DIY Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Off Feed Table

DIY Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Today I want to share with you my new workshop configuration that has a DIY Table Saw Stand and a collapsible out feed (or work) table. I’ve struggled for years to find a workbench that meets my need to spread out while building and assembling projects. And I wanted this table to act as an out feed table for my table saw. I’ve looked at many options, but ultimately I needed something that could collapse and store away quickly in case we needed to park our car in the garage (for ice storms, hurricanes, tornados, or blizzards.)

At first I was impressed with Ron Paulk’s plans for a portable workbench that could be disassembled. But, I didn’t have the time to take on another build project. I wanted the instant gratification of having a work table immediately. Around the same time I purchased an investment house and started looking at folding work stands that could transport back and forth to the job site. That’s when I realized I could have my cake and eat it too. I could use a collapsible work stand both in my garage and at the job site.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Best of all, there was no building required for the out feed table, and minimal building for the table saw stand. If you are looking for a similar set up, stick around and I’ll show you how to make your own table saw stand and out feed table in an hour or less!

DIY Table Saw Stand

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Cut List:

  • 2 shelves – 3/4″ plywood cut to 20″ x 24″
  • 2 leg supports – 2″ x 4″ x 17″
  • 2 shelf supports – 2″ x 2″ x 24″
  • 2 top supports – 2″ x 2″ x 21″
  • 4 legs – 2″ x 4″ x _?*

* The height of your saw stand legs will be determined by your saw and table heights. I recommend doing a little math and check it with a ruler. (Take the height of your out feed table subtract the height of your table saw. Now subtract 3/4″ for your plywood thickness from this measurement. This is the height your table saw stand legs need to be cut. If you want to be precise, you can subtract an additional 1/8″ and use shims under the table saw to get the perfect height.)

Instructions:

Start by drilling two pocket holes into the ends of the 4″ face of your 2″ x 4″ x 17″ leg supports.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Connect two table legs by driving 2½” pocket hole screws into the 17″ leg supports as shown below. Repeat for the other side.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Pre-drill one hole into each end of the 2″ x 2″ x 21″ top supports.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Connect the two leg assemblies with the 2″ x 2″ x 21″ top supports using two 2 ½” wood screws as shown below:

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Repeat for the other side. Your table base should look like this:

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Trace the legs on each corner of one of the 3/4″ plywood shelves.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Cut out the corner leg shapes you traced.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Place the shelf in between the leg assemblies. (I made the mistake of trying to add the shelf after adding the shelf supports.)

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Pre-drill holes at the ends of the 2″ x 2″x 24″ lower shelf supports.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Secure the lower shelf support 1 ½” up from the base of the table saw stand with two 2 ½” wood screws per leg.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Place the bottom shelf on top of the lower shelf supports. Then center the top shelf on top of the base and pre-drill holes around the perimeter. Place one screw at each corner and four in between the corners.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Drive 2″ wood screws into the plywood top.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Set your table saw on your new stand. Use shims to raise the table saw and level if needed.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Slide your table saw stand up to the out feed table and start making some sawdust!

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Collapsible Out Feed Table:

As I mentioned earlier, I was looking for a set up that could collapse easily should I need to pull my car into the garage. That’s how I discovered the Centipede collapsible work table. The Centipede is lightweight but strong, especially when you lay a sheet of plywood on top to distribute the weight.

It’s incredibly easy to set up as you can see from my Facebook Live video I took when I set up the Centipede for the first time:

After setting up the Centipede (which took less than a minute), I laid a  4′ x 8′ x 3/8″ PVC sheet on top of the Centipede for a work surface. The choice to go with the PVC sheet was two-fold. 1) I wanted something that was lighter weight than a piece of plywood (to keep things simple when I’m working on my own). 2) And the second reason I chose the PVC sheet over plywood was to have a nice smooth and clean surface for photography. So far the PVC works great. It has a few scratches on it now, but still works well as a back drop.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

After using this set up all summer, I only found one drawback. The 3/8″ PVC sheet is stable but has some flex in it, so I can’t necessarily hammer on it without some bounce. But, I also purchased a large sheet of rigid foam insulation to use for cutting into when using a circular or track saw. I may try to put the rigid foam insulation sheet under the PVC sheet and see if that helps. Of course, I’ll have to raise my table saw a little, but it would be worth it to have a more stable surface.

