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Tablesaw Fence Caddy

7079 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by HappyHowie, Oct 25, 2017

HappyHowie

Discussion Starter · Oct 20, 2017

An Organizer for my Stuff on my Tablesaw

I read a Woodsmith newsletter the other day where they suggested a small organizer for use on your table saw fence. I took that idea and made a larger one to fit on my Bob Van ******************** style multi-use RIP fence. This RIP fence has a base on which I can fasten throw-away sacrificial fences for say burying a saw blade or DADO set. I also made a tall melamine fence with a guide like Bob uses to cut tenons on my table saw. An image of my multi-use fence is given below.

You can tell how much stuff I stack on this fence.

Here is a photo of the caddy I completed the other day. I now can organize my stuff better.

To remove it I simply just lift it off the multi-use RIP fence that I have clamped to the Saw Stop fence.

In the image below you can see the 3/4 inch strip I have glued on to the top plate. This strip fits snuggly into the top of the multi-use RIP fence. Just the weight of gravity holds it nicely in place.

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robscastle

· #2 · Oct 20, 2017

HappyHowie said:
An Organizer for my Stuff on my Tablesaw

I read a Woodsmith newsletter the other day where they suggested a small organizer for use on your table saw fence. I took that idea and made a larger one to fit on my Bob Van ******************** style multi-use RIP fence. This RIP fence has a base on which I can fasten throw-away sacrificial fences for say burying a saw blade or DADO set. I also made a tall melamine fence with a guide like Bob uses to cut tenons on my table saw. An image of my multi-use fence is given below.

You can tell how much stuff I stack on this fence.

Here is a photo of the caddy I completed the other day. I now can organize my stuff better.

To remove it I simply just lift it off the multi-use RIP fence that I have clamped to the Saw Stop fence.

In the image below you can see the 3/4 inch strip I have glued on to the top plate. This strip fits snuggly into the top of the multi-use RIP fence. Just the weight of gravity holds it nicely in place.

Hellow Happy,

You may not be real happy reading this but,
I saw the same Woodsmith post about having a tools attached to the saw fence, I personally would not do it for a few reasons:
1. It adds clutter to the work area and the gear can be located elsewhere, for example a magnetic attached box on the cabinet side.
2. There ia a risk that all the extra load will make the adjustment of the fence inaccurate as its dragging a heap of monkeys with it.
3. the addition of the clutter (Tools) it adds the risk of an accident happening by means of a Foriegn Object if something was to dislodge. Check out your steel rule for one.
4. It also provides the opportunity to just grab something whilst the blade is exposed but not necessarly working and, by sheer accident it might add drop it onto the blade damaging it or if its rotating returning the item quicker than you can duck, even a plastic or soft item hurts at high velocity, just ask any paintballer!!

As for the fence mod by Bob Van ********************, I have something similar but without clamps, it attached into the fence edge grooves.
Maybe I will post a picture of the fence, but my saw is 14 years old and no longer made so few LJs would have something that vintage.

Purely my opinion and not intended to belittle your work practices in any way, just another avenue of thought to consider.

So after say that just where would the gear go?

Some suggestions for relocation:
Tape measures pencils and other associated tools could be located on the workbench nearby, or on your ear, (I have big ears) or as mentioned earlier in a caddy on the side of the saw just the spot for mag switch feather boards and the likes.

There is however one iten I have on the saw top and that's a 6" steel rule, which lies in the gully of the rip fence slide at the front of the saw.

Your big steel rule if you must have it so close fit some magnets on top of your fence and firmly attach it there please.

This all coming from somebody with no formal skills no workshop and no scientific evidence to support their claims but I thought it worth mentioning anyway.

Good job on your fence BVD fence

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HappyHowie

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 20, 2017

HappyHowie said:
An Organizer for my Stuff on my Tablesaw

I read a Woodsmith newsletter the other day where they suggested a small organizer for use on your table saw fence. I took that idea and made a larger one to fit on my Bob Van ******************** style multi-use RIP fence. This RIP fence has a base on which I can fasten throw-away sacrificial fences for say burying a saw blade or DADO set. I also made a tall melamine fence with a guide like Bob uses to cut tenons on my table saw. An image of my multi-use fence is given below.

