Miter saw stands ?

[joentoni]

Miter saw stands ?

Boy do I feel like an knucklehead. I have been for years looking for a better way to setup and use my MS on a job site, then pack it up and leave quickly and simply. So I have looked at and tried to think of a better saw stand.I mean some are heavier then my saw, some of the pipes w/leg's look so cumbersome, and some are like the one I bought. They look like they could be convenient, I mean you can leave the saw on it, that seems good right? They have these easy as pie board supports, it even looked like I could mount one of my homemade stock stops on it. Plus the whole thing is on wheels!!! I mean the saws these days are so big and heavy.
I thought someone for a change did the thinking for me ?
This thing arrived in the mail a couple of weeks ago in about 250 pieces. So I start putting this thing together, 3 main parts the top and 2 sets of legs, lots of hardware. The legs have these welded gussets w/slots for the bolts that allow them to fold, but they are way to wide for the body. I should had packed it up right there, but instead I call them. They said "hey no problem must have gotten mixed up we will send the right ones out ASAP", and they did 2days later a box showed up with 2 shiny legs in it. Also a note that said "So sorry here's 10 bucks for your trouble please dispose of the old legs in the usual way", sure enough a 10 dollar bill , and the other set of legs are half way to the curb as I write this. So I feel pretty good, like my faith in this thing is coming back. So I am out in the shop putting this thing together and get the new legs on. They don't fit perfect, but,,, I got a nice note and 10 bucks. So I get it together and it's a bit quirky I mean the hand knobs need to be pretty tight and don't seem to loosen with the same amount of effort the little quick release springed pins that don't line up, so it's quirky,,,,I am setting it up I install the board supports and marvel at their ease of adjustment, I start noticing that it has a roller and several supports for long stock, its starting to look like it might work, and yes, I quickly noticed that my homemade stock stop will work just fine. I am feeling good as I start measuring and cutting the 3/4 ply that the saw sits on. I fold up the stand and that is when it occurred to me, this thing just about bit my finger off, I mean I never saw it coming. Nonetheless I mount my saw on it I get it on my truck and go to work. It is a bit of effort to get it off the truck, but, and it is a bit of effort to set up. I mean the first set of legs is easy the second you have to support the saw and stand in one hand and loosen the other set of legs with the other, I am loosing faith. The day is over, I pack up the saw, it isn't as easy as I imagined, I am loosing faith. Buy the time I get home I have decided to go back to the sawhorses and my plywood saw tabletop type thing I have been using for about ten years? I have lost faith. So I drag the thing into the shop and prepare to remove my saw, I am really to tired to work off of the floor (from carrying the thing home) so I decide it is less effort to set up the stand then to squat and do the work. I get the first set of legs up easy,I am holding the stand up with one hand getting the second half way open when I noticed that when folding it up I put one of the many supports in the wrong place. I remove the supports and suddenly the leg flips open hitting me in the shin and in my pain I relax my grip on the saw lowering my end, the support I had to loosen now slides down crushing my thumb. Let me tell you the added feature of leaving your saw on the stand only adds to the destructive force this stand can deliver. My thumb and nail is black as coal my shin has a knot on it as well.
If it looks like an erector set RUN away. This one is done, I am even thinking of putting the portaband to it just so the trash folks dont get any ideas, yea I think I will.
I seriously doubt I could use this thing one more day without loosing a finger!!! This is by far the worst injury I have ever had in My own shop. I am a careful guy, been involved with many safety programs, both participating and teaching I never saw this coming.
I am bent on building one, anyone know of a good plan? As soon as my injuries heal I would like to get started.

[TDHofstetter]

Once again, an excellent read! :D :D :D

I QuickGrip mine to my tailgate. :)

-- Tim --

Crow ain't so bad
Once you get the hang of
the recipe

:)

[cabinetman]

If you go to the I'm New To Woodworking" section and find the post "Chop Saw Station" and read reply #5, it may sound way too Mickey Mouse. I went through the same type of ordeal first with a Sawbuck and then those stands that extend out to over there. This idea frees up both the table and sawhorses if you ever need them individually. Once set up (only takes a few minutes), works like a stationary setup. It also yields smaller, lighter items to carry and fit into the truck.