While responding to the current thread wrt miter saws http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=31374.1, I thought about how heavy my Makita LS1211 is and am considering a mitersaw stand (I use this saw-a 12″ dual sliding compound saw that weighs about a metric ton) strictly as a jobsite saw, so it remains in my truck when not in use. But it’s a bear to transport. What setups do you have or would recommend? The main consideration is portability. I can setup stock supports separately, if required.
Thanks.
I never met a tool I didn’t like!
Replies
I have a Dewalt 12" compound (no slide) and I mount it on a TracMaster stand. The stand is very sturdy and easy to set up. A leveling leg is an option. The max distance from the blade to the support is only about 4'-6" and that's only on one side...a second support is a $49 option. There is a sliding stop that goes to about 8' and it works pretty well. The saw bolts to a table that slides into a channel in the stand...works well. Except for the relatiuvely short support length, it's a good stand.
Do it right, or do it twice.
Thanks for the reply, does the stand have wheels, or is it strictly hand carried?
Thanks again.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
No wheels. The legs are about 1-1/2" dia heavy guage aluminum tubes, and they fold up like a card table. It only weighs about 35 pounds so is very east to move with the saw off. Lowes has the stand. I think it is better suited for cutting framing lumber than trim because of the somewhat short support length. And it's heavy enough that lumber weight won't be a problem with overloading the stand.Do it right, or do it twice.
I bought a delta stand for my makita LS1013, which weighs in at 7/8 of a metric ton. The orange smock that sold it to me assured me that it was universal, and after considerable jerry rigging, it is! Its got wheels on one end and a handle on the other, which makes it great for the jobsite but just ads weight and awkwardness when getting it out of the truck. I use an out feed roller on one end but still don't know if it beats my old contraption which I made from 2x8x12' with melamine on top. I'll see if I can attach a rough design, I'm not too computer saavy. Cut out the center for appropriate table height and size, ply base + melamine top. Set it on saw horses and save yourself 200 smackers. Here goes with the attachment.
Better luck next time with the attachment. I've also had problems loading pictures, etc.
Thanks for the reply on the stand. When I bought the saw, it was built into a 12 foot long stand with wheels, made by the cabinet shop I bought it from, but try to put that in a pickup truck. I had to give the stand away to get the saw home (the auction was 250 miles away.)
Thanks for the info.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Nick, also have a 12" slider. I looked at the Iowa stands and though they looked cheap, but after I used one, I bought one. There's 4 options. The flimsy one just has rails up top, the sturdy one looks like a sawhorse. The most expensive - sturdy, with the longest extensions, I think I paid all of $120 for. It took a bit to assemble, but it's nearly identical in design to the Dewalt stand, sans plastic and fancy colors. It's pretty good. I'm not hot on the repetitive stop, my only gripe. I can rock my 12" back and forth and it doesn't tip. Not a bad stand for as inexpensive as it is.
"The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb " lyrics by Roger Waters
Thanks for the reply. I've never heard of the brand Iowa. Where did you find it at? Does the saw stay on the stand, or do you have to mount it everytime you want to use it?
THanks again.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
There's a place here that sells them but you can find it at Amazon I think. The saw attaches to the stand with two brackets. You bolt the brackets to the base and then all you have to do is turn a knob to put it on or take it off. Its pretty simple. The base acts like feet when you use the saw alone, and it does make things a lot easier for moving things around or putting it into the truck. The stand folded up takes marginally more room than a big folding sawhorse - not as much as your saw.
You've probably seen their sawhorses without knowing the brand. They're metal, fold up, and heavy duty. A slick setup, I think a pair will get you for about $70, but you can park a small truck on them. The saw stand basically takes a horse and adds an assembly on top which holds the wings and rails for the saw. Dumb simple. Everything adjusts with hardware you could buy off the shelf anywhere, which is nice if you lose a wingnut. No $5 for a knob somewhere, you probably have extra parts laying in the sawdust in the bed of the truck. The GC I'm trimming for this week saw it the other day. He seemed impressed enough. When I told him how much it wasn't, I half think he'll have one the next time I see him."The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb " lyrics by Roger Waters
Thanks for the details. I'll look into it.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
I got tired of hauling my tablesaw and stand around for service work and bought a Rousseau folding stand with wheels. I've done about 5 moves with it so far and I am impressed with the speed and stability of the setup.
The only drawback is the amount of space it takes up in the back of the truck, but you have to sacrifice something. Their mitersaw stands are a bit bulky too but solid.
Check them out at http://www.rousseauco.com/
I do mostly trim work and cabinets and have a wolfcraft mitersaw stand for my 12" DeWalt I bought about 5 months ago. It beats the heck out of the plywood monstrosity I was hauling around for 5 years.
http://www.wolfcraft.com/new_products.cfm
Turtleneck
the only miracles I've ever produced are waiting for me at home