You can tell how much stuff I stack on this fence.

Here is a photo of the caddy I completed the other day. I now can organize my stuff better.

To remove it I simply just lift it off the multi-use RIP fence that I have clamped to the Saw Stop fence.

In the image below you can see the 3/4 inch strip I have glued on to the top plate. This strip fits snuggly into the top of the multi-use RIP fence. Just the weight of gravity holds it nicely in place.

Rob, I do not mind your comments. You made some goods points.

I suppose we all have different methods we use in our shops. I haven't had the advantage of working as an apprentice in a master woodworker's shop. I have learned on the job so to speak and as I have gained experience. I have learned also a lot of "what to do" and "what not to do" by watching videos on the Internet. For instance, I will not use just my bare hands to push lumber over spinning router bits on my shop made router table, nor over the turning cutters on my jointer. I use push pads that came with my Grizzly jointer or my Micro JIG Grippers.

I own two aprons. One I use at my lathe and it remains turned inside out for use only at that lathe. The other apron is a better two back strap that does not pull on my neck. I just have not become accustom to using it everyday in my shop. If I did then I would probably get use to having my pencil, a rule, and other things in its pockets. Well, I have pencils, rules, tape measures and stuff in that apron all the time. I just don't wear the apron every time I am in my shop.

I use to have a roll-around cart with two shelves that I purchased somewhere; maybe it was Sears or Amazon. Its cost was under $100. It is a great cart. I would pile my lumber and stuff on it. With lumber on it I would stack and move my rough sawn lumber over to the jointer, then to the planer and then to the table saw. It was great, but then I decided to make my Powermatic mortiser mobile and I put it on top of that cart.

Now as I am writing this I am thinking I should buy another cart like it. That is what I really needed besides this caddy wasn't it?

Live and learn…

One thing I have learned to enjoy at my table saw and other places in my shop is that metal rule you saw. I also have another rule like it that is 24 inches long instead of 36. I can begin my measurements right up to its ends. I never have gotten use to using my table saw's integrated measuring tape to set my RIP fences. I trust the accuracy I get at my table saw from using my metal rule. I have never considered my metal rule to be in the way of my work. It is part of my shop work.

Thank you for your comment. I am now looking for a new cart…

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HappyHowie

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 20, 2017

HappyHowie said:
An Organizer for my Stuff on my Tablesaw

I read a Woodsmith newsletter the other day where they suggested a small organizer for use on your table saw fence. I took that idea and made a larger one to fit on my Bob Van ******************** style multi-use RIP fence. This RIP fence has a base on which I can fasten throw-away sacrificial fences for say burying a saw blade or DADO set. I also made a tall melamine fence with a guide like Bob uses to cut tenons on my table saw. An image of my multi-use fence is given below.

You can tell how much stuff I stack on this fence.

Here is a photo of the caddy I completed the other day. I now can organize my stuff better.

To remove it I simply just lift it off the multi-use RIP fence that I have clamped to the Saw Stop fence.

In the image below you can see the 3/4 inch strip I have glued on to the top plate. This strip fits snuggly into the top of the multi-use RIP fence. Just the weight of gravity holds it nicely in place.

My Annie suggested that I look for a label on my mobile cart. It is a Luxor. I must have bought it on Amazon.com. I found it or one that looks like it. There are three shelves: top, middle and bottom instead of two as I stated above.

Furniture Rectangle Outdoor furniture Wood Table

My new cart will be here Wednesday. So I will begin dismantling this cabby and put the plywood back in the scrap stack…

So others might be able to see the multi-use fence I built from a Bob Van ******************** article in Fine Woodworking Magazine, here are a few more images of this fence: its base unit and the addon fences. Bob also made a JIG from a suggestion his friend Steve Latta made. It fits over a runner strip of hardwood placed at the top of the addon melamine fence. I use the tall fence and JIG for cutting tenons, etc.

