I recently purchased an older model cabinet type table saw (Powermatic 66). I would like to level the saw and get it off my garage floor, but at 600 lbs it’s not all that maneuverable. This saw has diagonal strips of steel with a drilled center hole that are attached/welded to the cabinet on the inside of each corner(typical of many other cabinet saws). Does anyone know of a simple, shop-made lifer that I could make and use here?
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Replies
Frank, any flat edged auto jack handle will serve as a lever to lift one corner at a time using a fulcrum.
I use small lenghts of steel rod as fulcrums (Even pipe nipples will do.)
Once you've lifted one corner ,slide in a shim or wedge to hold that position .
Repeat on all corners but leave room for additional 'jacking' 'till the machine is level and in place. Stein.
Edited 11/11/2003 1:18:12 AM ET by steinmetz
Thanks, I think I will probably end up just using shims & luckly I do have a decent hydraulic car jack.
Frank, go slowly and watch your fingers. If you want to add casters, raise the whole unit enough to attach a set of casters.
Block up with heavy wood blocks and check if unit's top is level.
Then drill and bolt each caster to the angle iron legs.
I use flat top casters with two short lengths of angle attached to the tops thin can now be bolted to the legs. G' Luck Stein.
Frank,
Those corner pieces, on most saws, were meant to be used to bolt the saw to a pallet for shipping. They don't have the strength to support the weight of the saw at their midpoint they'll just bend, and probably tear, if you try to run bolts through them from below.
You could use the corner pieces to position a plate of metal or perhaps 3/4 inch birch plywood that would spread the load onto the perimeter of the cabinet's bottom edge. The leveling bolts could still go through the holes in the corner pieces to hold the plates in place but the corner pieces wouldn't actually be supporting the saw.
John W.
Hey thanks John, I probably was going to try to run something through those holes & I would have found out what you just told me the hard way. I think I'll just end up using some kind of shims to level and support the saw.
Frank, that 66 isn't all that heavy. I have an older one too, and I have loaded into my van unassisted more times than I want to remenber. I'm in my 50's, 5' 8", 165 lbs., and don't work out. I just take off the fence rails, then kind of roll it into the van so it sits on its top. I get it out by sliding it down a couple of 2x10's, and turning it back upright when it's close to the ground.
I just use shims to level the saw. Cedar shingles work just fine. The saw IS heavy enough that you don't have to worry about it moving, especially if it's attached to an outfeed table. I cut 4x8 plywood and mdf on it frequently, without a problem.
Michael R
Thanks all for the input on lifters for my cabinet saw. I' probably settle for woodblocks and shims for now, but the angle iron legs in a cool idea if I decide to make the unit more mobile & adjustable.
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