Table Saw Extension for Router and Jigsaw Completed

[eruzich]

Just thought I share my new table saw extension with an OF 1400 EQ and TRION PS 300 EQ insert plate.
I used butcher block for the table saw wing and Corain for the insert plates. Dominos also came in handy for screws that were to long.
Thanks to the following for the past input, which helped find the correct screw thread,http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=2090.msg21040#msg21040

 

[sl_1800]

That look great.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

  Very nice.  Does the jig saw work well that way?

Seth

 

[Corwin]

That takes the cake for an inventive use of a Domino. 

Learning something new all the time.

 

[eruzich]

Seth,
This is by far the most accurate way to use a jig saw if the work permits, It really works well, better then I hoped.
I call it the poor man's bandsaw because if I had a band saw I probably would not have made a insert using my jig saw.
Hopfully this year I will be able to buy a real bandsaw and a dedicated router, but for now I couldn't be happer.

Corwin,
When I saw the domino's laying next to the box of screws, I new I had to do it with a Festool twist.

 

[Tinker]

Seth,
This is by far the most accurate way to use a jig saw if the work permits, It really works well, better then I hoped.
I call it the poor man's bandsaw because if I had a band saw I probably would not have made a insert using my jig saw.
Hopfully this year I will be able to buy a real bandsaw and a dedicated router, but for now I couldn't be happer.

Corwin,
When I saw the domino's laying next to the box of screws, I new I had to do it with a Festool twist.

Seth, I like your idea and great pictorial.

my take is, I DO have a bandsaw.  In fact, i have two of them.  And i still find situations where i find it better to mount jigsaw upside down like that.  currently, i have an old Milwaukee jig saw that i have use this way, but have just mounted a plate into a MFT 800 top for my router.  i will be making up a second plate to use my jig saw.  another to hang my large electric drill with rotary sanding tubes mounted.  That tool is not designed for that purpose, so i will have to do some serios thinking on that one.

About 3 or 4 frames down, you show 1" screws to hold the brackets to the table legs.  It looks like yo go all the way tru the wood and the metal plates.  Is that true?  If so, i think you might be headed for a surprise (One surprise only, as after first surprise, some redesigning will most likely be in order) when you discover the screws were too short.  I am guessing that the metal is held to the wood and then the wood to the metal, or atleast some screwes or bolts deeper into the wooden legs that what appears.  (i think I am probably wrong as i don't see how those 1" screws can go thru all that material and hold long enought for even a quick photo with hispeed shutter. ???

Tinker

PS  Even tho it works fine to mount my router onto my MFT surface, it is not such a great plan when it comes to full use of the MFT.  I am now working on making an extension to mount like the Fetool MFT extensions.  I am hoping to eliminate having a router table se up in my VERY crowded shop.  The extension can be removed and hidden ito a corner.  It would not take up as much room as the old table when mounted to the end of the MFT and still could make use of the MFT surface.

Somebody else (in another earlier discussion) suggested that using the MFT as a router table surface would somehold prevent wood from sliding.  I have theated my MFT tops with Danish Oil and wax.  the wood sides just fine and so far, I have had no problems with clamping, nor with pickup of oil or wax into wood.  The Danish oil dries hard as well as soaks quickly into the MFT surface.  I only apply one coat and then apply Carnuba wax.  After waiting a half hour or so (tea & crumpet time for you guys across the pond>>> and i like it to.)I then attack with buffer pad attached to my RO 150.

I plan to use a section of the old MFT 800 surface to mount as top for the extension.  (The plans are, so far, printed in very temporary type ink in the back of my head)
Tinker

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Tinker,

I suggest you take a look at JoinTech's "Floating Table" design.  I have a couple of these units on my table saw.  One is mounted (most of the time) to the left end of the cast iron table and houses a router mounted to an insert plate.  Their kits come with HD square tube steel legs that are easily height adjustable and lock with a simple twist of the locking knob.  The extruded aluminum side rails (same cross-sectional profile as JoinTech uses for their Saw Train products) come with a pair of steel connector pins and a pair of nylon? guide pins, all of which facilitate quick alignment and attachment of the floating table to the table saw or any other similar table or stand fitted with JoinTech's side rail extrusions.  I think you could make a removable router table setup for your MFT using some of JoinTech's concepts and possibly some of their components.  The only thing I don't like about their adjustable steel legs is that they are not hinged where they mount to a slot in the underside of the aluminum side rail extrusions.  Thus, to store the table in a small space, you have to loosen the bolts that retain the legs to the rails and slide the tops of the legs out of the extrusions.  If you adapted these concepts to your MFT so you could use standard MFT connectors, with the JoinTech legs, you could easily achieve perfect in-plane alignment of your removable router table with the top of your MFT.

Sorry, I don't have a digital camera, or I would have added some photos to make this more clear and easily understood.  I am thinking of using a variation of this idea for a horizontal router accessory for my MFT.  I haven't tried them yet, but have been thinking about using a pair of those twist-to-lock telescoping aluminum tubes (like those used for painters extensions) for legs since one end of the table would be supported by the MFT legs.

Dave R.

 

[semenza]

HI,

    Tinker, that is eruzich s idea not mine.

Seth

 

[Tinker]

HI,

    Tinker, that is eruzich s idea not mine.

Seth

Thanks for the correction.  i was in sort of a hurry, trying to read the forum, listen to weather reports (sno on way and trucks to service), fix breakfast, feed dog and put final finish on small project.  To top it all off, i am the world's worst at remembering names. 

Thanks to eruzich.

thanks also to Dave.  I will look into that, probably tomorrow.  today is plowin' & sandin' day for me.  We were supposed to get upwards of 12"s of very wet and blowing snow.  the storm has ended and i find i could have done a heap o' restin' yesterday.  we have 2" outside my door.  storm about ended and i suspect that south of here, where my route is, has barley a cover of snow.  Ain't much profit there.