Cheap Table Saw Improvements Part 1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
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The first in series of videos I'll be making... attempting to improve my cheap table saw, in this first one I'll be making a new top and fence...
If you have any comments or suggestions on anything you might want me to include or exclude for that matter, feel free to voice them in the comment section below.
Also if you would like to see what I will build next, please like and subscribe.
![[TH] FS vs BME - VCT Ascension Pacific - Lower Bracket Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wnygqsR2Fig/mqdefault.jpg)
You do have to spend some time setting the saw up... blade, fence, etc. But once done, the saw is great. Fairly compact which is Nice th-cam.com/users/postUgkxXh-4_3-ZT1fFWP91ZV7iVqzElr0lEb-a I did get an Incra Miter Gauge which takes some setup as well. The stock miter gauge can be adjusted in the miter slot with a little painter's tape... this tightens up the side to side play a lot.
The fact that you do this good with distractions is impressive to me. I, too, have distractions but I don't do as well as you. I watched you awhile back now Im rewatching with more experience and appreciation for what you are doing
This was quite a while ago, I cant even remember any distractions... I'll have to go and watch it back... LOL... thanx for sticking around...
Great job using what you have on hand, that's true DIY. And I love how your kids hang out with you, very cute!
Thanx man... just sub'd to your channel... nice table you built for your son... :-)
Cool project. I love the way you used to things you had on hand good job continue growing
I have the exact same table saw, and have the same issues with the table and the fence. Was going to look at an upgraded table saw. Instead I am going to build this project. Most excellent! Thanks (I am very much a novice weekend worrier and loving the new adventure into wood work.) - And also really great to see a woodworking video from a fellow South African.
Greetings from your Neighbours to the South. I am so happy to find a local (Yes, I am claiming you as a Saffer for this comment) who has created a TH-cam channel with relevant content to me. People will never know the struggles of trying to find a T-Track in a little farming town in Limpopo, im sure it is even worse for you up there... Keep doing what you are doing
I’m 72 yrs old now and only started to have an interest in D.I.Y. The last few years, I like working with wood and enjoy making things, your video was an inspiration to me, keep up the good work, mistakes as well ( I make them all the time ) take care.
Good job! I have a cheaper Craftman tablesaw that I purchased back in the 1980’s.
Still works but small top. I am thinking of building it into a work bench so I can make larger
cuts and I got some great ideas from your video. Kudos for the patience you showed while receiving help from the kids. Wished I had that patients when my kids were young.
Thanx man... good luck with your build... my patience still wears thin with the kids sometimes... :-)
Outstanding maconSTUFF. Quick, simple and to the point. Thanks for making this video.
Glad it was helpful!
Great job! You have some wonderful helpers. Really impressed with your ingenuity to take an inexpensive table saw and upgrade it to a very usable piece of equipment for your shop!
Thank you very much!
Hey good job on the tablesaw upgrade i have been wanting to do that to my one for some time now. Its nice to see a south African on youtube doing woodworking keep it up. All the best from CT.
Hey... thanx, actually from Namibia... round the corner :-) Will do...
Great job for home DIY tool improvements mate.
using what you have at hand to make better stuff is beautiful.
what I have to do because I can't afford new stuff.
cheers from Australia and a fellow DIYer.
Thanx John... :-)
I am planing to do the same, but I will cut the top in half and make one side square to the blade and then add the other half and raise the blade to cut the zero clearance slot. I am also going to use a melanite or formica top with the mitre tracks for easy feed. Thanks for the inspiration.
I am amazed at so many guys and girls who, like me, are drawn to woodwork. I can't explain it but I have to do this craft. I don't think I will ever become as good as you are and so patient with all the kiddies, I would be running them off haha I love the kiddies but my grandson starts with "Poppy, I want to cut something" Playtime for me is over. Keep up your good work!
Any video of a do-it-yourself project or garage-repair is ALWAYS more enjoyable when da handyman includes his CUTE KIDS in da operations! :D
Couldn't agree more!