Wood Composite material Hardwood Gas Rectangle

Attachable Fences hanging on my JIG Wall

Wood Rectangle Floor Wood stain Hardwood

Sliding JIG for Tall Fence

Wood Office ruler Rectangle Hardwood Flooring

This image clip shows how the JIG is made as well as how it fits over the tall melamine fence's runner strip. It works great and I like it a lot.
Snipped Image from FineWoodworking.com

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wormil

· #5 · Oct 20, 2017

HappyHowie said:
An Organizer for my Stuff on my Tablesaw

I read a Woodsmith newsletter the other day where they suggested a small organizer for use on your table saw fence. I took that idea and made a larger one to fit on my Bob Van ******************** style multi-use RIP fence. This RIP fence has a base on which I can fasten throw-away sacrificial fences for say burying a saw blade or DADO set. I also made a tall melamine fence with a guide like Bob uses to cut tenons on my table saw. An image of my multi-use fence is given below.

You can tell how much stuff I stack on this fence.

Here is a photo of the caddy I completed the other day. I now can organize my stuff better.

To remove it I simply just lift it off the multi-use RIP fence that I have clamped to the Saw Stop fence.

In the image below you can see the 3/4 inch strip I have glued on to the top plate. This strip fits snuggly into the top of the multi-use RIP fence. Just the weight of gravity holds it nicely in place.

I made a caddy for my saw, not attached to the fence, and it is super handy. Matter of fact, when I get a moment I'm going to make a new, better one, now that I know how I use it.

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Holt

· #6 · Oct 20, 2017

HappyHowie said:
An Organizer for my Stuff on my Tablesaw

I read a Woodsmith newsletter the other day where they suggested a small organizer for use on your table saw fence. I took that idea and made a larger one to fit on my Bob Van ******************** style multi-use RIP fence. This RIP fence has a base on which I can fasten throw-away sacrificial fences for say burying a saw blade or DADO set. I also made a tall melamine fence with a guide like Bob uses to cut tenons on my table saw. An image of my multi-use fence is given below.

You can tell how much stuff I stack on this fence.

Here is a photo of the caddy I completed the other day. I now can organize my stuff better.

To remove it I simply just lift it off the multi-use RIP fence that I have clamped to the Saw Stop fence.

In the image below you can see the 3/4 inch strip I have glued on to the top plate. This strip fits snuggly into the top of the multi-use RIP fence. Just the weight of gravity holds it nicely in place.

While I agree with pretty much everything robscastle outlines, a person has certain shop habits. If one of those habits results in pencils, engineering squares, push blocks, and who knows what else sitting on the table saw (hopefully on the non blade side of the fence) this looks like a much better organized and safe solution…if you can make yourself use it. Good project! My "best" idea along this line was to attach rare earth magnets to all my table saw stuff and stick them to the side of the case. Your solution is much more organized!

Hellow Happy,

You may not be real happy reading this but,
I saw the same Woodsmith post about having a tools attached to the saw fence, I personally would not do it for a few reasons:
1. It adds clutter to the work area and the gear can be located elsewhere, for example a magnetic attached box on the cabinet side.
2. There ia a risk that all the extra load will make the adjustment of the fence inaccurate as its dragging a heap of monkeys with it.
3. the addition of the clutter (Tools) it adds the risk of an accident happening by means of a Foriegn Object if something was to dislodge. Check out your steel rule for one.
4. It also provides the opportunity to just grab something whilst the blade is exposed but not necessarly working and, by sheer accident it might add drop it onto the blade damaging it or if its rotating returning the item quicker than you can duck, even a plastic or soft item hurts at high velocity, just ask any paintballer!!

As for the fence mod by Bob Van ********************, I have something similar but without clamps, it attached into the fence edge grooves.
Maybe I will post a picture of the fence, but my saw is 14 years old and no longer made so few LJs would have something that vintage.

Purely my opinion and not intended to belittle your work practices in any way, just another avenue of thought to consider.

