Has anyone built Gary Katz's assembly and cutting table

That is a great idea. I just checked and the domino fit in the MFT is really good; the dominos would provide the alignment and a clamp or two would hold everything in place. From what I have seen with other systems on Youtube,  one piece of 3/4 ply would probably be sufficient. This idea just never entered my mind, I wish I had thought of it.

Fletchtool
 
Fletchtool,

I think with a couple of Kernov style saw horses and your gridwork, a quick cutting table for sheet goods could be set up in just a few minutes.  This way if you have a garage or driveway to set up in it might be easier than moving an mft around or having to clear an area around it to set up the gridwork.  The gridwork could be easily clamped to the cross bars of the saw horses to keep it from moving.  I think I just talked myself into another shop project.
Also with the Kernov saw horses you can make them any height that is comfortable to cut at.

Rusty
 
Also Richard,
Here I am using your idea of the arms made from 8020 with sides, used as extentions for the mft to cut some sheet goods.  Works like a dream  and only takes seconds to attach to the mft.

Thanks,
Rusty
 
Rusty - nice setup! The arms come in handy on a crowded shop.

Fletchtool - I like the torsion box setup, simple and effective.

Here are a couple photos of my setup in use yesterday, building some stands for our container garden. Tomatoes and peppers are popping out, yum!  [big grin]

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I really enjoy being able to work outside the shop this time of year while still being able to pop in and grab a tool, etc.

RMW
 
Hi Rusty and Richard, the Kernov style saw horses look great and the arms made from 8020 with sides got my attention as well. You know there are so many great ideas for set ups that you could spend all your (or in this case my) work time building them instead of "real projects" that others in your household wish you would complete. I am beginning to think I might really like to have two working surface setups that I could use at the same time if I needed to and now I know what I can do to make that happen.

The FOG rules ;D
 
So, I just finished building Richard's cutting rails.  Haven't used them for cutting, but they look slick, for whatever that is worth!

One minor point:  I had some trouble finding flat head cap screws that would work well, at the depot.

I found stainless there, but nothing cheaper in 5/16th.

The other issue is length.  If you are going to countersink them, as I think you should, 1" long is probably a tad too long.  I used 3/4", but had to countersink them deep.

7/8 would probably be perfect, but I couldn't think of an elegant way to trim exactly 1/8th off the one 1" screw with some guarantee of not screwing up the threads (NPI)

Anyway, if anybody has a source for cheap 7/8" cap screws, I'm all ears.

Nice, design, Richard!

T
 
I also made those awhile back.  Great addition to both MFT and my Walko table.

I also had to countersink deeper as I could not figure a way to shorten the screws.

So far, no issues and very pleased with the extension arms.

Would love to see a complete Bill of Materials for the table, Richard.  I think I saw some on your blog, but there are still some special joining pieces that are not clear.

Love 80/20 stuff!

neil
 
geary126 said:
7/8 would probably be perfect, but I couldn't think of an elegant way to trim exactly 1/8th off the one 1" screw with some guarantee of not screwing up the threads (NPI)

T
Click to expand...

Not elegant but when I need to cut a bolt I double nut it with whatever I want to trim exposed, clamp it in my vice and take a hacksaw to it. Unthreading the nuts straightens any possible thread damage - then a light swipe or two with a file to take any sharp edges off.
 
If you're using 1/2 mdf for the sides you can get these screws at McMaster-Carr

404-346-7000 404-349-9091 (fax) atl.sales@mcmaster.com

Line    1 91253A540

Alloy Steel Flat Head Socket Cap Screw, 1/4"-20 2 Thread, 3/4" Length, Black Oxide, packs of 50 packs
Ships Price
today 9.54 per pack

If you are using thicker sides just get 7/8 or 1"

Rusty
 
Thanks, guys.

Richard:  any downside to using these post-clamps for other jigs?/ home made fences etc. 

I haven't been able to unbury the mft table from the soon-to-be-gone pink insulation, but guessing there's a little slop with a 3/4" spacer?

T
 
geary126 said:
Thanks, guys.

Richard:  any downside to using these post-clamps for other jigs?/ home made fences etc. 

I haven't been able to unbury the mft table from the soon-to-be-gone pink insulation, but guessing there's a little slop with a 3/4" spacer?

T
Click to expand...