Love watching the shop that has nothing, doing something well with only what he was able to find. Rather than shops that have all the toys we don’t have the money or the room for doing just ok jobs.
Looks great brother. I have a small Harbor Freight saw that Im in the middle of doing the same thing right now. Thanks for the great video. Love that you are involving the kids. Love it.
Thanx Zak...
Man that was amazing. You turn a low end jobsite saw into a good jobsite saw. You are a woodworker. Great job
Thanx Peter...
Well done mate, you are a such busy dad lol…stay safe
This was an awesome job using what u have on hand.
Thx
Bob
Well done. I have a new table saw on its way I have feeling I will be having to do the same thing based on the reviews. This was very helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Thanx... glad it was helpful!
Awesome job!!! This shows that you don't need those high end, expensive tools to achieve a project you can be proud of.
Thanx alot... Yeah, you gotta make due with what you got..
Excellent ..... simple and accurate. I would only add a bit of T-rail on either side so you could make a cutting sled, but that's my only advice. Thanks for sharing!
I got the exact same table saw, and after a weekend trying to use it to create a small test project, I experienced all the issues you encountered. I need a decent fence and crosscut sled, so finding this is awesome. (I thought that I would want to strip the saw off its wonky base and mount it into a bigger table). Your approach is 'lekker' and I'm going to be following your ideas and thinking! Baie, baie dankie meneer!
Really nice work on this. I love that you worked with what you had. I also loved that your kids got to watch you and learn about resourcefulness and trying to build and improve your own tools.
Thanx Sean..
Good work mate. Nice to watch videos with blokes making do with normal affordable gear. Too many videos out there with blokes got shops full of Festool, Woodpecker, Kreg and every other bit seriously expensive gear out there. You appeal to 99% of us normal weekend warriors with our mixed combo of cheap tools and hand me downs dreaming about the shops full of the good gear. Keep up the good work!
Thanx for the kind words Ryan... :-)
Well said!
Oh my god, right? So intimidating when you have literally no workshop and are trying to build something nice.
100% agree,
I'm a carpenter of 50 + years, and I have to tell you, Well Done! Excellent execution and improvement of your first saw! Nice family, beautiful kids1 Your son looks very interested in everything you're doing, and I hope you've gotten him involved!
Father of the year. Great patience with the little man. He'll learn a lot from his Pop.
Thanx man... I hope so... :-)
Good Job. Liked what you did. I’m going to mod my table top saw as you did. Inspired by your work.
Thanx Ato... You might want to check out my second upgrade first, its a little more complicated, but I think it works a little better... th-cam.com/video/pGNBSCswBac/w-d-xo.html ... good luck!
Nicely done. I'd have installed that t-track (or *some* guidance) on the opposite side as well, keeping it solidly square, but maybe that's overkill. *Please* wear a respiratory mask when cutting MDF (carcinogenic dust). And.. of course.. finally - a video with decent background music.
That's a great idea!... thanx man... will do
Hey nice to see a fellow Namibian. I bought the same saw and will steal a few of your ideas. Thanks for the effort.
My pleasure, got many more videos planned... stay tuned... :-)
Always remember to first check your saw blade alignment to 90 degrees accuracy with a square so that the fence matches.
Great video thank you! Not everyone is able to buy an expensive table saw! But it is relatively simple to improvise and convert a shitty saw to a great saw!!! Thanks again for sharing!!!
Right on man... you're welcome... glad you enjoyed it...
Nice. I love seeing this kind of ingenuity. You really need to make sure that MDF is waterproofed, because it will swell and warp as others have said. A laminate top will also make things slide easier.
I decided after spending about $150 on my saw to make it better that it would be cheaper in the long run to just buy a new saw since the table near the blade was not flat anymore. After looking at all the cheap $500 saws I decided I should just bite the bullet and buy a Jet proshop saw. Luckily I have very good credit, because I don't have that much cash.
