Shop built Benchmark table

[Billy stray]

i started this on another thread located in the other tools and accesories section , titled - Bench mark ?
i was wondering if such a sought  after product had resurfaced , possibly even through another manufacturer. most of us know the answer to that inquiry. i personally thought it was a great idea for its weight, strength and portability . i have to confess i saw it for the first time early this spring and thought it would be a perfect addition to my tool collection (of course by then they were no longer available) the only thing i didnt like about it was the lack of an easily renewable surface, i mean lets face it aiming for those chanels every time you make a cut ? lets just say i knew i would eventually hit the ABS probably sooner than later..so with all this i mind along with a few ideas rattling around in my head i decided to just build my own, i of course wanted it to have all the qualitys of the original except one, i wanted it to have an inexpensive, easily renewable surface...
i went to work on the logistics with some mdf scraps i had in the shop making surethe legs would easily fold and nestle themselves in nicely

 

[Billy stray]

when i began to actually build it i decided that this may be my "first draft" so instead of buying a sheet or 2 of baltic birch i opted to just use some uv finished cut offs i had hanging around ..
so here it is , nothing super briliant or fancy but i like to think it was well designed and thought out....
i thought about running a row of 20 mm holes acrossed the front and down the legs but didnt see much benefit for my needs
id gladly hear any improvements or upgrades

 

[joiner1970]

Well done for getting it done finally

I planned to build one ages ago when I first saw the benchmark table. I've got a frame on some dewalt horses now

 

[Billy stray]

thanks, any project built for the shop is a fun one , am i right ?

 

[Billy stray]

my idea for an inexpensive and easily renewable surface , i made sure the cut in the notch registered on the side piece and not in the bottom of the modified concealed flange joist hanger, i figured it would make the top a bit more flat and accurate rather than rely on my ability to accurately cut metal with a chop saw

 

[Billy stray]

forgive me if im not laying this thread out "wonderfully" the only way i know to move from one picture and subject is to keep replying

 

[Billy stray]

i soon relized the main structure was gonna need some sort of a "backbone" and decided to add a piece of half inch plywood to the middle wich also doubles as a place to keep some out of the way tools, keeping its weight always in mind i decided one in the middle would be more than enough, i didnt want to have any loose pieces on this but if youleave the middle stretcher unscrewed a systainer 1 fits nicely underneath the stretcher
i may put some angled plywood braces in the far corners

 

[Billy stray]

the only flaw i can find so far are the knobs for the legs may grab a cord but i couldnt locate them on the inside without sacrificing the the strength of the main side support , also i wanted the bolt to the knob to act like an in place stud so i installed a tnut to hold them in place and that wouldnt work from the outside in either

 

[Billy stray]

I tried doing a search for any other portable track saw stations but didn't find any, I'd be interested to see some pics of others from the members

 

[dg1127]

Really nice setup love the radius slot in the legs

 

[ToolFanNL]

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/mftc-portable-workshop/msg414627/#msg414627

the MFTC van Tim is also a option with extentions

 

[Billy stray]

Dg1127- thanks I'm glad someone likes it ..lol
Tool fan- I definitely love timtools mftc , I think I watch the video once a month,  but for my needs I just wanted a dedicated track saw station without a lot of pieces to keep track of that easily folds up out of the way either on site or in the shop, in conjunction with a festool  MFT it's the perfect tag team for me...

 

[Cleg79]

Nice work Billy!

 

[Billy stray]

Thanks but I think yours one first prize this week, why it even got a nod from Seth ! Around here that's better than a blessing from the pope ....lol  [not worthy]
Just teasing Seth .... [poke]

 

[cblanton42]

Billy,
      Nice work and several good ideas that took some thought, do you know how much it weighs?  It should be considerably lighter than an MFT which I'm finding is just too heavy and awkward to lug around, especially up stairs.
Thanks,
CB

 

[Billy stray]

cblanton thanks , ive never weighed it , the original "benchmark" table weighs in at 53 lbs & im pretty sure it doesnt exceed that , if i had to throw out a comparable guess i would say its about as heavy as a sheet and a half of 3/4 veneer core plywood....