There’s no shortage of collapsible, portable jobsite miter saw stands on the market. Some are cost-effective ($100-$200) and functional, but fall short on refined the features and adjustability needed for more demanding tasks.
More expensive models (upwards of $1,000) are more accurate, complex, and offer enhanced gizmos—but you pay the price.
We need your help. Tell us what to build.
We’ve put together a page with articles from past issues of FHB, Tips and Techniques from the archive, and a bunch of videos from our library.
Consider these materials your starting point, and then join the discussion, post your own videos, and show us pictures of your rig. In short, tell us exactly what to build.
You can contribute in any of these three ways:
1. You can comment and post pictures in this thread
2. You can comment on the aforementioned page
3. You can post you pictures in the Ultimate Miter Saw Stand gallery.
What do you like and hate about your own stand?
If you have a stand—whether homemade or store-bought—tell us what you like about it, and tell us what you hate.
Tell us what you wish it had in terms of features, and tell us what features you could do without. How important are weight and portability?
What about onboard storage, power supply, and lighting? Does it include any aftermarket fences, extension wings, tracks, hold-downs, or stops?
What’s in it for you?
This winter we will take the best ideas and combine them to create the ultimate miter saw stand. We’ll post the plans here on the website, and publish the stand in the magazine as well.
Any person that has contributed suggestions or feedback will automatically be entered to win Bosch’s brand new GCM12SD 12-in. compound miter saw with innovative glide mechanism.
Haven’t heard of this innovative sliding compound mitersaw?
Read a review and watch a rough cut video of it over at FineWoodworking.com
Replies
Thanks for the opportunity.
When I get back I'll be sure to peruse the educational matter and then decide if my ancient ultra low tech apparatus-half skill and half blind luck would make the grade for posting.
So, have you used the new aforementioned saw?
How's it to cart around?
thanks.
Looking forward to this
I don't have a miter saw stand so I can't contribute much, but I think it would be an interesting challenge if the winning miter saw stand could be built using only a miter saw without stand to make cuts.
B&D
I doubt it would be exciting enough for you to want a picture of, but - For my miter saw stand I just use a Black & Decker Workmate. I put one C-clamp on the back edge to hold it in place. Easy to move and set up, and I already had the thing.
interesting
i currently use the dewalt miter saw stand after having the trac rac one for a few years before i snapped one of the extenstions off. (dont ask lets just say something heavy fell on it)
I love the ease and quickness of setting up the dewalt stand while still offering more work support than other stands that keep all parts on board.
A couple changes i would make is adding another set of extension tubes that could come out further with a leg to the ground to really allow the stand to support a 16 foot piece of stock on one side of the saw. a leveling leg on each side would be nice also when having to set up outside as well as on board outlets. One additional change i would make is for them to offer larger support arms then the ones currently on the extension wings so i could have a 1 x 12 fully supported across the width when its way out there on the stand.
I have made a 3 part stand with the full material support wings that remove and a table just for the saw. the problem i found with it is it was too much of a process to set up for those jobs that i cant leave my saw setup as it is outside or the job or is only a one day job.
Between here and the comments on the blog post, we're getting some awesome feedback. The biggest complaints rising to the top at this point seem to be about the extension wings not being sturdy, easy to set up, long enough, or wide enough to support wider/warped boards.
All great design feedback...keep up the posts, we're listening!
Miter Saw Stand
My Delta Kickstand has served me well over the years. It's stable, has large wheels, adjustable infeed and outfeed extensions each with rollers. Ironicially, it lacks a kickstand for vertical storage when folded up. Someday I'll add a kickstand to it so I can store it vertically.
Ultimate miter saw stand
I Have the DeWalt stand, and the first thing I noticed was there wasn't a place to store stuff (pencil, square, tape, etc...). To fix that I mounted a 3/4" plywood base to the mounting brackets, then I outlined the bases of two of my miter saws (so I didn't have to hunt for the bolt holes) I used Tee nut's to mount the saws to the plywood bases. I covered the Tee nut's with 1/4" plywood with a through hole, because at times (bolt not straight, etc...) the Tee nut can be pushed out the bottom. I had to take the top work stop off because raising the base 3/4" took all the adjustment out (but I didn't like it anyway the end support was too short for it to work effectively). I liked it so much I added another platform to the work stand, now I can have two saws one on each end for those opposing cuts (Bosch 10" slider, and 10" Craftsmen).