Thanx, I am actually planning a total rebuild...
wow... that Jet proshop is awesome.. I would sell a kidney for one of those LOL... Enjoy it
working only with the thing you find in the shop and doing a good job,that is what i like to see.great job bro. like to see more vids from you.
+willem janssen Thanx Willem... lots more vids coming...😁
Great video bra. I have the same kak table saw and was wanting to do a similar upgrade. That damn fence is a pain to line up perfectly. Well done man.
Thanx man... Yeah, still got that fence lying around here somewhere... piece of sh!t... LOL
Hi there you guys, also from SA - Natal South Coast - no bucks either!! Ha ha = bought myself a second hand table saw - no manual - only saw fence bracket broken after arriving at home - Maak plan at the moment. Table of such no clamp works - aluminum and fixed to frame - watching all these vids to get ideas. Thanx maconSTUFF - refreshing to see someone battling to make do with what he has!! Most Newbie vids from overseas - good 'ol USA - gee, big impressive stuff we don't see here in armgat part of the world!! Well done!!
Excellent work my friend! I'm gonna do this. Although I will include my riving knife so there's no chance of kickback. 👍🏼
Thanx Kris... you might want to check out my second upgrade before you settle on this one: th-cam.com/video/pGNBSCswBac/w-d-xo.html
@@maconSTUFF will do. Thanks buddy
I would agree! A Irving knife is absolutely necessary
riving...
Nice to come across a fellow South African woodworker on TH-cam :) I have the exact same saw and I'm definitely going to use some of your ideas
Thanx Roland, I'm actually in Namibia, but I dont think youtube knows this place... LOL
I JUST had a look at buying one of these used and opted against it after having handled the thing. The table itself is great for the pre prep for the router and how machined it is. But damn, definetely not a just take it and use it machine. Not surprised to find an improvement video for it. Well done, mate
Thanks for the video. It's given me some good ideas for improving my cheapo table saw.
You bet!
I have the same table. I have made improvements as well. Thanks for the video. Keep them coming.
boiled linseed oil sure dried out quickly in that dry Windhoek air! I would sincerely suggest you add the riving knife. Have not see the next videos though.
Yeah it did... :-)... thanx for the advice, that is still on my list of things to do...
Nice job. Inspire me to fix mine. I have a Ryobi that definitely needs some upgrades.
Thanx... go for it!
Mate you need to wear a mask with MDF. Also keep the kids away from MDF dust.
Yeah srsly. Made that mistake. Had serious problems with breathing a few days
Stuart, you are absolutely right. The waste product from MDF has the potential to be very harmful. Some companies in the UK will not even allow products made from MDF in their premises. As with all dust products it can also become explosive. Use a dust extractor/collector. Badly burned both of my hands when sawdust exploded in the shop. I was just a 16 yr old apprentice at the time.
Also no ear protection for both saws, would not recommend that.
Our local schools had kids cutting and sanding MDF with no mask and indoors
Yeah unfortunately after years of working with and sucking down clouds of MDF dust they turned around and said turns out that stuff is probs going to kill you our bad 🤣
Thanks for sharing Boet
Lekka man! I am also busy trying to make my cheap ryobi table saw into something better. I see you're in Windhoek Namibia! Beautiful world. Greetings from S.Africa.
Great video! I have a Ryobi table saw, cheapie @ $130.00 .I made some improvements, like a zero tolerance blade cover. My saw blows dust everywhere. I am surprised that you let your kids run around your shop while you work, sawdust is not a healthy environment to be breathing or getting in eyes, for you or for them. Please use some safety gear. ie. goggles, masks and ear protection.
A bit of a nuisance at first, but you get used to them.
Also a Irving knife and blade guard would be good, before something bad happens. I will try to make your improvements to my little Ryobi. It definitely needs improvements.😊 👍
Thanx James... great advice... yeah, sorry... I was pretty clueless back then... my PPE game is much stronger these days... I'm all about the safety... 👍
Mate, what a cracking upgrade for your saw...! This is defo what I'm going to do next....well done sir..!
