Project by WoodMosaics | posted 09-25-2008 04:24 AM | 16221 views | 20 times favorited | 29 comments | ![]() |
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Left Side
The words “Foot Cut” can be found on the bottom of most of my products. This means I have made it using the PEDAL POWERED TABLE SAW, you see in the photograph. I have put a plain background behind it so it will show up the best. When people would see me using it they would ask, “Why are you peddling backwards?” I would tell them, “I’m not, the saw won’t cut if I go backwards, this is forward, for the saw”. I did find I could go at a more even speed going “backwards”, especially when using the scroll saw. Also I don’t have as much upper body movement, which when your cutting, you don’t want.
For every revolution of my feet the blade turns 30 times, so when I peddle at 40 rpm I am getting 1200 rpm’s on the blade
Right Side
I’m showing the table saw from both sides to show the details better. I did most of my making on it at shows, so I made a “Foot Powered” vacuum system to catch the fine dust that would drift around. I could catch 2 or 3 quarts of dust at a 4 day show. The tray on the right side of the table can be adjusted, so I have a level area when I have the table tilted as I do when beveling the pieces for the corners of lazy susans, octagon or ring boxes or the corners of the pedestal and tables. The table then has to be tilted to a 22 ½ or a 30 degree angle depending on which I am making.
For every revolution of my feet the blade turns 30 times, so when I peddle at 40 rpm I am getting 1200 rpm’s on the blade
Scroll saw
The only time I use the PEDAL POWERED SCROLL SAW is to cut out the drawers on the Jewelry Chests. I use the table saw on the rest of the Jewelry Chest. My brother and I made the power source for the table saw. When I started needing a scroll saw, I made one to fit onto the same power source as the table saw. I just unbolt the table saw and lift it off the power source and set the scroll saw in place, then bolt it on. I don’t use the vacuum with it.
Video of Foot Powered Table Saw
This is to show my Foot Powered Table saw in use. Now to some it might appear that I am peddling backwards, if I were on a bicycle that would be the case, but this is a table saw and to cut properly the blade has to turn toward you to cut. I have found one advantage to peddling in this manner is that I don’t have as much upper body movement as I have when I peddle as on a bicycle.
The main accessories of the table saw when I use it are the different jigs I made. I have 6 different jigs to cut the 6 different pieces I use in making my craft. I made them out of angle iron and bar stock. They are adjustable for each piece they are designed to cut so that they will cut to a tolerance of .005 when they are set up right.
You will always want to keep a sharp saw blade in this saw at all times or else you will run the risk of overheating the power supply and causing it to stop.
An untested theory on the safety of this saw is that if you hit your finger, your feet stop.
(For every revolution of my feet the blade turns 30 times, so when I peddle at 40 rpm I am getting 1200 rpm’s on the blade. It also has 50 pounds of flywheel to get you over the top and bottom of your peddle stroke.)
-- It’s not so much what we know that causes the trouble, it’s what we know that’s not so.
29 comments so far
darryl
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1795 posts in 5781 days
#1 posted 09-25-2008 04:40 AM
that is pretty dang cool.
considering my workshop is in the basement, something like this would surely cut down on the noise!
Texasgaloot
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465 posts in 5155 days
#2 posted 09-25-2008 04:42 AM
Magnificent. I’ve never seen one that you pedal backwards. What’s very cool is that you can pursue your hobby, and not tell yourself that you are doing tedious exercising as well!
-- There's no tool like an old tool...
ajosephg
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1908 posts in 5015 days
#3 posted 09-25-2008 04:50 AM
If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed it. How many miles per week do you think you saw? (As if it were an exercise bike.)
-- Joe
WoodMosaics
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111 posts in 4986 days
#4 posted 09-25-2008 05:00 AM
Really, ajosephg, as you can see, I’m going backwards so I keep taking the miles off, and at my age, I need to.
Thank you all for the comments.
-- It’s not so much what we know that causes the trouble, it’s what we know that’s not so.
Dusty56
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11868 posts in 5142 days
#5 posted 09-25-2008 05:22 AM
awesome tablesaw : ) What is the size of the blade ?
-- I'm absolutely positive that I couldn't be more uncertain!
ajosephg
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1908 posts in 5015 days
#6 posted 09-25-2008 05:24 AM
Oh yeah! A virtual fountain of youth. Pretty soon the teenage woodworker is going to have a same aged buddy.
-- Joe
WoodMosaics
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111 posts in 4986 days
#7 posted 09-25-2008 05:25 AM
7 ½” Hollow ground plywood blade
-- It’s not so much what we know that causes the trouble, it’s what we know that’s not so.
yosoybyrd
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23 posts in 4987 days
#8 posted 09-25-2008 05:45 AM
That is so cool. You do all your projects on that?
-- William Byrd- WAR EAGLE!
JasonH
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#9 posted 09-25-2008 05:53 AM
How cool is that??
Nice “green” machine!
-- Living on the square...
woodyone
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#10 posted 09-25-2008 08:08 AM
Amazing, never seen anything like it.
Woody.
-- Woody, UK
Christopher
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576 posts in 5374 days
#11 posted 09-25-2008 08:14 AM
My electricity bill demands I build one of these. I think I will have my dog power it though! Wouldnt it be awesome to have a dog-powered tablesaw!
Honestly though, this is ingenious!
Dick, & Barb Cain
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8693 posts in 5754 days
#12 posted 09-25-2008 01:34 PM
Awesome! Another solution to stop global warming.
I also like the jigs you made,
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Brad_Nailor
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#13 posted 09-25-2008 01:40 PM
Don’t let my wife see that….I like electricity!
-- http://www.facebook.com/pages/DSO-Designs/297237806954248
Timber4fun
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#14 posted 09-25-2008 04:10 PM
Looks like excellent horsepower behind that saw. :)
-- Tim from Iowa City, IA
romansfivefive
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#15 posted 09-25-2008 04:14 PM
that is a dangerous video. If that information were to fall into the wrong hands… say my wife… it could mean the end to buying powertools as we know it.
-- The CNC machine can either produce the work of art you imagined, or very decorative firewood.
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