Table Saw Review:

If you have an eagle eye, you may have noticed that there are not power cords coming from that table saw! That’s because, it’s a DeWalt FlexVolt Cordless Table Saw. DeWalt sent the tool to me to review and I honestly didn’t expect to like the saw as much as I do. I have been using the saw for over a year now and I LOVE IT! It’s completely portable so I can bring it with me on job sites. There are no cords, which frees up valuable electrical outlets in my shop.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

The saw is definitely quieter than my old table saw. I love that the blade stops very quickly when the red stop button is pushed. (This could potentially reduce the severity of an injury, but not prevent it all together.)

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

The cuts it makes are very precise and smooth. Although it is battery powered, I haven’t noticed a difference in power between the FlexVolt and my corded table saw. I’ve used it to cut through plywood, pressure treated lumber and masonite. The only difference I have noticed is the blade will spin a little slower when the battery is almost drained. It won’t continue to decrease speed, instead when the saw senses the low battery it won’t allow you to continue making cuts without charging the battery.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

You can keep an eye on the charge on the FlexVolt batteries by pressing the button on the charge indicator. I do recommend purchasing two FlexVolt batteries so you can always keep one charged. The length of time this saw will run on one battery is unbelievable. I expected much less out of the battery life, but I cut an entire pantry’s worth of plywood and still had plenty of juice left for another project.

DIY Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Off Feed Table

This little set up is working out perfectly for my small shop. The DIY Table Saw Stand has storage underneath for extra blades, batteries and for the GRR-RIPPER 3D Push blocks (that I highly recommend for use with any table saw. They have changed the way I work with my table saw for the better.)

Let me know if you have any questions in the comment field. I’m happy to answer them.

Table Saw Stand and Collapsible Out Feed Work Table

Disclosure: The Dewalt FlexVolt Table Saw was sent to me for product review. I was not told what to write or paid for my review. 

creative ways to repurpose old shutters - social media image

creative ways to repurpose old shutters - social media image

Do you have a collection of old shutters filling up your storage space? Or do you want some ideas using old shutters in case you come across a set? If so, this post is for you! I’ve put together 13 creative ideas on how you can repurpose old shutters and turn them into something  amazing.

Creative Ways to Repurpose Old Shutters:

repurpose old shutters - dresser makeover - savvyapron.com

Give an old dresser a gorgeous makeover using old shutters like Savvy Apron!

 

Repurpose old shutters - doggie door -11 magnolia lane

Keep your pets out of trouble by building a doggie gate from old plantation shutters like 11 Magnolia Lane.

 

shutters display christmas cards

Make a holiday card display with some old, tall shutters this December.

 

Old Shutters as backdrop on mantel

Use old shutters as a backdrop for your mantel to add a gorgeous farmhouse feel.

 

repurpose old shutters - Shutter To Do Board - huntandhost.net

Stay organized with a Shutter To-Do Board like Hunt and Host made.

 

old shutters as photo display

Use an old shutter to display your family photos or postcards!

 

repurpose old shutters - privacy screen - diybungalow.com

Gain some privacy in your backyard by building a fence out of old shutters like DIY Bungalow did!

 

Use old shutters to dress up a plain dormer window on the inside of your home.

 

repurpose old shutters - works of art - shoppeno5.com

Shoppe No. 5 shows us how to make some amazing word art using old shutters.

 

repurpose old shutters - fireplace cover - shabbyfufublog.com

Get some inspiration for using shutters to brighten up a dark fireplace at Shabby FuFu Blog.

 

repurpose old shutters - cleaning up with shutter doors - DesignDreamsbyAnne.blogspot.ca

Use old louvered bi-fold doors like Design Dreams by Anne to hide the clutter and make the space more beautiful.

 

repurpose old shutters - add character to windows in bedroom - Chatfield Court.com

Shutters can go indoors too, adding texture and contrast to a room like Chatfield Court.

 

repurpose old shutters - jewelry organizer - DesignDreamsbyAnne.com

Keep your jewelry in sight and mess-free, with this beautiful old shutter jewelry organizer by Design Dreams by Anne.