Thanx alot mate, as it happens I am currently busy with a new upgrade... stay tuned.
Thanx for watching..
Looks good. I think you would need to check the fence is square after every adjustment.
It's so cute how the kids just want to be near their daddy. :)
Boet you've done very well. I'm in exactly the same boat as you: got the same stuff (esp that Ryobi table saw) and now looking to build it into a larger work table, and also to build a good crosscut sled for it. I already have a small crosscut sled, but its limited to small projects. Beste groete.
Thanks for the great video. I'm looking to do something like this to my table saw. I have watched a lot of videos, so far your design is at the top of the list.
I also enjoyed seeing the kids in the workshop. But the thing that bugs me the most is the safety part or lack of. I agree with some of the comments before, dusk collection is important. Eye protection, dusk masks and hearing protection is a must in any workshop.
Ok, I'll get off my soapbox.
Great video.
Thanx for watching... started a dust collection system last week, almost done...
Local is lekker, nice ideas for us to source materials if the "proper" stuffs can't be found.
Planning a similar ting for my crappy table saw too.
Enjoyed the video. Nice and simple and a good beginners project. Look forward to the next one.
Thanx... lots more in the pipeline...
well done you made a neat table.
Thank you for sharing. Really enjoyed your video. Fantastic job. 😃
That store bought push stick shows your a real carpenter bro!!!
+Rob Adcock I know right...🤣
Nicely Done 🔨📐
Thanx Bigmo!
Wow how many kids you got there. You will have your own little army of workers in a couple years so you can get them to do all your builds for you while you sit back and supervise.
LOL... I had three then... recently had the fourth arrive... :-)
If it works and gets you excited about being in the shop it did it's job and you did a great job,the only way to get that scrolls saw down is to spend many hours making scroll saw candle stick holders or wall art hunting scenes and you will work it like a pro,have enjoyed all the episodes so far,i like to see it's a family man with kids running through the shop that's real life not ,life you see mostly these days,all the best to you and yours
Yeah man... family #1... but i think I'll leave the scroll sawing to the "Scrollsaw Scribbler" (instagram.com/scrollsawscribbler/) that dude is "legend"... all the best to you too, and thanx for watching...
Very good video! I can see where that's a huge improvement over what you had.
I loved watching your "extras"!
:-) Thanx Mike
Curtain rails work great as t-tracks. Cheap and easily accessible in SA.
Wow!... that is the most helpful comment I've had in a while... thanx a lot man! I'll remember that...
Good vid ..love the way you winged that whole thing,,thats how i roll lol,,,haven’t got the bottle to make a TH-cam vid myself but maybe one day 🤪keep up the good work,,i subbed straight away good flat work saw top marks 👏
Thanx a lot man... welcome to maconSTUFF!... 🤘
Hey, nice job, thanks for sharing. You probably only need one bolt into the T-Track but it would need to be in the middle of the t-piece on your fence that slides along the track. When you tighten it, the t-piece will be pulled flush against the T-Track and it should be square based on your set up.
Also, if your knob is too big, that's usually not a problem! ;-)
Thanx Cory... beginning to think I should have gone with one knob too..
Awesome work man! I have a table saw just like that. Thanks for the Excellent idea!! Can't wait to see more of your upgrade projects! You earned yourself a new subscriber!!
+edward vargo thanx alot Edward... thats great🤘
IMPRESSIVE...thank you
Thanks for watching!
Great stuff mate! Awesome sound track too bud... quality work and tunes🤘🏻
Thanx Jay...
Well done, I also have the same table saw and hate the fence that comes with it, I am definitely going to steal your idea :)
Thanx... Good luck with yours...
Good video - I really like people who think outside of the box...
Thanx John... I think I did a better job the second time around, here is a link if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/pGNBSCswBac/w-d-xo.html
Great idea! Just bought a ryobi today. Definitely going to use this video to improve it!
