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Table Saw:

My table saw is the Ridgid TS3612.  It has a 36" rip capacity to the right of the blade, and a 12" capacity to the left.  The saw is of the left-tilt variety, which makes for safer bevel cuts while leaving the fence on the right side of the blade.  It's a typical 1.5HP contractor's saw, but it comes standard with a ribbed belt and pulleys that eliminate the need to upgrade to a link-belt setup to achieve smoothness.

I have modified the saw slightly by attaching a folding outfeed table, a right-wing extension table, and by using an Incra miter gauge setup.  Otherwise, the saw is the same as the standard setup from the factory. 

This wide view of the saw shows the outfeed and extension tables, the miter gauge, and it's general position in my shop.  I can open the garage door in order to cut longer stock if necessary, but most of the time I have enough room.  The metal table legs you see sticking out from under the right wing of the saw are not attached to the saw in any way - it's just under there temporarily to store it out of the way.  I also move the lawn equipment (which you can see stored near the saw) while I am using it.

 

 

This closer view of the top of the saw shows the outfeed table and extension wing more clearly.  The wing is of my own design, and is comprised of a solid oak frame with an MDF top layer recessed flush into rabbets in the frame.  The frame has a large opening in the middle so that I could easily convert the solid wing into a router table wing.  All I would have to do is cut out a hole and drop in an insert and the table would be ready to go.  I have yet to do this because I haven't needed a second table yet, but it's there for future use if I ever do need one. 

The whole assembly bolts easily to the slots in the 3612 rails using either t-bolts or 1/4-20 bolts and some fender washers.  The MDF layer has slots cut into the bottom side (from a stacked dado set) to snugly fit partially over the webbing, so it stays in place quite well and is not fastened with anything.  That also makes it easily removable should it become damaged.  The MDF was finished with a generous coat of Watco Danish Oil (Dark Walnut variety) in order to give it a bit of protection and make it a bit more visually appealing. 

 

 

The outfeed table I built was from the plans available at the Woodmall.  It is a folding design, which is fixed in place from the back of the saw until the seam you can see near the rear of the motor.  At that point, it folds on a piano hinge and drops down behind the saw.  This means you can keep your saw mobile while still having the huge safety and practical advantages of an outfeed table.  The legs are also removable.  I used two legs rather than the single one that the plans called for to give it a bit more strength and stability. 

Even when it is folded down, you still have an extra foot or so of outfeed surface, which is great.  There is a cutout that allows the guard to tilt with the blade and to be removed for dado cuts.  I always have the guard in place whenever it can be.  The table attaches using some angle iron and bolts that go through the webbed wings.  I used MDF and a hammer-finish paint, and the legs are solid oak dowels with levelers at the bottom.

 

 

This shot of the saw shows how the work flows from the cast iron surface onto the outfeed table, and how the angle iron attaches through the webbed wings.  The slots in the outfeed table allow the miter gauge or a sled with runners to go far enough past the blade to complete the cut.  The miter gauge is the Incra V27, and it has a 36" ShopStop fence attached to it.  I would recommend going with the 1000SE model if you have the money, but the V27 is a very nice gauge setup if you don't want to spend more.

While not visible in these pictures, I also have some 1/4" hardboard inserts that fit into the left and right sections of each of the webbed wings.  These help keep items from rolling off of the table, but they can be popped out quickly if I want to clamp something through the wing openings.  The middle sections of the wings, where the outfeed table attaches, are left open.