Introduction: Adjustable, Portable Chop Saw Stand

I wanted to set up a 12” chopsaw on a mobile stand that had detachable support arms on which I could set up specific lengths for repeated cuts. I also wanted to be able to store the chopsaw, blades, and jigs in the stand.

Step 1: Materials

1 sheet ¾” plywood

2 metal shelf sections (salvaged)

1” and 1 ½” square tubing.

1”x2”x 14’ 1/8 tubing

2 hinges

4 @ 4” casters

16 5/16 carriage bolts

Step 2: Making the Mobile Stand

Cut the 3/4 “ plywood into 2’ by 2’squares and cut a ¾ by 3/8 groove along three sides of top and bottom squares and along one side of the two sides. Glue and screw the top, bottom, and three sides to form an open box. Cut another 2’x2’ pieces to fit into the open side. This will form the cabinet door. The last piece of 2’ by 2’ is cut to fit the base of the chopsaw.

Step 3: Securing the Chop Saw to the Stand

The cut section that secures the chopsaw is glued and screwed in place. This will hold the saw from moving. Holes are drilled through the plywood top matching the holes in the chopsaw. Carriage bolts are pushed through these holes and are secured with wing nuts .

Step 4: Setting Up the Detachable Arms

The 1/8 thick steel shelf sections are cut to 6’ and 8’ lengths. Brackets are shaped to fit the inside profile of the shelf sections. These brackets are positioned to match the height of the chopsaw table and are then glued and screwed in place. The brackets are double thickness plywood. The other ends of the arms are held in place with adjustable steel legs that rotate around a pipe section with a larger pipe sleeve. The arms are drilled and held in place to the brackets with a couple of screws.

Step 5: Making the Stops for Repeatable Cuts

Brackets of 1” by 3” by 1/8” steel are welded onto the 6’section and 8’ section of 1”x2” tubular steel . These are welded so that the brackets do not stick out along one edge and are then bolted along the shelf sections to match the fence of the chopsaw.. Two 8” pieces are welded perpendicular to a 8“ piece of 2” by 2” sections of tubular steel. A 2” section of angle iron is welded onto the 2” by 2” steel. A hole is drilled through the angle iron, a nut welded over the hole so that a 5/16 threaded knob can be tightened against the long fence.

Step 6: Moving the Chopsaw

The chopsaw and arms can be moved in two ways. Te arms can be disconnected and reconnected in a new place, or the leg on the arms can be folded and the entire system moved as a whole with the legs dropped and adjusted for height in the new location.

Step 7: Using the Chopsaw

This chopsaw system makes it very easy and safe to set up multi cut that are accurate. The adjustable stop system can be marked and set accurately. Cuts up to 8’9” are possible on the set system.

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