5:05 LOL I love your little girl's sticking her fingers in her ears and hastily scuttling away again, as if she's saying, "Ohhhh, this is WAY too noisy --- I like spending time wif Daddy in da workshop, but I'm outta here till he finishes sawing!" :D
LOL... yeah I love it when they come keep me company in the shop...
Who said Ryobi is bad :) came out darn good.
Not me... :-) ... I dig Ryobi, most of my tools are from them... Thanx man... the rebuild I did of this turned out even better, check it out : th-cam.com/video/pGNBSCswBac/w-d-xo.html
owned that saw and there is no for that thing..
Please make a video on that welding table that thing looks really nice!
I did... it was my first build video, so it was a bit crappy...LOL... here's a link: th-cam.com/video/2Baww21YWLA/w-d-xo.html
Good channel! I've subscribed. Finally, some metal!
Thanx a lot Adam... glad you're enjoying the channel... 🤘
Love your work champion
Use a smaller nut on a washer - that way you can have the wing nut on the outside (Might be wrong but just typing as thoughts appear).... nice video !
Great idea...
Nice job, I imagine that the new top makes the saw quieter too
Thanx Dai... not much, this whole thing is made of tin, sounds like its falling apart...🤣
maconSTUFF
Lol ...ok thanks for the reply 👍
Thanks for posting this video. I have just (this week) bought the same table saw and am seriously not impressed with the fence. It's impossible to get it square with the table and hence parallel with the blade. And the table itself is a bit small. I think I will follow your example in fitting a new bigger top. Not sure if I'll do the exact same fence as I do have one or two other ideas which might, or might not work.
Yeah, these saw's are not the best... you might want to check out the second upgrade I did, here is a link: th-cam.com/video/pGNBSCswBac/w-d-xo.html ... turned out a lot better... Good luck with yours...
@@maconSTUFF Thanks will take a look. It certainly is useful, but will be upgraded sometime in the future. Will just make a plan (or many plans) to get by until then.
iam proud of you cause it locally and share what you capeable of and what you got
Thanx Roger...
A normal guy! Not a wizard like most here. Like your style!
Thanx Bart... appreciate it... 🤘
Good luck with your table saw refinement and I hope it works well for you
Thanx mate... me too :-)
Nice work. Maybe I will try this with my table saw.
Thanx.... yeah go for it... this is not the best, but it is definitely better than it was... :-)
Great video mate, how about a back plate on the back of the rip fence, so when you put the fence on both front and back are bang on, if you do get kick back or something goes wrong the fence will be more secure and will also stop thicker materials pushing the back of the fence off alignment as you push through
Good idea...
You and ryobi are friends. I second the mask part bhut, we still need you
great job buddy
Thanx Perry
Hey, I just bought a secondhand table saw just like yours. Thanks for this video but I plan to remove the aluminium top completely and replace it with a much bigger top. The aluminium is so worn down nothing lies flat. There is always a wobble. The fence is also bent.
Hey Andrew, yeah, these saws aren't great but with a bit of work they can do a decent enough job. You should check out my second version of this upgrade, made a thicker top that fits around the existing one plus a new fence, works a lot better now... here is a link: th-cam.com/video/pGNBSCswBac/w-d-xo.html
@@maconSTUFF I am guessing you are also from South Africa. Great to see some of my own countrymen getting into woodworking and TH-cam. The other videos are great but when you start looking for the same stuff locally you end up doing something entirely different. Have you checked out PS woodworking? I would like to build stuff like that for my workshop.
@@maconSTUFF O, and I have already checked out your upgrade video.
I'm actually from Namibia, but close enough.. LOL... Yeah, I'm sub'd to his channel too, that guy does awesome work. Have you seen Woodshop Junkies... he's from Cape Town, he also does amazing work...
No, I have not. Will check it out. Thanks.
