Rebuilding a cheap table saw part #8

Finally the rebuilding of that cheap table saw comes to it's completion. It took a few days, 120 Euro's for the saw and about 40 Euro's for the hdf and some bolts... a total of 160 Euro's for a table saw of which the saw blade, fence and miter slots are all aligned. A good adjustable and strong fence and a decent worktop. What more could you ask for.... 

The 3rd layer of the fence is glued and screwed on. 

The clamp block is glued together. 

The rod that was on the original fence from our first table saw was 70 centimeters long, it clamped at the back of the top. We had to cut it and tap new threads... 

The old handle in its new form.

The old "home made fence re-used. The little wheels are adjustable and make the fence move better....

The fence clamp mounted... 

And this is how the fence is when on the table... 

The bolt in the middle is to adjust the height of the clamping block. 

Lined up, and screwed to the base "T"

Still one thing tom do... making the insert plate.

But it looks like a real table saw....

The World of Woodworking #3

In The World of Woodworking we will share these beautiful images from artists all over the world. A new month... so 3 new portrait's of special woodworkers from the pre- sticker sharing,pink painting, woodtalk hangouts and CNC era....

Brian Beasley is a retired high school woodwork teacher from Junee. In this video he sings and makes a table/stool, though not at the same time. Brian believes that using older woodwork techniques, relying on physical strength and re-purposed wood is more emotionally satisfying that using machinery to produce furniture.

This short film is a portrait of a 92 year old carpenter. Mr. Kapek, that's his name, also built all his tools himself. Besides, he is a lovely person and a smile rarely comes off his face.

Woodwork and two Exercises...... a bit out of the box... but still woodworking!

Rebuilding a cheap table saw part #7

Because the grey hdf makes so much fine dust, which covers the whole workshop, no matter how close you keep the vacuum-cleaner, I decided to router out the miter slots first. I had the options of 6, 8, 12 or 22 millimeters, if I wanted to do the slots in one go. So, the slots are 12 mm. That should be enough for hardwood runners I guess. I did both table saws, after 18 months I should be able to start using the completely homemade table saw that's in the other side of the table for cross-cuts.

The new top is about 12 mm higher than the existing table, the slots are 7 millimeter deep so when a sled is used it will run over the working table. 

We managed to get as deep as 4 millimeters recess for the insert plates. 

After looking carefully at the options for a fence, the decision was made to stay with the T-style fence, but instead of making some kind of C-clamp to tighten it to the bench, we decided to convert the old fence from the first crappy McKenzie table we had. It turns out that the handle works more or less as a C-clamp, although on the old table it was clamping at the back. So we will have to shorten the threaded rod, turn the handle up side down and make a new clamp block.

The old handle from our former disappointing table saw

The shape of the old fence clamp routed out the base of the new T-fence. 

Mounted to the base. 

And it will be used upside down.

The second layer glued on the base. The T-fence clamping system will be made out of 3 layers of the hdf. We are going to mount the old fence we made from plywood, just because it's straight and we're happy with it.