have a pretty nice fold up and roll rig at home depot for $99  ryobi i think...  i've seen cheaper ones for $69  but the one i saw looked nice...  for $99 if it was me and i was do'n what u do.... it'd be in my truck

    p

    1. MSA1 | Jan 22, 2006 12:33am | #8

      That roll away would be great if I had a semi to haul to the job sites. I feel its too big, I know alot of guys like it but I think its too big.

       I like my dewalt stand. It folds up nice and small and is pretty versatile.

    2. keek | Jan 22, 2006 08:03pm | #13

      Ijust bought the Ryobi stand for $99 at HD. Took five minutes to put it together and started using it right away. I have always made my own set ups in the past but this is way better. The thing I like the most is how compact it tis to store in the trailer. It seems like it will hold up well and I can't see any reason to pay more for the Dewalt stand when the two are almost the same.

      1. ponytl | Jan 22, 2006 10:09pm | #15

        i looked at one again yesterday... nothing about it looked cheap...  they are on sale for $79  and lowes will beat that by 10%  so.... with our 9.25% sales tax... i can be out the door for  less than $80... not too bad......  think i'll add one to my this weeks tool purchase

        p

        1. keek | Jan 24, 2006 04:46am | #23

          In my neck of the woods Lowes doesn't carry Ryobi tools. That sounds like a good deal though. I think you'll be pleased withthe stand.

  3. CAGIV | Jan 21, 2006 10:07pm | #3

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BKY63G/qid=1137870270/sr=1-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-9198753-3108137?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013

    I'd check that one out.   I was at a local tool store the other day and they had one set up,  It looked solid and easy to tear down, what I really liked about it was the attached power strip and the one in the store had a portable vice that locked into the track which I think would come in really handy.

    I know it's not homemade but for the money it is the best I've seen in a while

    Team Logo

    1. User avater
      Gunner | Jan 21, 2006 11:43pm | #7

      Nice one! I just stuffed that link in my "Tools I want" folder in my favorites.

       

       

      Ugha Chaka! Ugha Chaka! Ugha, Ugha, Ugha, Chaka!

      Edited 1/21/2006 3:44 pm ET by Gunner

  4. MichaelJacob | Jan 21, 2006 10:27pm | #4

    I use two of the new Husky X-horses to support my Ridgid 12" SCMS out on the driveway. One of them will hold it just fine, but i like to use a piece of 2'x8'x3/4" ply across two for a impromptu work surface. plus they fold up really well for you on the go types.

    -mike.

  5. Dunwright | Jan 21, 2006 11:16pm | #5

    The one I made knocks down flat for transport and takes but a few minute to assemble at the jobsite.
    The "base" is a pair of 2 X 3 fencing rails, connected with five closet pole rungs (it looks like a ladder).
    Left over from a remodel, I gleaned some recessed lighting grids. These looked like they had some future use, so I inventoried them; waiting for a brainstorm.
    The "tables" are cut-up strips from these grids. For the LH table, I ripped, one of the two 24x48 grids to 8" wide, and removed the outside web, leaving flush sides. I bought some 1/2" equal-leg aluminum angle, 1/16"th. X 8', and screwed two of the 8" pieces to it; making a LH table 8' long. The RH table is 4' long.
    The hard part was making elevating blocks to bring the tables up to the level of the miter saw table.
    I made three of these for the LH and two for the RH side.
    The miter saw is mounted to the rails "off-center" with two 5/16-18 threaded inserts, by the two front feet only. I spotted the RH bolt 6' from the LH end.
    To attach the grids and elevators to the ladder, I first attached the saw, then laid the LH grid on the blocks. I positioned the left-most block so when I drilled in one of the grid's holes, and the block, it positioned the hole 'bout 1.5" from the LH end. A similar procedure for it's RH end. The grid and risers are secured with 6" 1/4-20 machine screws into 1/4-20 "T" nuts, counter-bored from the bottom side. I particularly chose machine screws for ease of assembly, one straight blade screwdriver sets the saw and the tables.
    If you have been following the math,(or not), the LH table extends past the end as well as the RH table does.
    Although the assembly may sound flimsy, it has survived well these past 15 years.
    If you choose to, the saw itself could remain attached to the "ladder" for transport; but in that case I would add a threaded insert for it's rear feet.
    This set-up works as well set-up on a tailgate and one horse, across two horses or my preference; atop a Ryobi Quick Stand. Whatever way it is set-up, I always clamp it down to something else.
    For a repetitive stop, I spring-clamp a speed square. I prefer not to have a full-length fence, holding the stock firmly to the saw's fence is enough.