The work support although adequate, at times found it to be short due to the length of material. To fix that I made adjustable roller stands one for each end. The consist of 14" tire rim, to that I mounted 2" galvanized floor flange (bolted) 2" pipe to that (on which I welded a nut, bolt w/ T handle) and slip in a piece of 1 1/2" pipe. On top of that I welded 2" channel 15" wide, the roller is made of 1 1/4" pipe w/ 1/2 " fender washers welded to the ends for 1/2" rod for axel support.
Now it's my take anywhere portable miter station, and it works very well for me.
Home Jobber Miter Stand
I'm surprised to not see more people posting pics of their home brew saw stands.
Well, here's my stand. It's a modified version of Norm's portable miter saw stand. The basic mechanics and dimensions are the same as Norm's: 24" wide and 72" long with arms folded, 120" unfolded. I believe it is constructed from either 1 or 1-1/2 sheets of 3/4" plywood. It's been awhile since I built it, and at that time I actually built two; one for me and one for my boss at the time. His was much nicer looking - trimmed out with classical moldings and details then painted white with glaze. Back when I used it to trim whole houses the stand and a few elegant wood toolboxes I made often became a conversation starter and earned us more than a few cabinetmaking jobs too. So when you see my stand, just know that there is another one like it but much nicer still out there being used by my former employer. :)
On mine I added a drawer, handle, wheels and short legs that allow me to use it on at ground level if I don't feel like going all out and inserting the work height legs. While it may seem large to some, the size is handy as a workbench. There is plenty of room both in front of and behind the outfeed supports to stack parts, cope moldings, rest tools, and sit down your coffee cup (very important). The wings are supported by a plywood box beam that is hidden in the main outfeed and makes for a rock solid work support. There is no built-in repeat cut stop but I just clamp a block of wood to the extension fence. Even the spreader bars on the legs are handy for staging stock while keeping off the ground. Finally, my stand is stained then spray coated with several layers of lacquer to make it durable and easy to keep clean; I see a lot of home job stands that are not clear coated and consequently have have poor weather resistance, high friction, wear easier, and get quite dirty - all bad when dealing with high dollar trim components.
While my home built stand has been very satisfactory, it is a wee bit large. Best suited for longer term jobs.
For short term projects, I picked up a stand from Harbor Freight, on sale for $50.
http://www.harborfreight.com/mobile-folding-power-tool-stand-40612.html?utm_term=40612&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase
It's a knock-off of a $350 HTC saw stand
http://www.mercantila.com/p/htc-product-professional-meter-saw-stand-with-pneumatic-tires?utm_source=Google_Base&utm_medium=Shopbots&utm_term=www.mercantila.com&utm_campaign=2456981__Professional+Meter+Saw+Stand+with+Pneumatic+Tires
For the savings, I sure can't complain. It folds up to about 24" wide x about 48" long, and has wheels and handles. Unfolding is quick and easy in three steps. Wings extend to 168" total and have optional adjustable length legs. It comes with a standard t-bar support, roller support, and repetitive cut stop support. When folded, all the accessories fit nice and tight for a compact, portable unit. Additionally, the saw mounting surface is melamine faced mdf that can be written on and easily erased with wetted thumb or rag and leaves enough room to rest a cup of coffee and a few tools. However it does have some cons: the fit and finish, while adequate is admittedly low quality, I've needed to replace cheap chinese bolts here and there over the years, I have lost the plastic feet so I must be careful to not damage the surface I set it up on, and there are no short legs to allow the stand to be used on the ground in the folded configuration.
DC
Great minds think like
I copied Norm's too. And wished I had wheels and a drawer on it. I settled for a shelf below the table.
I'll try to drag it out of my garage this weekend and shoot some photos of it (since swiching from remodeler to editor, my tablesaw and mitersaw stand have become a place for my wife to pile
crapessential things that we keep in boxes.Dan
What's the Point?
So like I said in my previous post, I have a home made stand and a commercially made stand. They each have their pros and cons. But as I thought more about this topic and looked back at what you are looking for I gotta wonder what you really had in mind when you say " This winter we will take the best ideas and combine them to create the ultimate miter saw stand. We’ll post the plans here on the website, and publish the stand in the magazine as well."