No downside but yes, they are a bit sloppy in the MFT holes so accuracy/repeatability is not built in. Also the 8020 t-bolt I used don't fit any of the other t-slot material I have, i.e. Incra, Woodpecker, etc. You can correct this by switching to some other bolt.

Here are a couple recent photos of my setup in use - I attached some of the 8020 to my MFT to extend it out and I have the dedicated cutting table as well. With the new deck outside my work-shed I now have a bazillion times as much "shop" space, at least in nice weather.

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RMW
 
Richard, you're the Jonathan Ive of woodworking.

The extension you made....was that using the 1.5" stock?  Was the top of the extrusion flush with the MDF?

Would love some details on this.

What's the minimum you need to create a stable extension?  Cross bars top and bottom?

Also, can the t-slot on the side of the MFT handle all the weight?

Thanks,

Tom
 
Thanks Tom. They are 1.5" extrusions, attached to the MFT with slotted L brackets so they can be flush with the MFT top or lowered 2" to add the arms with the MDF and make them flush to the MFT. There is no problem with the MFT extrusions carrying the load.

I will post some photos and details as soon as I get it set up again.

RMW
 
The L brackets.  Do you make your own?

I've found a ton of L brackets, but few with slots that seem right.    I don't have any milling equipment, and making my own slots, I can't think of a way that isn't hacky.  Holes plus file.  Holes plus jig saw plus file.  etc. 

Not even on 8020.  Although that site is overwhelming.

Like the Smithsonian for guys!

T
 
geary126 said:
The L brackets.  Do you make your own?

I've found a ton of L brackets, but few with slots that seem right.    I don't have any milling equipment, and making my own slots, I can't think of a way that isn't hacky.   Holes plus file.  Holes plus jig saw plus file.  etc. 

Not even on 8020.   Although that site is overwhelming.

Like the Smithsonian for guys!

T
Click to expand...

That is the rub... I grabbed some surplus "custom" brackets from 8020 on eBay, apparently they made them for some customer and these were leftover. Not a stock item.

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One bracket is mounted to the MFT/3 and the other to the bottom of the 1515 extrusion, the slots mate up and let you adjust the height by 2"+ with a carriage bolt/knob.

Mason Plastics has a similar bracket used for industrial conveyor systems, but I have never attempted to purchase from them so I don't know if they will sell in small quantity:

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I will try to tinker with it over the weekend and see if there is something off-the-shelf that will replace this setup.

RMW

 
Richard,
I built my first 80/20 extensions today based on your design.... They are awesome; got some stuff to rip up this weekend looking forward to testing them more. Thanks so much for the idea!!!!

 
Scdavidson said:
Richard,
I built my first 80/20 extensions today based on your design.... They are awesome; got some stuff to rip up this weekend looking forward to testing them more. Thanks so much for the idea!!!!
Click to expand...

Haven't gotten all the parts yet to fasten thru the 20mm holes ....but this seems to work well also. Tons of potential for these.... What an awesome idea..thanks again [thumbs up]

 
Scdavidson said:
Scdavidson said:
Richard,
I built my first 80/20 extensions today based on your design.... They are awesome; got some stuff to rip up this weekend looking forward to testing them more. Thanks so much for the idea!!!!
Click to expand...

Haven't gotten all the parts yet to fasten thru the 20mm holes ....but this seems to work well also. Tons of potential for these.... What an awesome idea..thanks again [thumbs up]
Click to expand...

SC - Glad you are getting some use from the idea.

I was fooling around with a couple of the Kreg Automaxx clamps I just got and stumbled onto a simple way to use them with the extension arms. I basically just threaded a 5/16" by 7/8" long FHSCS into the hole until it bottomed out. This leaves about 3/16" under the head, just right to slip into the t-slot on the 1515 extrusion. I ended up grinding about 1/16" off the thread length after taking the photos to tighten up the fit, but I really did not need to as they worked fine with the 7/8" cap screw.

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I will say that, while I love the ease of use of the clamp, I am disappointed in the overall fit/finish. The original clamps (pre-automaxx) were cast or forged, this one is stamped and a somewhat sloppy job, the threads are not even close to perpendicular with the clamp base (2nd photo). Overall they feel a little cheap considering the cost, hope they hold up to heavy use.

RMW

 
Richard,
Another great idea.  Just went to the shop and tried my regular Kreg clamp on the 8020 and worked great.  When I get time I have a couple of the Bessey toggle clamps and I may try adapting them to the 8020 arms also.

Rusty
 
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