bushwacked Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 What are your thoughts on a length of a outfeed to support an 8 piece on the tablesaw. How far past the blade should the outfeed be to make sure the board is supported enough not to start tipping up too dangerously to handle. Yes an 8' outfeed table would be great, but that is not realistic. So trying to figure out a happy medium to where I could rip an 8' board and still be safe about it. I could of swore I read somewhere that it needs to be at least half the size of your board behind the blade ... but I could be wrong. (so 4 feet behind the blade on an 8' rip) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tpt life Posted December 6, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Half a sheet cantilevers. I would look for 49" past the blade or a little more for better blade clearance if that is your only catch. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 I hardly ever cut 8' on the ts so for me 30" is fine. If I had more space back there i may be able to just push a piece through and let it go but I'm fine with having the support to not have to hold down to keep it from falling off. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wdwerker Posted December 6, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 5/8 of the length = 60" from the back of the throat plate. That won't teter totter if you rip a 8' plank or sheet. I made a shelf for my front hall that is 5/8 of the width of a pizza box. A large pizza seems to miraculously hang there , never had one fall in 10 years. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gee-dub Posted December 6, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 I will add that unless you MOSTLY rip 8 foot material I would make the outfeed to work with MOST of my work and add a stand for the occasional longer material. For me anything over about 5 feet is an every blue moon affair. I don't want to give up that much floor space for the exception to the rule; your mileage will vary ;-) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wdwerker Posted December 7, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 My outfeed table also doubles as an assembly table. That makes it some very functional shop real estate. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted December 7, 2016 Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 4" is the tipping point for an 8" piece, add enough to get the piece clear of the balde. but that is a lot of space to give up for those occasions when you want to rip or cut an 8" piece. I suggest a free standing roller or similar support that can be put away when you don't need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted December 7, 2016 Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 Do you really cut 8' lengths often enough to justify it though? You have to really evaluate your floor space vs your common cuts. My OF table is only 24x48 and works perfectly 95% of the time. When I need the extra support, a roller stand past the table works just fine. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted December 7, 2016 Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 My outfeed table is a 2 stage affair. the first section folds up to give me about 35" from the back of the blade. The second folds up to 60". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted December 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 thanks for the input guys ... I guess I should aim to be a little smaller. I will take a look and take note of the AVG size boards I will be ripping and come up with a new scale for the outfeed table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandorLush Posted December 7, 2016 Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 My outfeed is 6'8" because that was the height of the solid core door I used but it could certainly be a few feet shorter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapid Roger Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 I use an extra pair of hands (someone to help me) or a roller stand or two. I have in the past just let it drop but that is dangerous I know and hard on material also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wright Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 Space is a relative thing - if you have a small shop then a 24" out feed is probably good I have a roomy dedicated shop so my outfeed table 49" x 49" which is awesome. That gives me around 60" of total outfeed and makes my table saw capable of ripping full sheets of plywood like a champ. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplemons Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 On 12/6/2016 at 4:09 PM, wdwerker said: My outfeed table also doubles as an assembly table. That makes it some very functional shop real estate. I do the same. I made a stand for my MFT and raised it to just under my table saw and added a little shelf unit on the back so I can clear off the top and use the space as my outfeed. Then it doubles as my assembly/sanding/workbench/track saw/everything else. Underneath, there's storage for my Festool midi, router, sander and tracksaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Staehling Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Since I don't often work with long stock on the table saw, and since space is not unlimited in my shop, I just use those folding stands with a roller on top on an as needed basis. The cheapies from HF were only about $15 and work OK if you are careful how you use them. I sometimes threaten to build something a little more sturdy, but thus far have not bothered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gee-dub Posted December 9, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 On 12/7/2016 at 8:16 AM, bushwacked said: thanks for the input guys ... I guess I should aim to be a little smaller. I will take a look and take note of the AVG size boards I will be ripping and come up with a new scale for the outfeed table. Also as mentioned by wdwerker and seen in TIODS' recent thread, your outfeed can be much more than just a material catcher. Mine is an assembly, work-holding, storage thingy as well as an outfeed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 9 hours ago, gee-dub said: Also as mentioned by wdwerker and seen in TIODS' recent thread, your outfeed can be much more than just a material catcher. Mine is an assembly, work-holding, storage thingy as well as an outfeed. Man you guys are really stepping up the outfeed tables. Very nice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 11 hours ago, Pete Staehling said: Since I don't often work with long stock on the table saw, and since space is not unlimited in my shop, I just use those folding stands with a roller on top on an as needed basis. The cheapies from HF were only about $15 and work OK if you are careful how you use them. I sometimes threaten to build something a little more sturdy, but thus far have not bothered. Try the Ridgid one's from Home Depot. About $30 a pop and much better than the roller ones, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 Currently 4 ft X 10 ft outfeed/assembly table. Used to be 5' X 12' but I had to cut it down to fit the new shop. Built it probably 30 years ago to last and it sure has been useful. Everything in the shop revolves around this table. One of these days I'm going to add a solid maple edge around the top and put the vise back on the end. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 I had a workbench that I bought from HF. turned it into an outfeed with a little storage, and left room for my jointer right behind it. It also acts as an assembly table with the items most usually needed in the drawers, and 2 120v overhead lines for electric. And it gives me extra holding power with dog holes and a vise [that sucks, but will work]! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandorLush Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 On 12/9/2016 at 8:35 PM, RichardA said: I had a workbench that I bought from HF. turned it into an outfeed with a little storage, and left room for my jointer right behind it. It also acts as an assembly table with the items most usually needed in the drawers, and 2 120v overhead lines for electric. And it gives me extra holding power with dog holes and a vise [that sucks, but will work]! Looks mildly familiar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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