That statement would signify that you intend to design a home jobber - which are usually limited because they are built out of wood. But that is the very distinct difference between store bought and home built. Using lightweight tubular metals that are strategically bent, stamped, and welded enables them to be much lighter weight and more compact than what the average carpenter is willing and able to create in his garage. There are a lot of ho-hum plans out there already but nothing as groundbreaking as a Bosch Gravity Rise saw stand and I don't think I could build a Bosch Gravity Rise stand out of wood but maybe you could prove me wrong.
On the other hand FHB has more clout amongst the tool companies than any one carpenter (not counting Gary Katz). What may be more important is to convey the needs and wants of the FHB.com audience to the proper tool manufacturer or inspiring entrepreneur who may want to enter into dialogue with this audience (frankly, as a longtime member of Breaktime I have often wondered why tool co's don't come here for their R&D).
Speaking of tool companies, I think the problem has been that they don't care where your saw gets put as long as you buy their saw. Often they don't think much of the stand. Bosch's stand is really just a modified version of their table saw stand. DeWalt, Ryobi, and others just went with the generic horse design. I guess Delta, Makita, and Ridgid are about the only makers who attempted to create something original, however far from perfect. Why not design something integral to the saw? Remember the Delta Sawbuck? If you look past it's bulkiness and lack of versatility you can see that it could be a great springboard for a modern saw/table combination. Just a thought.
Finally, going back to the FHB Ultimate Miter Saw Stand (FHB-UMSS), I am excited to take part as long as you let us know where you are headed with the design. Not only would it be sort of a "perk" to open the magazine and say "I helped design that" but it would separate the design from the dozens of other stands that are published in WW mags month after month. Think about the materials used, maybe there is metal, maybe plastic, maybe even some other high tech or uncommon material. Maybe I will need to weld something, laminate bend, or otherwise test and improve my skill set to construct it. It could even be basic for the DIY'ers and have trade specific options for "the Framer" or "the Trimmer". Get it close to perfect then have another contest for "Best FHB-UMSS iteration or modification".
It could happen.
DC
This is not my miter saw setup. It belongs to one of my retired customers who plans to spend more of his free time doing woodwork. It's not very elaborate, but it saves a lot of space in his small shop because everything can be put away easily.
I particularly liked his adjustable ruler. Normally the edge of the support table is 12" from the blade, but the ruler can easily slide for minor adjustments.
My lucky day
Just after I completed my ultimate chop saw stand and shot a video of it to promote my company and our insanity towards woodworking and efficiency....you guys hold a contest! Doubt I would have made the deadline ...if I hadn't made one on my own.
This is my 3rd adaptation of what I've been perfecting for 20 years.
I hope you enjoy it. http://vimeo.com/15548719
OK, you win!
That's the coolest looking saw stand I've ever seen. Very nice utility too.
Good
First, I will say your video shooting and editing is excellent. I think people sometimes overlook the difficulty of putting together a professional quality video.
As far as the miter saw stand goes. It looks to have great woodworking quality and the design is sure inventive but how many trips to and from the truck did it take you? I thought you said it was made to promote efficiency? Four trips for one tool is far from efficient.
I commonly roll-out and pack-up tools daily so I like to make as few trips as possible... imagine it's pouring rain or it's the hottest/coldest day of the year and you gotta make all those trips from the house you're trimming to the truck and back, maybe through a muddy yard or deep snow. I can vividly recall being in each and every one of those situations.
And so, I am of the camp that I keep it all strapped together and move it all in one shot.
Heavy - Yes, but not unmanageable. My big wooden trim stand with the saw bolted to it and a drawer full of trim and layout tools probably weighs about 85 lbs but the design and length of it allows me to slide it in and out of my van and the wheels lets me roll it around the job quite easily. My other stand, a folding metal stand I purchased weighs about 60 lbs with a saw bolted to it but it also slides in/out of my van and rolls. Either way, I get the saw and stand in one, very efficient move (everything else straps to a dolly for a second, and final, very efficient move).
Hopefully your next design will be more efficient but with just as much "...insanity towards woodworking..."
DC
The Rover...
Nice.
Saw stand
Just wanted to get in on the contest and saw TunnelVision's entry. Let me just say...VERY NICE!
