How To Build A Saw Table? – Expert Guide

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how to build a saw table

A saw table is a fundamental tool for any woodworker. It allows the user to make precision cuts with ease and accuracy. This guide will go over How To Build A Saw Table? Using commonly found materials around the house. Start by measuring the length of your miter or compound sliding saw (most are roughly 14″) and then find the center of your board. 

Draw a line at the center point of this length, spaced away from either edge by 4″. Center your saw on top of this line so that half of its base is hanging off each side. This area of potential cut is where the blade will contact the table. Mark out spots for screws on either side of the blade that are equal distance from the edge and screw in. 

The screws should be long enough to go into the board by at least 3/4″. Repeat these two steps on a second board, but this time make a cutout for your saw’s handle. This will help you hold it in place while adjusting the angle. When you are done cutting, screw the pieces together so that your saw base can lay flat on it. Read more here How to build a meter saw table.

Sawing is now possible! Simply place your workpiece over the top board and slide it toward the blade. Use a scrap piece of wood to go behind the blade for protection when pushing through. When finished, use the handle cutout to remove your saw and place it anywhere on the table.

Step 1: Prepare the materials

You’ll need some wood, bolts, nuts, and saw. Collect the necessary tools for this project beforehand so you don’t have to stop halfway through. You will need a screwdriver, an electric drill with different bits (including one that’s round), pliers, measuring tape, pencils, and sandpaper. Read more here How to build a crosscut sled for table saw.
The table should be made of hardwood like oak or maple. The legs must be very sturdy because they are supporting an entire load of your workpiece plus all of the weight taken by the saw while it is in motion. Oak fulfills these requirements flawlessly as long as it is at least 25 millimeters thick and cut from quality pieces of lumber. Beginners should opt for softwood such as pine.

Step 2: Cut the table legs

Take your measurements and draw them on a piece of paper to have an idea of how long the final element will be when it is finished. This table needs to have two identical legs that are about 100 centimeters tall, so you can use this information for reference when attaching the pieces together with glue in order to prevent mistakes. Arrange 4 equally thick planks vertically in pairs, leaving some space between each pair so you can insert another one horizontally at the top after marking its position carefully.
Use a pencil or any other tool with which you can mark wood during this step; it has to be done before cutting anything because all kinds of mistakes could happen if you don’t get your lines right once you start cutting.

Step 3: Prepare a template for the tabletop

It is always a good idea to have a rounded section in one part of your table, so you will need to make a template out of cardboard. Measure and mark where you want to cut it later with a pencil; this doesn’t have to be perfectly round because you can get rid of the sharp edges using sandpaper once everything is glued together.
You should place it under the top layer during gluing then erase all the marks after that step has been completed. It is very important not to make any mistakes at this stage otherwise you will find yourself having difficulties while trying to fix them later on, which will delay the entire project considerably.

Step 4: Glue the table legs

Spread the glue evenly on all surfaces of each leg then stack them together. Apply pressure using a clamp or anything that’s heavy enough to hold the pieces in place firmly during the process without causing any damage. Let it dry overnight.

Step 5: Prepare the tabletop

You will notice there are some pencil marks on your template, but you can erase them now because they are not necessary anymore. Place one edge of it under the top layer of your table carefully making sure you are lining up both parts perfectly before securing it with screws from underneath. Add glue to this layer as well and put another piece of wood on top of it tightly, repeating what you did earlier during step 4. 

Step 6: Cut saw slot and round it

You can cut the slot for your saw using a hand saw or a circular saw. You can easily mark its position with a pencil and cut through the top using a power tool so you don’t have to aim carefully. The final step is rounding off any harsh edges by sanding them down carefully, which also makes it smoother to operate so you will not get as tired as if your table was still as sharp as when you just finished cutting it. Read more here How to build a radial arm table saw.

Step 7: Install legs

Screw the legs into place from underneath then align them properly before tightening everything tightly. Make sure they are perfectly straight after that’s been completed because nobody likes lopsided furniture in their house. 

Step 8: Prepare bolts and attach a tabletop

The tabletop has to be secured in place using bolts, but you will have to drill holes for them first before inserting the pieces so they will not get in your way when cutting. Once the legs are attached to the tabletop, you can insert them and tighten everything tightly with a wrench so it will stay firmly in position even while heavy wood is being cut on top of it.

Step 9: Make the saw slot larger if necessary 

If you find yourself having difficulties sliding your saw into its designated section, then simply make that part wider by attaching another piece of wood below it. You can use glue or screws for this step depending on how strong you want it to be once finished. Two pieces should do just fine because they are only about an inch apart from each other.

Step 10: Add saw guides if necessary 

You can purchase saw guides at a hardware store or you can simply use some wood to create them on your own. Measure the distance between them then draw two lines that are parallel to the top of the table but are about six inches away from it. Cut these sections out ensuring they have sharp edges so they will not get in your way while cutting through materials with your circular saw. Leave one surface rough so this piece will fit inside perfectly, which serves as a guide for the smooth movement of your tool during cutting.

You can do the same thing using screws instead of glue because both options have their own advantages and disadvantages depending on how strong you want the finished product to be.

Step 11: Sanding 

After everything is finally attached securely, you can now sand down any rough surfaces or edges so it will be smooth and safe to use without hurting yourself. This step isn’t necessary but it will definitely help you avoid more injuries than necessary especially if you already have a history of accidents with power tools.
Finally, wipe the table using a wet cloth to remove all sawdust and other debris before putting your tools on it for storage or your materials such as wood that you will be cutting. This way everyone in the family knows where not to put their drinks up, which reduces accidents even more.

A Video Guide How To Build a Saw Table

This is a detailed video about how to build a saw table. If you are looking for how to build a saw table then you come to the right place this video might be productive for you.

Learn in detail how to build a saw table

Conclusion 

By covering up your table saw with a wooden tabletop, you can make it safer to use by reducing the chance of injury due to limbs or hands getting too close to the moving blade. This article also teaches you how to build a saw table that has guides that make cutting wood materials easier and safer than without since your cuts will always come out exactly where you want them to.

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