Raising the height of my table saw - a lot

[Bob Hodge]

I am a very tall guy, now with six spinal fusions. I cannot lean over lest more will be required. 

By the rule of thumb to have the table saw height at your elbow, I must raise this almost ten inches.

This is basically a contractors saw in a cabinet (the sales guy actually talked me out of a Unisaw for

what I do because most is on a lathe). It does what I want just fine.

 

I can build some simple riser frame or platform yet I wonder a bit about stability. The saw sits on the outside black frame, though I

suspect there may be some feet underneath (except I can't get to them without bending over and lifting it. 

I will bet there is wisdom and experience on this topic that would help me do something great and simple, and inexpensive. 

 

Thanks ahead of time.

 

Next up will be my router table.  I've got my Laguna lathe raised a bit and will do it some more, with several friends (400 pounds) 

[lew]

I have my lathe raised a bit, too. Neck problems. I have my jointer raised on a platform- 4 x 4 with plywood top. If your saw is stable on the base you currently have, I think a raised platform should work.  If necessary, some outboard legs at the table top corners would add more stability.

[smitty10101]

10 inches----wow!!

I would suspect that the new base would have to be at least double, if not triple, in every dimension than what your black base currently is for stability purposes. 

I would be concerned that you are altering the center of gravity by raising the saw that much.

 

How were you planning to achieve the the 10 inches? several 2x4 on edge? with multiple bracing along the run?

A plywood base with cinder blocks as risers and then a plywood top?

 

Does it need to be mobile?  A whole new set of problems!

 

Just my thoughts.

[JWD]

I think you'll be fine if your raised base is sturdy.  Easy to build up out of 2x10 with a 1x or plywood underneath to bring up to a full 10" - thinking a box that the black base sits on.  I would probably put a 1x lip around the outside too, keep it from walking off if it vibrates or if you lean on it hard.

[kmealy]

Being on the tall side, I raised my Unisaw up about 6 or 7 inches by a mobile cart and built a 2x4 frame inside it.   When I use other table saws, I always think they are too low and uncomfortable.

 

My first workbench was one that was left in an apartment that I was renting.  I used it for about 6 or 7 years before I build one and altered the height per the plan.  I was amazed that my back no longer hurt when using the bench.

[BillyJack]

Table saw are setup for standard height. From there you should raise according to your height

Edited January 16 by BillyJack

[Gerald]

Adding height to a weighty item like a TS should have something in the plan to spread the weight past the original footprint . You may only need 4 to 6 inches on sides and back to work.

[Bob Hodge]

Thanks for this wisdom. I will use 35 year old 2 X 10s from my daughter's loft. Those parts seem to keep multiplying in the shed.

Yes, its the center of gravity that has concerned me.  I like the idea of an "outrigger" on either end of the table.  

 

Thanks again.

[John Morris]

Not sure how those unisaws are built, if the motor and trunion assembly are mounted to the underside of the table, you could also shim between the cabinet and the table, perhaps raise the table up 3 inches plus, and the rest of the adjustment at the foot print of the base, kind of distributing the rise a little bit?

[BillyJack]

3 hours ago, John Morris said:

Not sure how those unisaws are built, if the motor and trunion assembly are mounted to the underside of the table, you could also shim between the cabinet and the table, perhaps raise the table up 3 inches plus, and the rest of the adjustment at the foot print of the base, kind of distributing the rise a little bit?

 

Sorry  you can’t..

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

They're not made that way, John. You can remove the table from the saw to access all the working parts for repair, everything is mounted to the cabinet. I liked that mobile base solution Keith came up with. I suspect the saw could be bolted to the fabricated base to provide a little more stability.

[John Morris]

1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

They're not made that way, John.

 

Makes sense on the larger saws, I know on most if not all the lower horse power hybrid cabinet saws everything is mounted to the underside of the table. But that nice beautiful big ol saw Bob has from what ya'll saying does not. The only cabinet saw I ever owned was a Grizz 5hp and I remember the whole drivetrain was mounted to the cabinet.

[Larry Buskirk]

If most of the machines you need to raise are of the same height you might be able to mount them all on the same riser platform.