Do you have a circular saw at your home and want to use it as a table saw as well. The good news is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money on buying a separate table saw. With the help of this guide, you can easily convert your circular saw into a table saw. If you want to know how to use a circular saw without a table, you can click here and read more.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of converting a circular saw into a table saw using already available resources. So, let’s begin!
How to Use a Circular Saw without a Table
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Time Required: 3-4 hours for beginners
Things Needed
- Circular saw
- Wood planks (length and width according to your plan)
- Drill machine
- 36 Flat head screws (size according to the thickness of the plank and the holes in the circular saw)
- Screwdriver
- L-shaped measuring scale
- Ballpoint/Pencil
- Wood glue
- Power extension
- 4 Zip ties
If you are a DIY person, almost all of the above things will be at your home. If anything is not available, you can readily get all the supplies from a nearby hardware store.
Step 1: Preparing the Saw
Grab your circular saw and drill five 4 millimeter holes in the circular saw base. These holes will act as the fixing points on the wooden table. Now clean the leftover material in the holes with a screwdriver.
Step 2: The Base Plank
You can use an old plank from your home. You must make sure that it is of fine quality and it is laminated to reduce friction. If such an option is not available, you can get one from a nearby hardware store or order online. An ideal plank would be 2 centimeters thick, 50 centimeters wide, and 80 centimeters long. You can change the dimensions to suit your project or work needs. Now put the circular saw at the preferred place. An ideal location would be 30 centimeters away from the front. When you place the circular saw, make sure that everything is square. You can do this with an L-shaped measuring ruler. It will also ensure that an angle of 90 degrees is maintained. Now mark the fixing points on the base plank with a ballpoint or sharp tip pencil. You can also use a screwdriver to mark the points.
Step 3: Getting the Base Ready
Once the points have been marked. Drill all the marks. Now place the circular saw exactly above the holes and tighten the screws. Use flat head screws as they give more support and stability to the saw. Now hold the handle of the saw and cut through the table by pushing the saw downwards. This will create an opening in the table, and the blade will come out from the other side. After cutting the table, move the blade upwards and remove any wood debris from the opening. Bring the side with the blade upwards and confirm the angle of the blade with the plank. It must be exactly perpendicular.
Step 4: Preparing the Legs
The next step is to prepare the legs for the table. You can also use sawhorse for this purpose. However, we suggest you make wooden legs as they give more stability. Measure 5 inches from the edges (left and right of the blade) of the table and drill 4 holes on each side. Attach two 1-inch widths and 2 inches less than the length of the table wooden pieces on each side underneath. You can use wood glue or screws to attach them. Place the wooden legs on each side. Use steel catchers to fix the legs with the wooden pieces you just attached and drill holes in a diagonal position. Put in the screws and tighten them properly. Once the screws have been tightened, remove the catchers and do this for the other leg as well. You can add more support to the structure by adding a small plank (half the length of the legs) between the legs. Drill the holes on both sides and add screws. 5 screws on each side will ensure maximum stability.
Step 5: Making Electrical Connections
The next step is to make electrical connections. Press the trigger on the saw and zip tie it. Make sure that it is not plugged in. Cut the additional cord. Now make two holes to attach a power strip. The ideal place to attach a power strip is on the left side for right-handed workers and the right side for the left-hand workers. Make sure you use a high-quality power extension and keep the flimsy cables away from your workstation. The extension MUST have an on/off button so that you can turn the saw on and off while working without any hassles. The saw trigger will always be pushed in. The button on the power strip will act as the main on/off button. Attach the extension with the zip ties. Remember to check the sockets on the strip. We don’t want you to attach connecting switches. The socket must have the required holes for the plug. Plugin the power cable and the extension. Check the on/off switch.
Step 6: Attaching a Side Fence
You can easily make a temporary side fence on the board with the help of a wooden stick at least 2 inches wide and equal to the length of the table. You can use steel clamps to hold it with the table. Once it is fixed according to the width of the wood piece you are cutting, test the table saw you just made. Use an old wood piece for testing. If the piece is small, use a push stick to pass it through the blade. If everything is all right, you have just made yourself a fully functional table saw. Click here to read more about making a rip fence of a table saw.