How to Make a Crappy Table Saw Into a Good One

Intro: How to Make a Crappy Table Saw Into a Good One

Hi,I Had to make improvements to this saw it was frustrating me to he'll with its crappy fence and Riving knife/guard so its had a makeover with a new fence reworked riving knife,new guard position,pedestal,extraction,and side extension .

STEP 1: Fence

I made the fence using 50mm Aluminium angle running in a channel, the fence is out of Oak and faced it with Melamine.

STEP 2: Fence Stop

this is a hold down clap from a mitresaw

STEP 3: Riving Knife

I cut the riving knife guard holder off and repositioned the guard on an extendible arm

STEP 4: Guard Steady

adjustable 5 position guard steady

STEP 5: Extending Side Table

I have a small workshop so i had to have as small a footprint for my saw as possible.

Although I have gone trough all the steps you can get a more comprehensive view of my table saw in the video bellow.( If viewing this on mobile phone the link below may not work I have put a link at the start sorry for the confusion.)

please check out my videos on my youtube channel

STEP 6: Video

Check out my video

Comments

[IIIvan]

Marcello just wondering if you have plans for your router lift? I liked how it looked and would like to make one similar if possible.

Thx,

IIIvan

[marcello bianchi]

sorry no i built it ad hoc

[Lenny212]

Thx Marcello, my crappy table saw is about to become a good one. Some great ideas here.

[nrini]

Sweet set-up, but I'm an unabashed "hand holder" (why the negative connotation here?). I have zero professional training but can follow a recipe, so to speak. I come here for INSTRUCTIONS and these mods would be immensely helpful for someone like me.

I appreciate the presentation, but unfortunately I prefer an actual "how to" over humble bragging. And I don't mean to deter people from being proud of their handiwork - I'm just saying this site was always intended to help others follow your plans so they can learn from people with more experience and innovation.

I did watch the video and it's super impressive! So, great job, but I'm chiming in with the others that this is technically "incomplete" as an INSTRUCTable and could use more details.

For those who are bored with complainers like me, maybe you should reach out to the site owners and ask for a second section where people can just showcase their final results? Constructive ideas are generally far more useful than crying about other people crying :)

[marcello bianchi]

nrini Hi, unfortunately I had made all the modifications to before i joined instructables or posting video to youtube,the crappy table saw is the only instructable that is a look at what i made .

I have made a instructable on the fence has i have made some changes and i have put a link here.please copy and paste to your browser
https://youtu.be/hhTU5HlWZ5I

[nrini]

It wasn't meant as an indictment of your work - It's very inspiring and I like the video a lot. I was directing this more towards the people here posting that those of us looking for more direction are somehow out of place (INSTRUCTable being the operative word here).

I'll definitely check out the fence one this weekend!

[dadybik]

Further the other comments of Jim, He not make anything, The work is fantastic and the video could not has dimensions but there are everything for make the general idea that is FANTASTIC

[marcello bianchi]

Hi dadybik, thanks for your words of encouragement

[dadybik]

Let me say that in your video there are a thousend of words in pictures, with a little of imagination you convert a simple tool in a incredible one. You have to be proud of your work and mine a simple words.
Sorry for my english I am spanish speaker.
Best Regards
Esteban Bikic
dady at comodoro dot com

[talichni]

Hi Marcello, I'm planning to upgrade my "crappy one" to something alike!

Thx for some, more than applicable ideas!

[DonnH1]

I think that Instructables whole purpose is to inspire and make you think how you may be able to build something good ideaand interesting. It does not mean building the exact same thing. I don;t think that a complete set of plans is always necessary. An instructable like this one may be all you need to do something like this for your own saw. All saw models are slightly different so exact plans just won't do. You need to think it out and build accordingly. Myself, I just love to read over stuff like this and I squirrel it away in some recess of my brain for future use. This project has some ideas I may put into use for my portable Makita builders saw. I need to adapt it so I can use it as a panel saw and so I won't need to spend $3K to $4K for an off the floor model ready to go. Thanks Marcello, you made an interesting Instructable.

[fbarry1]

I really love the inspiration involved and while I'm not a grouchy old geezer I'm not quite up to putting my saw back in the box to take up knitting. I've worked fairly well with my handheld tools thus far and want to upgrade. However, due to small space constraints, I haven't thus far. I may not be as good a maker as others, I refuse to let others belittle me or deter me. I would've liked more photos and diagrams but I will do my best to figure it out on my own..I have no one to hold my hand, as it were. Thank you for your Instructable and please, pardon my rant.

[fbarry1]

I did enjoy your Instructable and the videos are helpful. I was mostly ranting about what other people said. I will be moving within a few months hopefully and may be able to upgrade my tools if I have enough space. Again, thank you for your Instructable.

[marcello bianchi]

Hi, sorry for the lack of plans but i had finished the improvements to the saw before joining Instructables,
I have since made an instructable on the fence build with a youtube video hope this help, thanks for the feedback.

[6312CWR]

Great bit. I intend to pinch a couple of your ideas.

Thanks

Clyde

[marcello bianchi]

go for it, and don't forget to post your photos

[marcello bianchi]

don't forget to post a photo of your completed upgrade incase i've missed a trick.thanks for looking.

[marcello bianchi]

I've posted how to make the fence

[Mastros]

Now, this idea of having the guard fence in various heights by letting it rest on some steps on the side, well, it is genius!! You can claim some patent for it!

Thanks a lot, you are offering me a lot of inspiration.

[marcello bianchi]

thanks for the great feedback.