| What exactly is an infeed table for the table saw, and | | | | causing the piece to be thrown back at the operator |
| why would you need one? | | | | with amazing force. |
| I was faced with a project that had over 90 sheets of | | | | An option to this is to use a roller stand. After all, it is |
| furniture grade plywood. Very expensive, and also | | | | what they were designed for. Most people will give up |
| very heavy. What made it worse was the fact I was | | | | trying to place the sheet on the saw table and the |
| working alone, since my employee's were busy at the | | | | roller stand in one shot. That's because more likely than |
| job site. Obviously a very large project. The people | | | | not the roller stand gets knocked over in the process. |
| that would be most helpful in the shop were also the | | | | At the very least, it gets bumped, which means it is no |
| important at the site. Just not an option. I could have | | | | longer square to the fence. Once that happens, it is |
| asked my wife to help, but I couldn't afford a divorce | | | | actually fighting you through the entire cut. It tries to |
| or a lengthy murder trial, so that was out. | | | | feed the sheet on an angle, again creating the perfect |
| I started out whit a good attitude about the task of | | | | condition for a kick back. Another method is to place |
| cutting these sheets up. It didn't last long though. After | | | | the sheet on the table, then lift the end of the sheet, |
| about the fourth sheet, I had knocked over my roller | | | | and slide the roller stand under it. Very difficult to get it |
| stand as many times. What really didn't help was the | | | | square to the fence in the manner. As it tries to pull the |
| fact I have a problem with my right hip, which would | | | | sheet away from the fence, you try to force it tight to |
| become irritated by the movement involved in placing | | | | the fence. At best you end up with a less than prefect |
| the sheet on the saw. After that fourth sheet, I was in | | | | cut, which has burn marks on it. |
| a great deal of pain. So, I did what any sensible person | | | | So, having considered the problems faced with cutting |
| would do. I gave up. | | | | these sheets, I made a list of must haves. First, it had |
| I started thinking, there must be a solution to this. I got | | | | to attach to the saw, so it could never be knocked |
| on the internet and started searching. Zero, zilch, nada. | | | | over, or be out of alignment to the fence. It also |
| Unless I wanted to spend a large amount of money on | | | | needed to be able to go on or off the saw quickly, so |
| a sliding table saw, which I had no room for anyway, I | | | | it was not in the way, when not needed. It should fold, |
| was out of luck. So, I went back to the shop, and tried | | | | so storing it would be simple. And in a perfect world, it |
| again with the time proven roller stand. I managed to | | | | should make it easier to get the sheet onto the unit, |
| get two more sheets cut, before the pain forced me | | | | eliminating the risk of back strain. |
| to stop. I decided if I am going to get this done, I | | | | The first unit was made from wood, and worked very |
| needed to come up with something to make it easier. I | | | | well. We used it for over a year, before I decided to |
| started considering the process and the problems | | | | replace it with a metal one. The metal one was better, |
| encountered. I came up with the idea of an infeed | | | | as I changed the design around a bit, based on the use |
| table. | | | | of the original unit. We also realized not only it would |
| As the name implies, an infeed table is one that would | | | | cut our time by 60 percent ripping plywood, it was |
| be used on the front of your table saw, facilitating the | | | | even faster for jointing lumber, since instead of several |
| feeding of materials into the cutting device. A fancy | | | | passes through the jointer, it was one pass through the |
| way of saying it supports the material as you cut it. | | | | table saw, using a rip sled. The roller on the side of |
| If you have ever tried to rip a sheet of plywood, or | | | | them, made loading the sheets onto the unit very easy. |
| other sheet material, you know how difficult it can be. | | | | After a few years, the owner of a couple of |
| Just getting the sheet onto your table saw can be a | | | | Woodcraft stores came to my shop. He was there to |
| challenge. This is exactly how many wood shop | | | | see a large veneer project we were doing, with the |
| related back injuries occur. Holding up a 40 pound | | | | idea of having me teach some courses on veneering. |
| sheet, and walking to the saw, isn't easy. Then trying | | | | He spent a couple hours with us, and on the way out, |
| to bend over to lay the sheet onto the saw table is a | | | | happened to notice the unit hanging on the wall. He |
| terrible strain on the back. Many wood workers | | | | asked what it was. After explaining what is was, and |
| actually do this while the saw is running, as the switch | | | | the story behind it, he wanted to see how it worked. |
| isn't easily reached once the sheet is there. | | | | He was very impressed with it, and wanted to know |
| Once the sheet is on the table, well actually, partially on | | | | why we weren't selling them. |
| the table is more accurate, since the end of the sheet | | | | Well, after getting a provisional patent, we did start |
| is probably on the floor, you walk to the back of the | | | | selling them. They are now in many wood shops, both |
| sheet, lift it up, and then try to walk forward, feeding | | | | home shops and professional shops, all across the |
| the sheet into the blade, while trying to keep it tight to | | | | country, and in Canada. They are used in High School |
| the fence. If you aren't able to keep the sheet tight to | | | | Shops, College Wood Shops, Municipalities, Tech |
| the fence, you end up with a crooked cut. Or in | | | | Schools, and many businesses that have a need to |
| extreme cases, move just enough to cause a kick | | | | cut sheet goods. |
| back. Kick backs occur when a piece binds the blade, | | | | |