Please show me your plywood cutting tables!

[thedude306]

Thanks for the plug thedude306! A lot of people seem to get great use out of it!

No prob.  I've got to get a picture of it hanging on the wall.  That's were it really shines.  It can get put away when needed.  It's the best bench in my shop!

 

[gmyrick49]

Another good one, found right here on FOG: http://www.festoolusa.com/sysnotes/mobile%20saw%20table.pdf

 

[riffin-rich]

Same as others have posted ... I made mine a couple of years ago after seeing someone else's implementation ... I am VERY happy with it.  The only mod I intend to add is an optional (easily added/removed) leg extension.  This is SO MUCH BETTER than breaking down sheets on the floor with 2" foam.  The entire assembly is sacrificial so I don't bother protecting it with foam.  I set the height to about my crotch so I can really lean over.  I also compound-beveled the "feet" to sit perfectly flat on the ground.  This set-up is super stable and it breaks down and stores very easily!  Good luck!

MODIFIED:  By the way, I do have one complaint regarding the difficulty with which I get a sheet of 3/4" plywood onto the table.  Laying it down results in the board wanting to slide.  If there was a stop on the floor, it would prevent this.  Easy enough to solve - I just haven't done it yet. 

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[wow]

I am going a sightly different direction with mine, as it is shop-based and doesn't need to be portable. I want to be able to load a panel onto it in one part of the shop, then move it around the shop to wherever I want to break it down. Here's my concept so far:

[attachimg=1]

The table is 4' x 4' when closed, and opens to be about 4' by 90" or so. The supports slide in and out using wooden dovetails. The three slide parts are shown in color so it's easier for me to understand how they work.

My idea is that I can load a panel onto the cart, wheel it to wherever I want to break it down, and tip it up to be flat. There's a swinging lever that will automatically engage when you tilt the table up and lock it in place.

I'm still working out all of the details. Comments, suggestions, and criticisms are all welcome.

 

[fin]

ummm i just bought some folding metal trestles

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-68852-Pair-Of-Telescopic-Saw-Horses-Or-Builders-Trestles-Carpenters-Workb-/290800945601?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43b51649c1

i didnt pay that much for em though.

then i bought a sheet of 18mm mdf and cut it down to approx 6ft by say 2ft 6 in. (i cant remember the exact width but its slightly larger than the length of the top of the trestles. then i wrapped some 3x1 round the edges and biscuited the whole thing together.

i know its not ply but its another idea.

 

[GPowers]

I am going a sightly different direction with mine, as it is shop-based and doesn't need to be portable. I want to be able to load a panel onto it in one part of the shop, then move it around the shop to wherever I want to break it down. Here's my concept so far:

[attachimg=1]

The table is 4' x 4' when closed, and opens to be about 4' by 90" or so. The supports slide in and out using wooden dovetails. The three slide parts are shown in color so it's easier for me to understand how they work.

My idea is that I can load a panel onto the cart, wheel it to wherever I want to break it down, and tip it up to be flat. There's a swinging lever that will automatically engage when you tilt the table up and lock it in place.

I'm still working out all of the details. Comments, suggestions, and criticisms are all welcome.

I like the concept. The tilting table should make it a LOT easer to get a full sheet of plywood on the table, with out killing your back. Nice...

 

[rst]

Great concept WOW.  Glass cutting tables are made like this.  Some have a lower edge to sit the lites on and others use vacuum systems so there is no lip when horizontal.  I've seen these that were 9' X 14'.  After the glass is horizontal many have air jets placed all over the table so the glass floats for placement on the table.  A common length for sheet glass is 130" with heights every 6" up to 8' being common.  Two guys carrying an 96" X 130" piece on a windy day gives new meaning to "tighter than a frogs a**"  PS 1/4" glass is approximately 3 lb / square foot.  At 62 this is why I'm at the Y lifting 3-5 days a week.

 

[thedude306]

At WOW,

Can you dual purpose the stand some how when it's in the upright position?  The reason I like OA design is not because it's portable, but because it stores flat on the wall.  I am also shop based, but I don't have the space for another piece of equipment on the floor full time.

 

[GPowers]

At WOW,

Can you dual purpose the stand some how when it's in the upright position?  The reason I like OA design is not because it's portable, but because it stores flat on the wall.  I am also shop based, but I don't have the space for another piece of equipment on the floor full time.

[member=42010]thedude306[/member] you could make the sides fold up, so it would be flat for storage.

 

[Sparktrician]

I am going a sightly different direction with mine, as it is shop-based and doesn't need to be portable. I want to be able to load a panel onto it in one part of the shop, then move it around the shop to wherever I want to break it down. Here's my concept so far:

The table is 4' x 4' when closed, and opens to be about 4' by 90" or so. The supports slide in and out using wooden dovetails. The three slide parts are shown in color so it's easier for me to understand how they work.

My idea is that I can load a panel onto the cart, wheel it to wherever I want to break it down, and tip it up to be flat. There's a swinging lever that will automatically engage when you tilt the table up and lock it in place.

I'm still working out all of the details. Comments, suggestions, and criticisms are all welcome.

I like the concept, Wayne.  How about adding a hook sort of arrangement on the bottom side of the tilting table such that it holds the sheet goods in place while one levels the table, then can be retracted for a truly flat work surface.  Know what I mean, Vern??? 

 

[wow]

How about adding a hook sort of arrangement on the bottom side of the tilting table such that it holds the sheet goods in place while one levels the table, then can be retracted for a truly flat work surface.  Know what I mean, Vern???

"Know what I mean, Vern??? " Good one - I wonder how many people will get that? I'll let you explain...

[wink]

That's a good idea. Right now it has a ledge on the bottom, but I never liked that idea because -as you point out - it can't be retracted for a truly flat work surface.

Let me think about it some more. I'm sure I can come up with something.

 

[thedude306]

Do you have a domino?  I would cut some slots and us dominos.  No glue of course, and then just remove them.  Simple and works.

 

[Sparktrician]

Do you have a domino?  I would cut some slots and us dominos.  No glue of course, and then just remove them.  Simple and works.

Now, there's an idea! 

[smile]

 

[Maddie]

Some inventive, useful ideas in this thread. Mine is not so brilliant, but portable, light weight (stored overhead in trailer), fits on rolling rack used in elevators, quick to assemble on site, cheap to build, inexpensive to replace if "acquired" overnight by others on job site.  I'm thinking when its time to replace/repair my cut table I should revisit this thread. Thx to the OP and for all of the contributions and links on this topic.

 

[wow]

I've been thinking about the movable/collapsible edge idea, and here's what I came up with:

[attachimg=1]

The green edge pulls out from the base on wooden pivots so you can set a panel on it. The top and bottom of the edge are offset so the gap is smaller and provides more support for the panel. Once you tip the 'tray' up to the cutting position, you can move the panel away from the edge and it can drop or be pushed back down. It is then completely out of the way so you can work as you wish.

Closeup of the pivot mechanism:

[attachimg=2]

What do you think?

 

[Sparktrician]

I like this idea. 

[smile]

 

[jfinn]

Not sure if this qualifies, but works well with the tablesaw.