Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Chop saw table, DIY

Intro

For an upcoming project, I needed a way to cut long material (aluminum structural pieces) to very precise lengths.  To this end, I made a chop saw table.  

Research

After scouring the internet for a bit, I found a design that I liked.  The design that you'll find below is heavily influenced by this design.

Design

I've recently started dabbling in with Google SketchUp, a free CAD program.  I drew up a quick mockup of my design as shown below.  The shown dimensions are close but don't exactly match my final product.  I also added beams to the bottom for added rigidity that's not shown here.  



In this design, I'm using 0.75" thick plywood, originally a 4' x 8' sheet, four 2x3's, and a bunch of 3" drywall screws.

Final Product

After a relatively quick assembly, I have the following:





I still need to add shims to raise the chop saw a few mm, and I need a fence and stop.  The shims will be added soon, but the fence and stop are not top priority.