Workbench and mitre saw question

Paul wrote:

snip

> I'm about to build a new bench along the long side of my shed. I have
> a sliding compound mitre saw which I will use on this and I'm thinking
> of building-in a lower section just wide enough to sit the saw in so
> that the benchtop is level with the cutting table of the saw.

Sliding compound miter saws extend out the back a lot farther than
just a miter saw, and typically, the rear part extends beyond the
ends of the saw table on either side when cutting 45s and greater
miters. You can't just have a simple rectangular cut out lower
section for the SCMS to sit down in unless the back of the SCMS is
hanging out behind the bench.

In order to do full "left" and full "right" angle cuts on my Makita
12" SCMS the following space is required. Note that this saw
will cut angles greater than 45 degrees in one direction.

(sorry about the ASCII diagram but it illustrates the point)
-------+ +-------
.........
|
| ^
|
| 19 1/2"
| 7" 3"
| v
+--+ +-+ <----face of fence
.......
| |
| |
-----------+ +--------


>My idea
> is that the workbench top will then provide support for workpieces
> which extend beyond the saw table - which most do of course. When the
> saw is removed I could place a piece of benchtop over the lower
> section so that the benchtop is flush right the way across.

Just make sure the step for the SCMS is deeper than the "bottom of
base" to the top of the SCMS's table. You can always shim the SCMS
base UP but so far, no one's come up with a "negative" shim.

> My question is: Can anyone think of a reason against this idea? What
> disadvantages would there be in having the saw mounted down in the
> bench like this?
>

Other than the issue noted above
- how're you going to attach it to the base when in use and how
easy will it be to attach and detach it?
- SCMS are NOT LIGHT. How's your back?
- where will the SCMS be when not in the bench?
- where are you going to store the "insert" when the
SCMS is in the bench?
- workbench height is normally pretty low - 30 - 34"
if you're going to use hand tools on it. But that height
is kind of low for the top of an SCMS table and you'll
have to bend over more to see where you're cutting.
The table of my SCMS is 42" off the ground and my
drill press table is about 48" off the ground and I'm
between 5'6" and 5'8", depending on what 7-11 I'm
walking out of. Higher is better for SCMS, DPs,
Spindle sanders and disk sanders.
- Universal Truth - ANY flat surface above floor level
will soon be "temporarily" covered with STUFF. The
wider the uniinterupted surface the bigger the STUFF
on it will be. One big thing is often heavier than a
bunch of little things which would occupy the same
volume. Bigger STUFF also needs more room to occupy
when you move it from its current temporary location
to its new temporary location.

A workshop will nanturally tend towards chaos unless
one develops self discipline and self control

ANY workshop, regardless of size, will be filled, given
sufficient time and eventually become TOO SMALL.

Anyway, here's my SCMS set up. If you have the space,
go with a dedicated, single use set up.

http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/MakitaSCMS.html

> All thoughts appreciated.

More than you wanted to know right?

charlie b

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to comment. Some intersting
points raised which I'll consider before starting construction.

Thanks again,
Paul
New Zealand.

[email protected] (Paul) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hi there,
>
> I'm about to build a new bench along the long side of my shed. I have
> a sliding compound mitre saw which I will use on this and I'm thinking
> of building-in a lower section just wide enough to sit the saw in so
> that the benchtop is level with the cutting table of the saw. My idea
> is that the workbench top will then provide support for workpieces
> which extend beyond the saw table - which most do of course. When the
> saw is removed I could place a piece of benchtop over the lower
> section so that the benchtop is flush right the way across.
>
> My question is: Can anyone think of a reason against this idea? What
> disadvantages would there be in having the saw mounted down in the
> bench like this?
>
> All thoughts appreciated.
>
> Regards
> Paul
> New Zealand.

"Paul" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...


>>> of building-in a lower section just wide enough to sit the saw in so
that the benchtop is level with the cutting table of the saw.<<<


That's the way I'm planning on doing mine. I'm also thinking I'll put
spacers on the bottom of my "antique" Ryobi AP10 surface planer (had it for
20 years) so it can sit in the same recess and line up with the bench
surface. Due to the fact that we have a surplus outlet here that I can get
plastic laminate pretty reasonable I'm going use plastic laminate on the
whole thing. RM~

Paul wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I'm about to build a new bench along the long side of my shed. I have
> a sliding compound mitre saw which I will use on this and I'm thinking
> of building-in a lower section just wide enough to sit the saw in so
> that the benchtop is level with the cutting table of the saw. My idea
> is that the workbench top will then provide support for workpieces
> which extend beyond the saw table - which most do of course. When the
> saw is removed I could place a piece of benchtop over the lower
> section so that the benchtop is flush right the way across.
>
> My question is: Can anyone think of a reason against this idea? What
> disadvantages would there be in having the saw mounted down in the
> bench like this?
>
> All thoughts appreciated.
>
> Regards
> Paul
> New Zealand.

That's the way I have mine mounted. The most recent version of Shopnotes
has something similar to what you've described. I can see no down side to
it.

Gary

> My question is: Can anyone think of a reason against this idea? What
> disadvantages would there be in having the saw mounted down in the
> bench like this?

Nope. I have that setup. I am planning to redo it some day because I would
like a better cabinet design underneath (it currently has only open
shelves). Version 2 is likely to have a second "inset" to house my bench-top
drill press.

-Steve

"j.b. miller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>>>> I did this, twice! On one side for the mitre saw setup, the other side
for the planer setup.<<<<

Bummer! I thought I was being original. :(
RM~

I did that- into a recycled counter top. Worked great until I started
to fill up the bench. I am a terrible housekeeper. Now, i leave the
CMS loose, nothing piles up that way.

-Dan v.

On 28 Apr 2004 22:33:24 -0700, [email protected] (Paul) wrote:

>Hi there,
>
>I'm about to build a new bench along the long side of my shed. I have
>a sliding compound mitre saw which I will use on this and I'm thinking
>of building-in a lower section just wide enough to sit the saw in so
>that the benchtop is level with the cutting table of the saw. My idea
>is that the workbench top will then provide support for workpieces
>which extend beyond the saw table - which most do of course. When the
>saw is removed I could place a piece of benchtop over the lower
>section so that the benchtop is flush right the way across.
>
>My question is: Can anyone think of a reason against this idea? What
>disadvantages would there be in having the saw mounted down in the
>bench like this?
>
>All thoughts appreciated.
>
>Regards
>Paul
>New Zealand.

I did this, twice! On one side for the mitre saw setup, the other side for
the planer setup. That was almost 20 years ago and I haven't regretted it
yet.Made the cabinets 8',2',8' for the mitre saw side, 6',2',6' for the
planer side.
I remove the planer, store in the 2' section,using the 2' 'depressed' top
for a 'catchall' for 'tools in use'..
Heck, if it works for you, go for it. If you make individual benches like I
did, be sure to use adjustable feet to get everything level though !!
jay