Project Information
So fellow Lumberjocks, this is my panel saw. I had a hard time lifting 4×8 sheet goods up to my TS and sometimes a hard time getting it through the saw without some sort of problem like jamming so I always needed an assistant. No more. You may recognize the basic design from other posts.
Being on a small budget, I walked through HD looking for material that didn't cost a lot. I saw on other VPS's 4 U bolts with some sort of washer for bearings to mount the saddle to the pipes yet let it slide easilly.I looked for something to use like that but couldn't find anything suitable.
One day at work I was pondering what I could use when I noticed the a/c compressor that went bad and was all apart on my bench had 7 cylinders about 2" by 1 1/4 diam.I cut one out with a hack saw and took it to HD to test fit it on the 1 1/4 fence pipe (top of fence). It slid on perfect. I bought the 2 staightest pieces (their 10' 3"long). I cut more cylinders useing my chopsaw, bolted them to some 1"x1" alum angle then added a piec of 1/2" plywood for the base.I used fence hardware to secure the guides to the bottom and simple brackets at the top.To compensate for any bow in the guide "beams" I mounted a dial gauge to the saw frame so the needel was on the pipe. Then I turned the pipe around taking note of the position of the bow- to the left or right, I turned the pipe so the bow was up or towards me and drilled a hole in the bottom mount cup and secured it with a screw. Did this for both guide "beams".
At first I bought the straightest piece of 2×4 i could find for the sheet material to rest on, but I found even the slightest bow or inperfection made it impossible to adjust it so the cuts were square. I took the 2×4 out and put in a piece of 4" MDF trim board instead.This workde good after a minor adjustment- which is doneat the top brackets. Later I extended the frame on both sides and made the saw base so the saw could be mounted sideways. Now I can cut a 4×8 sheet lenghtways by pushing it through.
I plan on adding dust control to it and upgrading the counter balance.It will make things easier I'm sure.
Being on a small budget, I walked through HD looking for material that didn't cost a lot. I saw on other VPS's 4 U bolts with some sort of washer for bearings to mount the saddle to the pipes yet let it slide easilly.I looked for something to use like that but couldn't find anything suitable.
One day at work I was pondering what I could use when I noticed the a/c compressor that went bad and was all apart on my bench had 7 cylinders about 2" by 1 1/4 diam.I cut one out with a hack saw and took it to HD to test fit it on the 1 1/4 fence pipe (top of fence). It slid on perfect. I bought the 2 staightest pieces (their 10' 3"long). I cut more cylinders useing my chopsaw, bolted them to some 1"x1" alum angle then added a piec of 1/2" plywood for the base.I used fence hardware to secure the guides to the bottom and simple brackets at the top.To compensate for any bow in the guide "beams" I mounted a dial gauge to the saw frame so the needel was on the pipe. Then I turned the pipe around taking note of the position of the bow- to the left or right, I turned the pipe so the bow was up or towards me and drilled a hole in the bottom mount cup and secured it with a screw. Did this for both guide "beams".
At first I bought the straightest piece of 2×4 i could find for the sheet material to rest on, but I found even the slightest bow or inperfection made it impossible to adjust it so the cuts were square. I took the 2×4 out and put in a piece of 4" MDF trim board instead.This workde good after a minor adjustment- which is doneat the top brackets. Later I extended the frame on both sides and made the saw base so the saw could be mounted sideways. Now I can cut a 4×8 sheet lenghtways by pushing it through.
I plan on adding dust control to it and upgrading the counter balance.It will make things easier I'm sure.