So after say that just where would the gear go?

Some suggestions for relocation:
Tape measures pencils and other associated tools could be located on the workbench nearby, or on your ear, (I have big ears) or as mentioned earlier in a caddy on the side of the saw just the spot for mag switch feather boards and the likes.

There is however one iten I have on the saw top and that s a 6" steel rule, which lies in the gully of the rip fence slide at the front of the saw.

Your big steel rule if you must have it so close fit some magnets on top of your fence and firmly attach it there please.

This all coming from somebody with no formal skills no workshop and no scientific evidence to support their claims but I thought it worth mentioning anyway.

Good job on your fence BVD fence

- robscastle

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HappyHowie

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 25, 2017

Replace Caddy with Mobile Cart

I have replaced the tablesaw caddy with a new mobile cart.

UPS delivered my new cart today. This cart is a bit longer than my other Luxor cart that I have owned for a few years now.

With this new cart I have gained a few advantages for storing tools and accessories for my table saw. Per a previous conversation in this blog,

(1) I will have a cleaner and thus safer surface on my tablesaw extension table and

(2) besides the items I had in the caddy I have been able to store all of those items plus all of my table saw related tools and accessories in this three shelf cart.

I have in this cart what I previously had piled on my extension table. That includes my MicroJIG Grippers, push sticks, Starrett metal 24 inch metal rule, pencils, dust mask and ear muffs. With the capacity of this cart I now also store all of three SawStop plate inserts, the two extra safety brakes plus all of my MagSwitch fences and featherboards; that includes the Resaw fence for use at my bandsaw.

I have also stored in this cart my Diablo DADO set and my Freud Box Joint Cutter set. All of my table saw stuff are now here in my cart. I won't have to make those extra steps.

As a side note, here is a photo of my original cart that is at least a temporary "home" to my Powermatic mortiser. On this cart I store my hollow mortising bits plus all of my router bits. I use a teardown router table made after a plan I found in Fine Woodworking Magazine; thus I do not have a single storage cart for router supplies as yet.

Sewing machine Gas Wood Engineering Machine

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HappyHowie

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 25, 2017

HappyHowie said:
Replace Caddy with Mobile Cart

I have replaced the tablesaw caddy with a new mobile cart.

UPS delivered my new cart today. This cart is a bit longer than my other Luxor cart that I have owned for a few years now.

With this new cart I have gained a few advantages for storing tools and accessories for my table saw. Per a previous conversation in this blog,

(1) I will have a cleaner and thus safer surface on my tablesaw extension table and

(2) besides the items I had in the caddy I have been able to store all of those items plus all of my table saw related tools and accessories in this three shelf cart.

I have in this cart what I previously had piled on my extension table. That includes my MicroJIG Grippers, push sticks, Starrett metal 24 inch metal rule, pencils, dust mask and ear muffs. With the capacity of this cart I now also store all of three SawStop plate inserts, the two extra safety brakes plus all of my MagSwitch fences and featherboards; that includes the Resaw fence for use at my bandsaw.

I have also stored in this cart my Diablo DADO set and my Freud Box Joint Cutter set. All of my table saw stuff are now here in my cart. I won't have to make those extra steps.

As a side note, here is a photo of my original cart that is at least a temporary "home" to my Powermatic mortiser. On this cart I store my hollow mortising bits plus all of my router bits. I use a teardown router table made after a plan I found in Fine Woodworking Magazine; thus I do not have a single storage cart for router supplies as yet.

I may build a mobile cart to store and display these items; thus freeing this cart for use to transport lumber during my milling processes.

I am also considering a build of an under table saw cabinet that will park under my SawStop extension table. I have noticed that Steve Johnson, the Down-to-Earth-Woodworker is beginning his process to build a similar cabinet or storage cart.

I have also seen a Woodsmith plan for building a storage cart under table saws. It has an interesting feature of vertical slides where tools and accessories are hung.

