Phil’s Tablesaw Work Station

Viewer Project - By Phil Ruiz from La Mesa, CA
Added on July 26, 2012

This project is an idea I took from WOOD magazine and modified it to suit my needs. Since I share the garage with my wife, I have to set up shop in our drive way. I wanted something that I could combine several working operations into one mobile unit, and store the tools I most frequently use. This tablesaw work station accomplishes all those needs.

The tablesaw is a Ridgid TS3650 upgraded with a Biesemeyer fence and Bench Dog router table extension. The worktop is made of a solid core door, banded with walnut and outfitted with a 9″ Rockler vise. The edge banding and drawer fronts are maple. The drawer pulls are walnut. The cabinet cases are constructed of MDO plywood. I used Watco Danish Oil to finish the project.

Discussion

Nick M. July 26, 2012 9:37 pm

Ingenious setup. A lot of capability in a neat, nicely laid-out package!

Reply
Gord July 26, 2012 11:27 pm

I love what you have done to give yourself the space you need and still keep the mrs happy! I had a similar problem with lack of space and thought I would share a quick clip of my solution a torsion box table, with a twist. I added pneumatic cylinders to get that puppy out of the way when the wife comes home but still be able to set it down and have a sturdy work station when needed . Check it out and thanks for the post glad to here I’m not the only one sharing my precious work space… I think there are a lot more of us out there!

Link:
http://youtu.be/dMpwsgZ6ON0

Reply
- Kim Walker August 28, 2012 8:55 am
  
  Can you send me the plans for that…you idea is great! Thanks
  
  Reply
  - AF June 9, 2017 2:21 pm
    
    http://www.survivorlibrary.com.....1_2003.pdf
    
    Reply
TerryMcK July 26, 2012 11:28 pm

I like it Phil. Some great ideas there and well executed. Thanks for sharing.

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Justin July 26, 2012 11:42 pm

That’s very cool. I had that same idea actually for the saw I have. Nicely done.

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Mike in Pitt July 27, 2012 4:26 am

I know that design Plan from WOOD well, cuz it is on my list to do the same thing. I was planning to have the router on the right but I like your modification better. Especially because my tiny shop currently has no great place for bench dogs or even a vise. I don’t suppose you have a sketchup you could share?

Reply
- Phil619 July 28, 2012 8:14 am
  
  Mike, I didn’t do a sketchup drawing. I just sketched it up the old fashion way with paper and pencil. The router fence you see is the bench dog fence that came with the extension. I have since upgraded the router extension with a Jessem Router Lift.
  
  Reply
  - Johnny M July 28, 2012 1:00 pm
    
    Very nice Phil, just wondering if your casters are locking casters or do you have another method of locking it in place?
    
    Reply
    - Johnny M July 28, 2012 11:19 pm
      
      Ooops, just notice the wheel stops in photo #4. Sorry.
Patrick Schupbach July 27, 2012 5:02 am

Very nice setup!!!! Great execution and organization!!!!

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Mike in Pitt July 27, 2012 5:43 am

Hey, another question. I see you have the router fence stored underneath. What method do you use to attach the router fence to the tabletop, given it would often rest right where the main part of the saw is. Do you attach it to the Besy fence?

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Claude Stewart July 27, 2012 5:50 am

Nice!

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Dan Drabek July 27, 2012 9:52 am

Looks like a terribly useful tool. Wish I had one. :->

DD

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Mark Thomson July 27, 2012 2:09 pm

Great work! It looks like a fine piece of furniture, albeit a lot more practical.

BTW, I’ve had the Bench Dog router table attached to my Delta contractor table saw for some years now and love it – it’s a great idea well executed.

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John Davidson July 27, 2012 4:20 pm

I have a similar idea. I am going to turn the table saw 90 degrees so the bench becomes the outfeed and have the router on the opposite side. The table is going to be about 4 ft by 8ft though.

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- jHop July 29, 2012 7:21 pm
  
  I had that thought too… only problem comes with larger pieces needing support on offcut sides. (roller bearing stands will solve that issue. So will making a larger cross cut sled.)
  
  Like this example, though. Makes me wish I had actually built the one I wanted to. Now I need to figure out how to stuff one into my shop, and a bench too.
  
  Reply
Claude Leroux July 27, 2012 9:09 pm

Phil, i love it, could you sell me your plan, or send me what it takes so i can build one for myself.

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- Simon-Pierre Pelletier July 28, 2012 11:23 am
  
  me too!
  
  Reply
  - Phil619 August 2, 2012 6:12 pm
    
    I don’t have the plans for sell, but you can download them from woodmgazine.com. I believe they sell for 4.95
    
    Reply
    - Tom September 24, 2012 8:26 am
      
      Phil
      
      I love the cabinet you’ve made. I have the TS 3650 also, and have been contemplating building a mobile plywood base to help with dust collection as well as to provide some storage. How would you rate your dust collection? Thanks for posting.
      
      Tom
Alex August 2, 2012 5:21 pm

Did you get the router table extension at home depot as well or it’s a custom piece? This set up looks like a great jack of all trades tool for a small shop (that I’m looking at building).

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- Phil619 August 2, 2012 6:06 pm
  
  Alex, The router extension is a Bench Dog product purchased at Rockler.
  
  Reply
Phil619 September 26, 2012 9:05 pm

Hi Tom,
I’m pretty happy with the dust collection. It’s not as efficient as a cabinet saw but it gets the job done. I’m really happy with how the project turned out and I’m glad you like it. The TS3650 is a great saw and the improvements I’ve made makes it a real joy to use.
Sadly I’ll be saying good bye to it pretty soon, as my Dad is giving me his PM2000.
Thanks for your comment.

Phil

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Jonathan October 10, 2012 11:43 am

Phil,

Great work! I’ve been designing a similar setup for my garage, but as discussed in the some of the other comments, I have been thinking about putting the router at the opposite end from the table saw and installing a fence that will span the whole table. Also, I’ve considered incorporating a spindle sander. Does having the router table adjacent to the saw ever trip you up? Anything you wish was different about the setup?

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- Phil619 October 11, 2012 7:39 pm
  
  So far Jonathan I haven’t had any issue with the way its set up. I’m really happy with how everything is working out. I thought and planned it out for about a year, trying to think of every scenario before I started building, so I wouldn’t have to go back and redo anything. I also thought about putting the router table on the other end but I wanted a bench top with a vice to be able to do some hand work.
  
  Reply
TREX November 7, 2014 9:12 pm

Great way to free up some room

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Joebehr November 21, 2014 4:57 pm

I’m curious…is your saw a Rigid 4512? I am close to replacing my Craftsman job site saw and am considering a 4512. Any comments would be appreciated.

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David December 19, 2014 4:30 pm

Just bought the plans for this same set up. Just wondering if you found the mobile base to be stable enough or should I consider a torsion box for the base? It looks really good. Hope mine turns out half that good.

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Rodney October 22, 2015 3:01 pm

Could you send us the link for the Biesemeyer fence? Also, the metal top for the saw. Did that come with the saw or did the Biesemeyer fence come with the metal top?

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AF June 9, 2017 2:22 pm

I found the full issue of OCT 2003, searching for table saw station plans.

http://www.survivorlibrary.com.....1_2003.pdf

Reply

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Phil’s Tablesaw Work Station

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