3 Shop

table saw upgrade

Outfeed Support

Cutting large plywood panels or long boards on the table saw by myself can be a real challenge. But you can get a helping hand by adding a support stand or two to carry the load.

These benefits aren't limited to the table saw only. You can use support stands with other tools around your shop. Mine are often used with the drill press, jointer, and even miter saw. Here's a look at a few of the stands available and how to choose one for your shop.

Roller Stands. The most common type of stands are roller stands. They consist of a single, wide roller mounted on a base. What makes these stands so attractive — and popular — is that they're inexpensive. You can find them for as little as $12.

Drawbacks. But I've found a couple problems when using roller stands. The biggest issue is that unless the roller is perfectly square to the rip fence on my table saw, it can pull the workpiece to one side. If it pulls the board away from the

A stand (or two) offers a helping hand for working with large workpieces.

fence, it can bind against the blade and cause burning or kickback.

Another problem I've encountered is that the height of the roller has to be set pretty accurately. If not, a board coming off the saw can hit the front of the roller and jam the cut. Or the stand may just fold up and fall over.

Bearing Stands. A second type of support stand that you'll come across is a ball-bearing stand. These stands use multiple ball bearings instead of a single roller. Since the bearings can roll in any direction, the angle of the stand doesn't have any influence on the workpiece.

You can use a bearing stand in all the same ways that you would use a roller stand. In fact, the bearing stand lets you do a few things that a roller stand can't. One place a bearing stand comes in handy is side support on the table saw. Here,

you can position the head of the stand so it's parallel to the blade. This way, you can support long boards or wide panels for cross cutting.

This doesn't mean that bearing stands aren't without fault. One downside to these stands is the space between the bearings. When ripping boards on the table saw, narrow parts or waste pieces can get wedged between the bearings.

Flat Stands. The last type of stand is what I'd call a back-to-basics stand. These stands avoid any problems caused by rollers and bearings by using a smooth, flat top instead. One of the things I like about the flat top stands is the amount of surface area that's in contact with the workpiece.

▼ Bearing Stand. Ball bearings roll in all directions and won't pull a workpiece off to one side.

▲ Roller Stand.

This inexpensive stand will handle most work in your shop.

m Flat Top. A

large, flat surface provides plenty of support for working with most tools in your shop.

ShopNotes No. 86

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