I will research all of this more before deciding what to do in the final solution…

Font Parallel Engineering Cabinetry Machine

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wormil

· #9 · Oct 25, 2017

HappyHowie said:
Replace Caddy with Mobile Cart

I have replaced the tablesaw caddy with a new mobile cart.

UPS delivered my new cart today. This cart is a bit longer than my other Luxor cart that I have owned for a few years now.

With this new cart I have gained a few advantages for storing tools and accessories for my table saw. Per a previous conversation in this blog,

(1) I will have a cleaner and thus safer surface on my tablesaw extension table and

(2) besides the items I had in the caddy I have been able to store all of those items plus all of my table saw related tools and accessories in this three shelf cart.

I have in this cart what I previously had piled on my extension table. That includes my MicroJIG Grippers, push sticks, Starrett metal 24 inch metal rule, pencils, dust mask and ear muffs. With the capacity of this cart I now also store all of three SawStop plate inserts, the two extra safety brakes plus all of my MagSwitch fences and featherboards; that includes the Resaw fence for use at my bandsaw.

I have also stored in this cart my Diablo DADO set and my Freud Box Joint Cutter set. All of my table saw stuff are now here in my cart. I won't have to make those extra steps.

As a side note, here is a photo of my original cart that is at least a temporary "home" to my Powermatic mortiser. On this cart I store my hollow mortising bits plus all of my router bits. I use a teardown router table made after a plan I found in Fine Woodworking Magazine; thus I do not have a single storage cart for router supplies as yet.

Well the caddy didn't last long.

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HappyHowie

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 25, 2017

HappyHowie said:
Replace Caddy with Mobile Cart

I have replaced the tablesaw caddy with a new mobile cart.

UPS delivered my new cart today. This cart is a bit longer than my other Luxor cart that I have owned for a few years now.

With this new cart I have gained a few advantages for storing tools and accessories for my table saw. Per a previous conversation in this blog,

(1) I will have a cleaner and thus safer surface on my tablesaw extension table and

(2) besides the items I had in the caddy I have been able to store all of those items plus all of my table saw related tools and accessories in this three shelf cart.

I have in this cart what I previously had piled on my extension table. That includes my MicroJIG Grippers, push sticks, Starrett metal 24 inch metal rule, pencils, dust mask and ear muffs. With the capacity of this cart I now also store all of three SawStop plate inserts, the two extra safety brakes plus all of my MagSwitch fences and featherboards; that includes the Resaw fence for use at my bandsaw.

I have also stored in this cart my Diablo DADO set and my Freud Box Joint Cutter set. All of my table saw stuff are now here in my cart. I won't have to make those extra steps.

As a side note, here is a photo of my original cart that is at least a temporary "home" to my Powermatic mortiser. On this cart I store my hollow mortising bits plus all of my router bits. I use a teardown router table made after a plan I found in Fine Woodworking Magazine; thus I do not have a single storage cart for router supplies as yet.

Yeah, this huge caddy did not last long. That caddy did organize things on top of my table saw. Having those things tucked away in an organized fashion helped, but I did recognize beforehand that it would also bring some negative issues. One of those issues was added weight on my RIP fence. My Bob Van ******************** multi-use RIP fence added some weight. Now I realize I do not want to place more weight on top of it. The weight of these two things are enough to drag across the surface of my table saw.

Why did I build this caddy? I guess I was anxious to do something easy in my shop and saw that Woodsmith newsletter. I did the project like an impulse purchase. I had the sheet goods available so I went ahead and built it within a few hours. I had not thought through a more lasting solution for storage and organization of tools and accessories at my table saw.

This mobile cart is also a temporary solution. What I really want is a storage cart that I can park under my Saw Stop's extension table. I will give this idea some serious thought before I begin work building a new cart .

If anyone has a good solution they have built or have seen, please point me to a weblink. I'm looking… What I have seen so far are the two items I wrote earlier about in this blog: Steve Johnson's new project on his Down-To-Earth-Woodworker channel and a Woodsmith library plan I referenced above.

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Tablesaw Fence Caddy

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