Aside from operating horizontally as a cutoff saw, the new bandsaw can also be used with a table for the freehand cutting of complex shapes. Unfortunately, the table supplied with the saw was made of sheet metal and was essentially unusable, so a replacement had to be made. However, rather than simply replace the table with a thicker piece of metal, I decided to improve the table design by having it attach to the saw vise rather than the lower blade guide. This allows for a much larger table than usual, and eliminates any strain on the guide which might otherwise cause the blade to come out of alignment. This improved table can be seen at the top of the page.

   The design of the table is straightforward, consisting simply of an 8" by 20" piece of quarter-inch plate steel supported by a T-shaped structure made of yellow pine. The steel was cut to size with a jigsaw and filed smooth, with the holes and slot then being formed using my milling machine. The wood was shaped using a jigsaw and a router, and was then given two coats of varnish. A second coat was necessary since the varnish was applied indoors, which allowed it more time to sink into the wood before drying. In use, the table is rigid enough for cutting wood and metal, and has ample surface area for supporting large workpieces. It can also be quickly attached and removed without modifying the saw, allowing for rapid transitions between horizontal and vertical work. Overall I am pleased with the results, and will enjoy using this saw in future projects.