    Arlington, Texas (The dash in Dallas-Fort Worth)
    Practice...'till you can do it right the first time.
  6. DonCanDo | Jan 21, 2006 11:19pm | #6

    I just picked up 2 work platforms at HD.  They're made by Gorilla Ladder.  Each one is about 20" H  X 12" W X 36" L.  They're so handy, I keep one in the van all of the time.  If I need to cut long material (e.g.. baseboard), I use both.

    My miter saws fit pretty well, but there's a slight tendency for them to slide around.  If I get ambitious, I may make a plywood base for the miter saws and/or table saw.  The plywood base would then get secured to the work platform with a couple of screws (or maybe clamps).

    They also work pretty good as a place to sit when I have my lunch.  Spackle buckets just weren't cutting it anymore.

    -Don

  7. Framer | Jan 22, 2006 08:00am | #9

    Check out this Miter Saw stand. It's the GC's who I framing an addition for. He asked me to put the exterior trim on yesterday on the addition and I didn't have my saw because it was on another job so I used his set up.

    Joe Carola
    1. davidmeiland | Jan 22, 2006 08:20am | #10

      I wish you hadn't shown that. Now we're gonna have a thread about whether that middle truss section is properly engineered for the loads.

      1. Framer | Jan 22, 2006 08:40am | #11

        "I wish you hadn't shown that. Now we're gonna have a thread about whether that middle truss section is properly engineered for the loads."The Engineered plans are in my truck and show the structural ridge underneath . I'll post them on Monday............................;-)Joe Carola

        1. davidmeiland | Jan 22, 2006 07:22pm | #12

          OK, but you need to get a soil compaction test every time you move the thing.

      2. User avater
        Sphere | Jan 22, 2006 09:34pm | #14

        I like the blood all over the horses..looks like my table saw.

        Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        Save a few posts, fill in your Profile, we can help!

        1. User avater
          razzman | Jan 23, 2006 08:27pm | #20

          heh heh, he leaves it there so the help can see what can happen when they don't lock the legs of the horse like that.

          What's that surface material anyhow?

           

           be a magnifying glass 

           

          'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity

          Edited 1/23/2006 12:29 pm ET by razzman

          1. User avater
            Sphere | Jan 23, 2006 08:38pm | #21

            Yea, them kickers ain't locked down.

            Probably used corian for the top, being as they use Granite in the morgue's cut tables ...gotta keep the stiffs stiff ya know. The stainless steel tray under neath might be a handy attachment? Ya know..for extra parts to be used later, on another job?

            be an intrepid recycler

            Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            Save a few posts, fill in your Profile, we can help!

          2. Manzier | Jan 24, 2006 12:36am | #22

            As a non-professional, I don't need much in way of a heavy-duty stand.  I made mine from an old gas grill stand.  I took off the grill, and bolted on a piece of 3/4 plywood.  I shimmed up my miter saw until the surface was the same height as the existing arms of the grill.  It rolls around the garage/house really easy, I have about 2 feet of support on each side of the cutting edge, and I bought a new grill cover that covers the whole shooting match when it's just parked.

  8. hammerelbow1 | Jan 22, 2006 11:29pm | #16

    I'm using one made by Tiffin River Tool Co. It folds up and has a set of wheels to roll it away on. Just wondering if anybody has one there still using? Don't see too many around.

  9. glsstep | Jan 23, 2006 06:52pm | #19

    I LOVE MY MITERSAW STAND FROM HOME DEPOT/RIGID.  TRY DOING A SEARCH FOR MITERSAW STANDS.  THE STAND HAS BUILT IN ROLLERS/STOPS THAT SUPPORT 8' STOCK, FOLDS AWAY NICELY THEN THE STAND IS A "HAND TRUCK" FOR THE SAW.  THE WHEELS STAY ON THE GROUND WHEN SET UP SO 1 PERSON CAN STILL MOVE THE SAW AROUND A ROOM IF NEEDED. STAND IS VERY STRONG/STABLE ALSO.  GOOD LUCK 

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