Brainstorming An Out Feed Table

Have a look at the Woodwhisper’s assembly table.
http://thewoodwhisperer.com/episode-18-assembly-table-torsion-box/
http://thewoodwhisperer.com/episode-19-assembly-table-stand/

That has a lot of what you wanted, and I suspect could be modified to have all of it.

Thanks so much for the heads up on that! Will definitely check it out….

-- Dan ~ Texarkana, Tx.

Dan, that is a tall order to fill. It seems as though you forgot the beer holder.

-- If you don't work, you don't eat!.....Garland, TX

If that were my list of what I wanted to do (which sounds great), I would say I was dreaming… and haven’t woken up yet… I would need a pinch to get me back…. LOL :)

I would like to see pictures of what you’re talking about… Before… Proposed…

Sounds like a nice job to do…

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: https://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/index.php?media/albums/users/joe-lyddon.1389/

I have similar aspirations. I’m also in a garage shop and looking to create a triple duty assembly table, router station, and outfeed table.

My design concept includes the following:
- 4’ x 4’ torsion box top made of MDF, topped with a laminate (for durability, mositure resistance, glue resistance, and decreased friction)
- Within the torsion box top, eletrical will be run to provide 110V power outlets on 3 of the four sides. I will also include a switch to power an outlet for the router and for my dust collector (aka shop-vac).
- The base will be made of two cabinets, each about 20 inches deep, and tall enough to make the surface flush with my table saw, and as wide as possible while still leaving clearance for my outboard motor of my contractors saw.
- The two bases will leave a 6-8” cavity between them, which permits me to run dust collection tubes into the back of the cabinet that will house the router and will permit me to run a long hose out of the cavity and back to the router fence.
- The base will be set back from the face of the torsion box by about 1.5 inches around the outside to give me the ability to clamp wood easily to the table top.
- One drawer in the base on the router table side will be large and wide enough to allow me to store my router fence.
- The box where the router goes will be flanked on both sides by small drawers for router bit storage.
- The base will have leveling feet to fine-tune the flush-ness of the surface with the table saw.
- The router will be supported by a woodpecker router insert plate.
- A multi-track will be imbedded into the table in front of the plate for clamping feather boards and running a miter gauge.
- Two short t-tracks will run perpendicular to the multi-track to support the fence.

See image below for details.

-- Jeff, Deltona Florida

Jeff,

That looks like a COOL plan for a very functional outfeed / router / assembly table!

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: https://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/index.php?media/albums/users/joe-lyddon.1389/

Hi,
Here’s the link to one the outfeed/router table I posted as a project recently. Like you I planned for a long while and checked out many variations. I looked long and hard at the Wood Whisperer’s outfeed table, but then I decided to make it similar to many of the router tables we see. Mainly for the storage. Good luck.

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/45882

Cheers

-- Glen

lol Mike…. I did in fact forget the cup holder. Thanks for the reminder….lol

@ Jeff… Looks like you are well on your way to having yours figured out. I like!

@ Barry… I mean Bob… No Barry….lol… Your suggestion is definitely noted…lol

Well, I got a few minutes to play real quick with a very quick sketch up idea. After done I realized many things I want to change. Here is a what I came up with earlier as a reference….

-- Dan ~ Texarkana, Tx.

My guess is that a free standing out feed table would get in the way in a small shop especially if your floor is not perfectly flat and you have to move your table saw frequently.

I attached my out feed table to my saw with hinges to get it out of the way when not in use. There are a number of ideas if you just look on the internet.

Domer

I hate big tables like that because I pile them up with junk. Maybe
you do not suffer from my tendency to pile stuff on whatever
table is available.

I had a roller table at one time on the back of my cabinet saw and
it was my favorite arrangement because it folded down out of the
way and the rollers made it impossible for me to think of it as a storage
area.

Now I prefer a vertical panel saw for panel work. The big table saw
setups eat up so much space.

Dan:

I signed on tonight to ask a very similar question about outfeed tables. I, too, have a small 20’ x 20’ garage workshop, and I am looking to change things around a bit. I currently have a torsion box assembly table (on saw horses) behind my table saw. I am planning on building a cabinet under the assembly table top and putting the whole thing on wheels. I look forward to the advice that comes with this thread! I do have a question for everyone. Do you put your outfeed tables level with the top of the table saw, or do you leave the top of the table saw a bit proud? Thanks again.

Good luck on your outfeed table Dan. Looks great.

Jerry

-- -- Jerry, Gig Harbor, Washington

honestly i think you would be best suited by building some smaller tables on casters that are all the same height because as you said space is at a premium. i have an even smaller shop (10×10) and the solution i found best for me was having everything be modular so i can reconfigure my shop as needed. i would also suggest building just the basic table and using it that way you can decide if you really do like it that size. just a thought

e-mart

-- tools are only as good as the hands that hold them https://www.custommade.com/by/emeraldcrafts/

I make all things at 36 inch(?) same heigth of the table saw. I use the planer table as my out fedd. I am really steering towards putting a 36 inch wide board hinge at the back side to be my extension table. Just seems more usable. I hate picking the 100 pound planer up.

Word of advice unless you have a big shop stay clear of the big unmovable table.

-- Who can I block now???????????????????????

HI Dan, On #3 consider that compressors are air cooled. Closed up in a cabinet the compressor is not going to last has long.

I’ve seen several tables on the site just in the last week. Some simmilar to what you are desrcibing, go back and check the projects page. One sat on a bed frame so the owner had wheels.

Like you I have to work in about the same space. I just built an outfeed table for my tablesaw last week and made a good portion of it fold down out of the way where I can get around. I went for cheap and simple. Pictures posted.

I have to put my two cents with emart.

-- Darrell, making more sawdust than I know what to do with

Thanks for all the feedback yall! That’s one of the things I love about this site is how helpful everyone is with ideas and opinions. I have had a chance to look through a few more projects simular to what I am thinking and snagged a few more ideas…

@ Darrell… Outstanding point about the compressor needing to breath. I wonder if there could be a way to have air ported in and still help control noise (honestly that thing scares the crap out of me from time to time when it fires up…lol). I am thinking some sort of muffler like passages built into the cabinet that lets it breath but helps cut down on the noise.

@ Loren.. I never been a fan of large tables in the past either honestly. I am a bit particular on my shop and keeping it clean so clutter isn’t really going to be much of an issue in that sense. My big concern is how much room it will take up in my shop more than anything else. The only saving grace I think I have will be the fact I do not plan on doing large projects (entertainment centers, kitchen tables, etc). Most my work is boxes or small projects like that. Also on that note I decided to make it in 3 sections that will basically bolt together. This way if I need to move it or what not it will be much easier.

@ Resurrected.. I am right there with you on picking up a heavy planer. I plan on building a flip stand for mine that will incorporate my plainer and possibly my miter saw. My goal will be to have it the exact same height of my outfeed table and it will in some way lock on the the table so it will be solid and not roll around on me in use.

Thanks again on all the feedback everyone… Keep the ideas coming…. Yall have been a huge help so far…

Thanks!

-- Dan ~ Texarkana, Tx.