88, страница 24

completing the

Panel Saw

CENTER DOVETAIL HOOK TO TOP OF SAW BASE

Me" CABLE CLAMP

braided cable

awning \pulley

#8*V Fh WOODSCREW

#S xlVfe" Rh -WOODSCREW

¹/4" X ³/4" HEX BOLT & NUT

W / patio door roller

Getting the panel saw ready for action is just a matter of adding a few details. These will make the saw easier to control and more accurate.

Supporting the Saw. With the saw in place on the base, it can be a bit heavy during use. To lighten the load so it's easier to use, I made a "suspension system," as you can see in the photos at right.

It's basically a spring and pulley setup that acts like an old-fash-ioned window weight to balance the weight of the saw. This way, the saw will be easier to manage as you make a crosscut.

To hold the springs in place, I used a left over piece of T-track. You can make "hooks" for the springs in the T-track with a hack saw and file, as you can see in the lower photo at right and Figure 9a. To connect the

Cable Hook.

The cable is attached to the saw base with a hook made from a piece of aluminum angle.

L-BRACKET MADE FROM T'-LONG PIECE OF 1V₂"-WIDE ALUMINUM STRIP (SEE FIGURE 6a)

FIGURE

NOTE: size cable

so springs are stretched by 12" when saw is at top of guide

► Counterbalance. A simple system of pulleys and springs carries the weight of the saw making cuts almost effortless.

springs to the saw base, I used a system of pulleys, brackets, and a strong, braided cable.

Pulleys. But before cutting the cable to length, it's a good idea to position the hardware so you can get the saw balanced just right. The first thing I did was locate the anchor point for the cable on the saw guide. Directly above this

y₄" x 2"

LAG SCREWS

NOTE: ATTACH ROLLERS AND BRACKETS BEFORE CUTTING CABLE TO LENGTH

PATIO

DOOR

---roller

HEX BOLT

w/NUTS

⁹Ae" x 16V₂" EXTENSION -SPRING

HOOK MADE FROM V/z" x 1V₂" - V/z" LONG ALUMINUM ANGLE

TOP VIEW

point, I mounted a pulley that redirects the cable after it comes up from the springs. This pulley is a patio door roller that is attached to the saw guide with a lag screw.

Another patio door roller is mounted to an aluminum L-bracket

24 ShopNotes No. 88