Pro's Corner

Ripping Wide, long Panels

12/30/2008 8:44:00 AM by tikka

Here is a quick fix for ripping wide, long panels or sheet goods.

I have to cut to width some MDF panels from large sheets (3.2m x 2.3m{10' 6" x 7'6"}], using the standard fence on my table saw ( I do not have a track saw, with extra long tracks), I found it difficult to keep the sheet hard against the fence, so I have extended the fence, which makes it easier to keep the sheet tight to the fence.

The material I used was some scrap left over from building a counter top (compressed wood with a melamine veneerer), this is an ideal material as it retains its flatness across the length very well, plus the melamine provides a slick surface for the wood to ride against.

The photographs below show the construction - it really could not be easier, and takes about 30 minutes to build, but saves you time cleaning/squaring the edges.  It also increases the safety, by keeping the sheet hard against the fence, therefore reducing the chance of the large panel twisting into the blade.

 

The material used is 30mm (1 3/16") thick, the total length is 1.8m (72"), which provides a good 1.1m (44") of fence (vs 18" currently) before coming into contact with the blade.  The whole thing is held together with some 60mm (2 1/2") screws. 

You can adjust the width and length to fit your own table saw fence, just ensure it is not too long an over hang (in-feed) that it lifts the existing fence.  When positioning the spacers, ensure you can still operate the fence locking mechanism.

When finished with the extended fence, simply lift it off the table saw fence and store it ready for the next time!

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Categories: Jigs & Tools | Tips & Tricks


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Comments

Larry Bernstein us

1/16/2009 3:36:12 AM

I love jigs like this, but I wonder if it is rigid enough at each end not to bow. I'm a contractor and I have a Porter Cable portable table saw on jobs and the fence is thinner so I wonder if it would work for me, but I'm going to try it and see. thanks for the tip.

Chris Hazle us

1/18/2009 2:56:22 AM

A support piece, with melamine up, could be added to the bottom of the extension to provide support to large pieces. However, this may need a screw, or some other method, at the far end to prevent the auxilary fence from tipping off the primary fence.

JacobPM us

1/22/2009 11:17:28 PM

I never thought of needing to extend my table like this until I recently had to cut down some board that was much too wide.

The techniques that are similar to this with a small circular saw didn't give me nearly the edge that I needed to gide the saw.

I'll be using this idea for larger projects in the future.

great post!

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