That being said, I am not one who has been able to specialize anymore and find myself wanting/needing a saw stand w/stops that is able to be accurate for trim & cabinetry but large and long enough to handle framing tasks too. I work out of a full size cargo van and would want it to easily fit inside to lock up. I would love to spend the time to work on and perfect one to my liking but I can't make that kind of time to do it. Call it a cop-out but that's how it is. I need to work on paying jobs right now. Maybe later. While having only used one once, a long time ago when I didn't appreciate it, I now wonder if the Sawhelper Ultrafence is the answer. I know the price is steep but if it does it all and can be paid for in a job or two it seems less expensive than the kind of time I would end up spending on making one ( yes I am slow) that is sure to be bulkier. I've read the reviews but I'm looking for any regular users to come back with their experience with it. Right now I have a Trojan TWC and like its quick setup (I made a slightly larger 1" ply table & replaced all the thumbscrews with T-knobs) but it is a framer's stand for sure and has no stops for repetitive cut lengths.
Other than the satisfaction of having made it myself (a very good reason I know) I can't see any reason to work on reinventing the wheel when so many of you are way ahead of me. So I look forward to the results published and hope to be surprised & inspired to get my butt into the garage and build it for myself.
Making Time for DIY
JonnyJonJon said: "I would love to spend the time to work on and perfect one to my liking but I can't make that kind of time to do it."
Jon, I realize that you may not have meant much by it but that statement really burns me because I hear it so often from friends, family, and business associates. I know it's not always easy to make time for yourself without work, family, and football getting in the way but it's really just about compromise.
Everyone has time, it is often just used elsewhere.
As a professional remodeler, I feel it is of the utmost importance to be able to divide up your time to include more than just the work of work. You really must decide what is important to you; apparently it was important to you to spend the time to log onto Breaktime to win a saw but not important enough to build a saw stand of your own or even enough to purchase a better stand than you are currently limping along with.
DC
Idea Organizer's first post
I’ve been asked by the Homebuilding staff to serve as a sort of “organizer” for the tremendous ideas that all of you have offered on Breaktime and the Blog. There’s been a fair amount of commonality, but the most striking theme of the comments so far is the individuality of each person’s needs for a miter saw stand: Some want light and portable, others want a multi-task workstation, and so on. It’s clear that a one-size-fits-all miter stand runs the risk of not pleasing anyone.
So, some questions. One person suggested a modular approach, with a basic stand and more tailored options (e.g., framing or finish work). What do you think? And what about materials? Most of us are comfortable with wood, less so with metal. Would the advantages of metal (weight, rigidity) outweigh the difficulty of building a stand with it? And no one, I think, has mentioned cost. Do you have a top end for a stand you’d build yourself?
Don’t feel constrained by these questions. Take off in any direction you’d like. I’ve enjoyed reading your comments. Please keep them coming. Thanks.
Andy
Bosch Specifications
To aid in the brainstorm and put some of my own ideas to use, I am currently redesigning my home jobber wooden bench in Sketchup. I figure I should take the dimensions and features of the Bosch GCM12SD Axial Glide Saw into account, since I hope to have one someday and since you have this miter saw stand thing going here.
My general ideal is to make a stand that will move between the job and the truck like a dolly; loaded with all the tools you will need for the task at hand so you only need to make one trip. It will slide into the truck fully loaded so it acts like a modular storage unit within the truck. Wheels will certainly of the wide pneumatic style. Set-up will include the use of wood, metal, or wood/metal hybrid adjustable fold-out legs Once set up onsite, it will have room to cut anything from tiny shoe returns, up to 2x12x16's using wood/metal hybrid extension wings. It will definitely have onboard power ports, probably a lighting solution, and possibly even a built in ipod radio of some sort. While it could be used for any trade, or just be a workbench for that matter, I will be designing mine to function best for trim carpenters as I believe that is whom the Bosch Axial Glide was truly designed for. It will have work room in front of the saw for clamping, coping, edge routing, and small assembly tasks. I will incorporate at least TWO drawers this time, one for fine woodworking, layout tools, clamps, and saw accessories such as I have now and a second that I will fit for my [Bosch Colt] router as well as my barrel grip jig saw that I use for coping. Router bits may or may not be stored onboard.
That's about it, I hope to work on the design this week maybe you can show us what you are working on too (rough sketches are fine!).
Oh, and on the issue of wood vs. metal construction... I could see this being an issue over at Fine WoodWorking where they are total wood nuts, it's even in the title. But this is Fine HomeBuilding! As a professional remodeler I enjoy the challenge of working in mixed media. While wood is my mainstay, home remodeling and construction dictates regularly work with metal, plastic, masonry, fiberglass, and much more. It is my opinion that a professional contractor should be proficient with a number of materials, tools, and processes which includes [but is not limited to] metal cutting, bending, and welding.