I’ve had no luck improving the fence. Can you point me in right place to get them? Thanks
You had a great idea.
Baie lekker boetie! Love to see you just working with what you have, and getting it done. Great job great attitude keep them coming!
Thanx Erik... Sal so maak...
Thanks mate you have inspired me to give this a go!
to solve the problem with the bolts binding you could have a strip of steel with two bolts welded to it. the strip would ride better in the track as well.
Good idea... Thanx
Ok, I know this was a while back, but with that drill bit snap- I noticed that after you start your drill, you torque forward rather than push straight down.
nicely done. one change I might make is instead of spinning nuts to lock it down, maybe more of a level with a off set head so that pulled up the fence and move, but pushed down and the lever tries to pull the head of the bolt out of the T track, and pulls it tight. Would make it really quick to adjust.
Also adding a measuring tape would be helpful too.
Seen another fence where the guy put a bolt with a rubber wheel to press against the table, and an handle to spin on the side where you stand, when you spin the knob the fence moves left or right. He had it so ever 1/2 rotation was a 1/4 inch movement of the fence, so made for fast work moving the fence once to had a reference point. Cause hitting it with your hand an hoping you land just the right distance is kinda of not very technical.
Sorry when I started this I only meant to mention the first thing, then I kept thinking of things I would add, I do think you did really good work.
Thanx... Yeah, adjusting my fence is a little cumbersome... will most definitely be making some changes is the future...
Nice work matey.
Thanx aloot man... check out my latest tablesaw upgrade... little more versatile...
Thanx for watching..
Cool video macon the use of mdf..yer why not..as long as its kept dry and protected should do ok..cheaper than the various plywoods you can get..like a few people say mdf is toxic so ppe is a must
thanx man... unfortunately we dont get furniture grade plywood here, only construction grade... :-( ... thanx to all comments I've got on this video, I now wear my mask much more regularly...LOL
well done bru
Nice one Bout. Ignore the negative comments and keep on chopping. I also want to buy that ryobi saw it at cash Crusaders today. But I want to see dixon take saw.
What negative comments?
New subscriber, thanks for video, think I will do something similar with my table saw. Sorry not wanting to lecture you but please get some dust extraction when working, cutting MDF, it's got some very toxic chemicals in it. I'm a smoker but even I use a mask when cutting/drilling it.
Still a good video, Cheers 🍻
Thanx... Yeah I know...I just keep forgetting, but I'm working on it... :-)
Thanks man, I just modded my cheap T saw based on your design. MUCH nicer saw now.
Thats awesome dude!! glad its working for you... you should also check out the re-build I did... in case you want to upgrade it in the future... here is a link: th-cam.com/video/pGNBSCswBac/w-d-xo.html ... Rock on mate...🤘
The fence rail you made was awesome! I'm gonna implement it on mine! Thanks man! By the way, who needs a dust mask when you got tats like that! Show that MDF whose Boss! Great Build!
LOL... thanx Mike... yeah, I've gotten a lot of shit from the trolls over the dust mask... :-)
@@maconSTUFF You should thank those trolls.... That stuff is more bad ass than any ink. It will poison you and can kill you if you taunt it.
Protect your lungs. You need them your whole life. COPD, cancer, and other pulmonary issues make life suck. But great job! I have a cheap table saw that has a lot of flaws. But you've done here is great. I'm going to have to do something similar.
I have been considering a "budget" table saw for a while . There a lot on the market that all look similar and reviews for all vary from great to crap . Watched a few videos like this suggesting improvements ,but have come to the conclusion that by the time you have bought all the additional boards etc and hours spent , it would be better off just spending a bit more money in the first place .
I hear what you're saying... where I live a step up from this costs a fortune... besides I made this from scraps, all it really cost me was time...
wow thank you so much for this i have the exact same table saw and the exact same problem i hate that fence . i have been think about this for a while now. im also a nubie and its great to see your creativity llike this !!! weldone weldone!!!
Thanx... glad you liked it