Please show me your plywood cutting tables!

[Toolpig]

I need to build a fold-up table for cutting 4x8 sheets of plywood into smaller pieces with my Festool track saw.

I need it to be lightweight, portable, flat, cheap to build, and have a sacrificial top. Don't need all the holes and fancy aluminum parts like a Festool MFT (multi-function table) does, as I will only be using this to cut plywood -- mostly outside in the driveway because my shop is very small.

I'm really sick of using sawhorses & 2x4's, hollow core doors, rigid foam on the floor, etc. I want something much more elegant, lightweight, and handy.

Would greatly appreciate pictures of anything you've built that matches what I'm describing.

Thanks so much!!

- Jason

 

[Birdhunter]

Sorry that I can't help, but very curious as to your exacting requirements. I use saw horses and the TS55/guide rails for sheet goods break down then a table saw or the MFT for precision cuts.

 

[Theshipstore]

Jason. For what's its worth this is what I use both onsite and at the shop

Might be more than you want

 

[Bikeboy80]

I am just using a hollow core door on saw horses right now to break sheet goods down. I put down some sacrificial 3/4 strips down on top to cut, but I'm sure you could do with out and just replace the door after awhile. Or use some rigid foam to cut on.

 

[Toolpig]

Hi, Sal!  Thanks for posting this -- it's really cool!  However, you're right.  It's a bit more than what I need. 

Jason. For what's its worth this is what I use both onsite and at the shop

Might be more than you want

 

[Toolpig]

I've been using the sawhorse and 2x4 method for years and I absolutely hate it.  I'd much rather have something that will allow me to make accurate cuts the first time so I don't have to resize pieces on the tablesaw.  Also, I can't afford an MFT right now, which isn't big enough for breaking down full 4x8 sheets, anyway.

Sorry that I can't help, but very curious as to your exacting requirements. I use saw horses and the TS55/guide rails for sheet goods break down then a table saw or the MFT for precision cuts.

 

[Toolpig]

Yep, I've done that too.  Have sacrificed many hollow core doors and sheets of rigid foam.

I'm just looking for a much more elegant, handy, long-lasting solution.  Maybe something I can even hang up on the wall so I'm not constantly tripping over it.

I am just using a hollow core door on saw horses right now to break sheet goods down. I put down some sacrificial 3/4 strips down on top to cut, but I'm sure you could do with out and just replace the door after awhile. Or use some rigid foam to cut on.

 

[panelchat]

my quick solution for this was a version of what some other FOGers have done (is this called a "torsion box?").
basically a wood or plywood tray as a spoilboard, sized for ripping (or x cutting) 4x8 panels.
best placed on a table in the shop but can be used on floor, or wherever, as needed or on site.
can be shimmed for super flat on the table if/as needed.
it weighs nothing and hangs on the wall like a picture frame if i need to get it out of the way.
made of two rectangles screwed together so it breaks apart into smaller units- small and medium size, handy for transport/cutting up smaller sheets.
four horizontal tabs for clamping onto table for stability.
mine's about 2" deep. if it were 4" or so, it would work nicely on saw horses without sagging.
a fair amount of clamping opportunity on the areas that overhang the table and it can double as an assembly table to some extent.
when you get too many kerfs into it, you can flip it over and keep going.
i found it quick, effective, made of scraps in an hour.
would be a bit better with more cross members...

 

[panelchat]

oops- here's the main image.

 

[RDMuller]

Look at these 3 videos I did a few years back.  One of them was Cabinet Maker FDM magazine's training video of the year.  The 3rd one was at 113,000 hits on Youtube

If the link to the thread doesn't work, search for Roger Muller Festool on youtube

The torsion box can lay on anything --- saw horses as an example and doesn't need its own legs

 

[panelchat]

yes, thumbs up to those videos, very helpful! my approach above was for a good/fast/cheap/lightweight version fitted to that table, to be improved upon with experience...

 

[overanalyze]

Two sheets of 3/4" ply and a little time....

 

[Toolpig]

Wow!!  That's beautiful.  I wish I had room for something like that. 

What do all of the circular holes do for you?  Are they so you can clamp boards while cutting?

Two sheets of 3/4" ply and a little time....

 

[polarsea1]

It breaks down for storage, you must have missed this thread:Cutting table by overanalyze

Wow!!  That's beautiful.  I wish I had room for something like that.  

What do all of the circular holes do for you?  Are they so you can clamp boards while cutting?

Two sheets of 3/4" ply and a little time....

 

[sancho57]

Look at these 3 videos I did a few years back.  One of them was Cabinet Maker FDM magazine's training video of the year.  The 3rd one was at 113,000 hits on Youtube

If the link to the thread doesn't work, search for Roger Muller Festool on youtube

The torsion box can lay on anything --- saw horses as an example and doesn't need its own legs

Hey Roger,

I was one of those 133,000 hits [big grin]

 

[sancho57]

do you have a mft?

do you have the parellel guides?

To make accurate cuts you will need some paralelel guides whether festools or a after market will do.

I have 2 mfts and set a old flat hollow core door on them, I cut my ply on te doors and use the parallel guides.

If you dont have a hollow core door (which I dont anymore) then use a sheet of foam insulation which I will when I get my stuff here and I set my shop up.

 

[Catspaw]

Here's my cutting table which is also a work/assembly table with the plywood top on it.

The frame was intended to be cut into and replaced as needed but by being careful with the depth setting, I haven't had to replace it yet. I use the foam if I'm doing a lot of cuts in the shop. The foam sheet has blocks of foam glued to the underside which fit into the grid of the frame so it doesn't slide around.

The top is 1/4" plywood with a 3/4" wood frame.

-Rich

 

[Guilliaume woodworks]

I think overanalyze's table is probably the way to go...when it breaks down it shouldn't take up a lot of room, and it looks pretty stable when in use. I like the torsion box on horses , which I currently use, but the box is big and clumsy to transport. I want to make new torsion box that folds in half with some type of piano hinge , for easier transport.

 

[Toolpig]

My cuts are plenty accurate without using parallel guides. 

do you have a mft?

do you have the parellel guides?

To make accurate cuts you will need some paralelel guides whether festools or a after market will do.

I have 2 mfts and set a old flat hollow core door on them, I cut my ply on te doors and use the parallel guides.

If you dont have a hollow core door (which I dont anymore) then use a sheet of foam insulation which I will when I get my stuff here and I set my shop up.

 

[waltwood]

Two sheets of 3/4" ply and a little time....

Looks like its time to clean that workbench!