DC
"Power Bench"
Here is an interesting variation of the miter saw stand.......
http://www.powerbench.com/
Sketchup Model
Is there any way I could persuade someone to create and post a [reasonably detailed] Sketchup model of the new Bosch Axial Glide saw?
Thanks
DC
Sketchup Progress
so far...
Got the folding wood/metal hybrid wings, folding metal legs, dual drawers, power strip, wheels, hand truck conversion capability, iPod dock, and I even incorporated a t-track grid for face frame/pocket screw needs or just general clamping.
Now I just need that Bosch saw model.
DC
Mitersaw Workstation
Hello Dan, I have been in the "trade" for 33 years now and have a gift for problem solving which has been cultivated by years of dealing with problems and short-comings in tools and their accessories. I have a mitersaw workstation too. Mine works as tool and material support for all makes and brands. One of my benefits is that I support all cuts made on both sides of the blade up to 11' in length. I have no "drops". I utilize a pair of folding, carpenters horses as the primary foundation for my "ToolStation". These are made of steel and could be aluminum. I can easily adapt to attach stop blocks. I can support flat stocks and round pipe too without it rolling off the support surface. My tool platform can be moved side to side to enhance added support to one side over the other as well. My "legs" to my sawhorses can be removed from their cross-member or they can be folded and still remain with them. This aids in portability when dealing with lessened storage space for transportation. When a mitersaw workstation is not required, its' base, a pair of sawhorses, are always available.
Dan, I can rip and crosscut 4x8 sheet goods on any table saw with my "MiterSaw WorkStation", push past the blade and have both sides of the material supported and will not "roll-away". I can provide tool and material support for "benchtop" drill presses, surface planers, router tables, and joiners. I can give two different "types" of support for free-standing, joiners, bandsaws, shapers, table saws, drill presses, and router tables. This is why I call my device a "ToolStation", all tools.
I don't know if Taunton Press is a holding of Bosch. Is Taunton Press looking for a "build project" or are you working with Bosch for "manufacturable ideas" to create a retail product? I hold a US Patent on the accessory that provides the abilities I have described above. I have had first-hand dealings with Lou Brickner (Delta Machinery), John Schick (DeWalt N.A), Scott Box (Steel City Tools),and John Fries (Hitachi N.A.). I have been to Ridgid, Delta/Porter-Cable, and Hitachi Corporate Headquarters. I had a booth at IWF 96' and have attended seven different years. How do I fit in here? I have a "new-market" item. My product can go into the MSWS market, the table saw accessory market, drill press accessory market, and create material support for tools like the bandsaw, jointer, surface planer, and router table. In the MSWM, none other can accessorize a table saw! How do I fit in here? No other accessory I know can interface with the multiple applications mine is capable of.
I look forward to hearing from you, PrinceBooger
Outrigger table on portable bench
My work station is a bit rustic since it was put together with 5/8" fire rated plywood scrap from a commercial job I used to work. I integrated several features I use all the time like enough edge hang on the top for clamping, a 20 amp multiplug, drawers for loose hand tools, storage for all my toys, an outrigger table which breaks down and tucks away in its garage under the top, and a sectioned box with removable tray top for miscellaneous hardware. The plywood slides were for carrying step ladders around commercial sites when we'd set up in a new area but I use them for hanging my worm drive or cords or whatever else the moment calls for. The entire cart can be moved without breaking down by lifting the table of the outrigger up slightly when shifting positions. Without the outrigger table attached, the cart is mounted on industrial casters which makes moving the work station simple. It won't win a beauty contest but it was built entirely of scrap wood leftovers, shipping crate materials, and salvaged parts including the casters. All in all, I'm pretty pleased with how it functions for me. Now if I could just get my helpers not to use it for their drink stand...
Re: Outrigger table on portable bench
Wow, now that is quite the bench and saw stand! Quite versatile, but it also looks quite heavy and large...... how do you get it to and from the jobsite? what about up the stairs? Would make a great small shop workstation.
