DIY: Table for a Scrolling Sabre Saw

Scrolling Sabre saws require a table for working, but standard tables are sometimes built to an uncomfortable or awkward height. You can build your own stand for your Sabre saw designed to your specific height and chair requirements. The project is straightforward but requires a second set of hands at the beginning to help obtain measurements. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Determine the desired height of your table. Sit in the chair you will use at the saw and hold your arms at the height most comfortable to you for sawing. Generally, the ideal height is one where your arms and elbows are almost horizontal. Ask someone to measure the distance from the bottom of your arms to the floor with a tape measure and write this number down.

2

Measure the distance from the table of the scroll saw -- where your arms will reach -- to the base of the scroll saw. Add 3/4 of an inch to this measurement to account for the thickness of the plywood tabletop. Subtract this total from the height you measured in step one to determine the length of the legs.

3

Use a circular or table saw to cut four two by fours into four pieces of the calculated length of the table legs, creating four pairs of legs. Use a hammer and 10d nails to nail together each pair of cut two by fours to create four four by four legs.

4

Decide the length of your table, choosing between 28 and 32 inches. The width will be 24 inches. Use a circular or table saw to cut two two by fours into four pieces equal to three inches less than the table length to create the long stand supports. Cut a pair of two by fours into four pieces that are 24 inches long to create the short stand supports.

5

Lay two of the legs with the three inch width facing up on the floor. The pieces should be separated by the length of the table. Use a large square to line up one long stand support to the corner of the top of each leg. Nail the long stand support flush to the corner of each leg. Repeat with the other pair of legs. Use a tape measure to measure four inches from the bottom of each leg and mark with a pencil. Align the bottom of a second long stand support with the mark and use a square to make sure the board is square to the legs. Nail the long stand support flush with the outer edges of the legs. Repeat for the other set of legs.

6

Stand up the two sets of legs and line up the ends of the short stand supports with the ends of the long stand supports on one side. The short supports should extend past the legs to the outside of the long supports. Use a square to ensure the supports are square to the legs and nail the top and bottom short supports in place. Repeat on the other end of the table.

7

Stand the base up, with the supports flush to the legs at the top, and place a 24 inch by 28 or 32 inch, depending on your length decision, piece of plywood on top. Use a square to make sure the plywood is correctly lined up with the edges of the base and nail the top to the base at all four corners. Set the Scrolling Sabre saw on the table and mark the positions of the mounting holes on the tabletop.

8

Remove the saw and drill holes through the plywood at the marked positions. Put the saw in place and use the largest bolts, nuts and washers that fit through the mounting holes to secure the saw to the table.