" Now if I could just get my helpers not to use it for their drink stand... "
Maybe if it didn't so closely resemble a bar.... :)
DC
All told,
the bench and saw table only weigh about 60#. The tools are what weigh so much. I wheel it to my truck, pull the tools off and put in my tool box then 'wheelie' it into the bed of my truck. The saw table itself breaks down with removal of 12 screws and tucks into the compartment under the lid while the two plywood planks ride on the bottom shelf. I have a piece of allthread with a wood block epoxied on one end which secures all the legs and frame parts when I stow it away. For moving within a job site, I just take the saw off the table then lift the whole table out of its dovetail, put it on the top, saw back on top and I'm rolling to the next location. Like I said, it was used in commercial work before this and I haven't had to do the stair thing with it yet. A two wheel dolly and turning it on end would likely be how I'd tackle that one. I just like having all my equipment in one spot so I know it's not floating all over the job site. My helper is trained to ALWAYS return tools to their rightful place when he's done with them. And I can tell in a moment what is and isn't there so I don't go through the hassle of hunting down lost equipment. It suits me quite nicely and I can deal with whatever shortcomings it has.
!
?
Nice work on the miter saw stand. I see that FHB thought so also and included a couple of pictures in the most recent issue. Congratulations!
It still makes me wonder about the lack of participation here, but someone at FHB is paying attention to something.
Beat to the punch?????
I just got my latest issue of JLC this weekend and see that they have are featuring a wood/metal hybrid portable miter saw stand. Looks like that FHB saw stand has some real competition now!!!
Amongst several other great features, they used extruded aluminum as a frame and even snuck a router table into the thing.
Very cool, see for yourself.
View Image
DC
I like the convenience of the portable stands on the market but they all lack a couple of features I think are absolutely necessary. The ability to set up a stop for repeat cuts and some workspace for sanding etc. I can't wait to see what all of FHB's readers come up with! Personally, I'm waiting to build my stand until this is over.
I realize you guys are already in full swing - probably done - with making your own saw stand and writing your upcoming article but I thought I would share the plan that I have been working on too. Sorry I took so long, I decided to take the opportunity while drawing this to learn Vray for Sketchup so I could really WOW you all with some photo-real renders. But it appears my computator machino is a bit too slow for the kind of super-computing necessary to do that.
Anyway, here's some images of my model.
Some highlights include:
Multi-use top is inlaid with cross directional t-track for use as a mitersaw stand, router table, workbench, pocket screw jig stand, and face frame assembly table. Can be used with OR without saw; saw well can be used as a tool well also.
Stand has it's own legs which fold up for transport. Large pneumatic tires facilitate easy transport over any terrain. Fences can be re-configured for transport to allow tools and materials to be stacked and strapped to the work top. Small secondary wheels allow stand to be used at ground level and allows stand to easily roll in and out of work truck. Wide handle is comfortable and makes for a great place to hang radio, compressor, air tools, etc.
Router Table area has removable router fence and router face plate that could be swapped out for another plate mounted with a Kreg jig or drum sander. Clear opening in the bottom of the router table area allows chips to fall down into an appropriately place trash can or taped on trash bag. Generous opening in the side allows for easy router switching and adjustment.
Five, count-em 5!, large drawers for storing all of the tools, accessories, and paper work necessary for the job. I easily fit a jigsaw and belt sander in one, a finish nailer, brad nailer, and pin nailer in another, a router with room for bits in a third, and a cordless drill and Kreg jig in a fourth - which is most all the tools I use for trim carpentry.
Radio? I included a home build iPod radio just to show that it is [theoretically] possible to take a cheap, off the shelf iPod radio, dismantle it, then reconfigure it inside a durable plywood box to be a cost effective alternative to the [expensive and heavy] job site radios you can buy at the store. I know my radio is ugly but I just drew it up quick to get the point across that making a radio would be easy and you can customize it to fit your needs - such as putting hooks on it to hang it from your saw stand.
But the t-track is what really makes this common saw stand a real work-horse of a bench. Fences are moveable, removable, interchangeable, customizable, etc. For the miter saw area, stop blocks or crown gauges can be added to either the fence or the table area in front of the fence. You can remove all the fences and clamp down items for hand-planing. I do a lot of Kreg jiggery so that was mandatory for me. You could even do some slab glue ups between tracks using some clamped blocks and shims.
So, I would love to get some feedback from everyone. Did I design the ultimate miter saw stand yet?
thanks.
DC
Where's ............
the pencil sharpener?
cal,
that would be way over the top... or more like weigh over the top :) Where's the porters?
Snort
I'm a minimalist. 2 horses, a couple 2x4's, my walk plank and a 2x6 with some auto holders for on edge planing.
For the mitresaw I splurged and built what I call my finish box. With it on the horses, the portable table saw on the 2x's, the tops are same-for more of a bench type ripping.
When the Bosch table saw top (on it's non wheeled stand) is next to the finish box on horses-same top height.
(the same top heights were not planned, nor did I shorten the legs on the horses-Blind luck-who can argue)
And on the end of that finish box (modified a couple times in the last 20 yrs for the upgrades of miter tool) is my school pencil sharpener-sans shavings holder.
That's what catches the eye of the customer.
Certainly not the ultimate, but it serves the purpose.
Calvin
A true minimalist would just use the saw on the ground ;)
To each his own.
DC
Yeah,
well you go right ahead buddy.
Enjoy yourself.
Calvin
I'm not saying I would use a saw on the ground - I already posted pics of my stand.
But one could argue: "if a miter saw was meant to be on a stand, it would have included one"
Anyone remember the Delta Sawbuck?
DC
What,
you never heard the song "Stand by Your Saw?" ... and I thought I was the minimalist with a chunk of lvl on a pair of rugged buddy legs ;-)
This was to cal... seems the reply function still doesn't!
Snort
Couldn't you find anything heavier to lug around than a chunk of LVL? A solid core door, an old oak barn beam, or a length of precast concrete perhaps. ;-)
You do some nice, high end, custom work. You should build a saw stand to match.
BTW: To overcome the stupidity of the reply funtion, I like to put the name of the person I am replying to in the subject.....then I feel like the subject line actually serves a purpose (don't know of any other forum that expects every reply post to have a title).
DC
The pneumatic wheels and the leverage created by the overall length would make it much easier to lift and move than you might think. Getting it into a truck or van is a matter of lifting the handle side in first (again using the leverage) then lifting and scooting the rest in from the opposite side. For stairs, it is designed to be used just like a hand truck.
Trust me, it works well. This design is based on my current saw stand that I posted pics of earlier in this thread (and was published in last month's FHB magazine) with some inspiration from Jesper Cook, who's saw stand was featured on the cover of last month's JLC magazine.
The stand is also intended to provide customization options, so if you are worried about weight then you might want to go sans drawers.
My current stand, which has one drawer chocked full of tools and the saw and fences permanently attached weighs between 80-90 lbs......I've never weighed it but I can lift it rather easily; and I'm just a little guy.
DC
EDIT: I'm not sure if your reply was purposefully directed at Calvin or if it was meant for me. But, just in case, I will leave this comment.
No pencil sharpener on this version, I only use mechanical pencils for trimming anyway.
DC
contest
Yes, I would love to win this miter saw. It looks great, but with a low budget, I would probably not be able to afford it. I currently use a 10" compound branded by "Delta". It is lightweight and portable and gret for moving around and I love being able to use the 10" blade, but sure do wish I could have more crosscut capacity. Hoping to win this saw!
Ken
I think the contest is over and at any rate you needed to provide FHB with an idea for a mitre saw stand.
sorry.
Actually, I think one only needed to participate in the discussion. The winner merely mentioned that he uses the DW723.
But thanks for mentioning that the contest is over. That no one at FHB took the interest to come back here and mention anything more about it is a pretty good clue where this forum sits on their list of priorities.
Isn't it something.........
that two yrs ago this place was overmoderated by invisible beings capable of pulling threads at will.
Now, we are almost invisible to the majority of that publishing empire.
Dan Morrison
Here's some better images of my saw stand....DC
false advertising
I saw this contest and there was no deadline mentioned. This is crazy and falsly advertised. My idea was for adjustable height.
False Advertising?
What, you're a member here for an hour and a half, this was your first post and you cry foul?
Why?
didn't you go to the blog or whatever the heck is the location of the Ultimate Miter Saw discussioin? Wasn't it mentioned there that it was a contest there's one winner? It never said everyone was a winner of the grand prize Bosch Saw.
Just trying to get to know you and get a handle on where you come up with this impression. We know this forum is a bit hard to navigate, but to call this giveaway false advertising because your entry wasn't picked is pretty lame.
and welcome to BT.
Calvin
Personally, I'm still a bit disappointed I didn't win either. They could've at least sent me the used one. They also didn't pay me for using my photos in the magazine. What kind of rag are they running there?
DC
Don't worry.
Nobody cares in Hoboken that you built the pictured stand in the mag.
Be proud they thought enough of it to print it in the first place.