 

If you liked this collection of ideas, pin this image to share it with others!

creative ways to repurpose old shutters - pinterest image

If you liked this post, you must see these upcycled ideas:

upcycled holiday decor

12 Great Upcycled Ideas for Holiday Decor

 

how to make a glittered pine cone door hanger

Add sparkly decor to your door this Christmas with this gorgeous door hangerEasy Glittered Pinecone Door Hanger

Hello, Pretty Handy Girl readers! Can you believe we are already one week into November! It is almost time to break out the Christmas decor, so I’m sharing a fun and easy craft to kick off your holiday decorating!

My favorite thing about Christmas is that I can decorate with lots of sparkle! I had a simple DIY wreath on my door last year but this year I wanted to do something a little different. I created this colorful glittered pine cone door hanger which has a tiny surprise hidden inside!

Easy glittered door hanger

Ready to make your own Easy Glittered Pinecone Door Hanger? Let’s get sparkly.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

If you’re like me, you may have all the materials on hand – like the pine cones collected over various hikes, mason jar lids leftover from my desk organizer project and I always have glitter in my craft arsenal. Basically, this project could be free to make!

Materials needed to make the pine cone door hanger

Instructions:

Before you start, be sure to clean your pine cones to get rid of all the bugs that might be lingering in them. I followed this tutorial.

Step 1 – Start by glittering the pine cones. The easiest way is to paint a bit of mod podge on the edges and sprinkle glitter over it.  I have a short video showing how easy it is to do this!

Step 2 – Attach the glittered pine cones around the mason jar lid using hot glue.

Making a glittered pine cone door hanger

Step 3 – Before adding the last pine cone, attach a bell to the mason jar lid using floral wire. Simply thread the floral wire through the bell and wrap it around the rim of the lid.

Adding a bell to a pinecone door hanger

Step 4 – Finish the door hanger by adding one pine cone in the middle to cover up the rim and bell. Add a ribbon to hang it on your door.

how to make a glittered pine cone door hanger

Did you guess what the surprise was? The door hanger jingles every time the door moves! Isn’t it a beautiful sparkly way to greet visitors?!

What do you have on your door for the holidays?

~ View more of Anika’s DIY Tutorials ~

If you are looking for more pine cone project inspiration, I think you will love this DIY Pine Cone Garland!

How to Make Pine Cone Garland

 

kitchen with cabinets

Saving Etta - One Woman's Journey to Save a House Built in 1900 | Pretty Handy GirlSaving Etta: Chapter 11 – The Final Haul

This is the true story about a house built in 1900 that is in serious disrepair. It’s also the story about my journey toward becoming a general contractor and my attempt to save a home from being bulldozed. I hope you’ll follow along as I embark on a journey into the unknown perils and rewards of flipping a home in downtown Raleigh, NC.

If you are just joining the story, you may want to read all the Saving Etta chapters for more of the back story.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram as I share live updates about this project I’m calling Saving Etta.

The next morning, my body felt stiff and my head was thick with exhaustion. The previous day’s physical toll on my body had not been wiped clean by a night’s sleep. By 11am, I was dressed and fed, but my brain was only beginning to function again. I made my lunch and slowly pulled myself up into the truck to head downtown. Raymond, the junk hauler, had promised to meet me at 11:30. But, I had doubts that he’d show up again after the grueling work he had completed the day before.

As I pulled my truck into the driveway downtown, I saw Raymond pulling into the space behind me. I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited to see a junk hauler. We shook hands and exchanged brief pleasantries before he pulled on his gloves and immediately got to work wheeling the refrigerator out of the house.

I asked if he wanted help, but he said, “Nah, I got it.”

I heard him call me outside to watch as he tilted the hand truck toward the back of his van. He rested the handle on the bumper, then moved to the base of the refrigerator. With one swift motion, he shoved the fridge up and into the van. It was obviously a maneuver he’d practiced before.

I clapped and yelled, “You da’ man!”

For the next hour, Raymond and I worked together to clear out the laundry room. We pulled the washer and dryer free from layers of dust and dried detergent powder. Then we followed the trail of detergent to the cabinet over the washer. It was filled with boxes of old detergent that had leaked out of their cardboard containers. The powdery detergent left a crunchy layer covering most of the contents in the cabinet. We swept everything off the shelves and into an open garbage bag. Then I tied it up and hauled it out to Raymond’s van.

With most of the appliances gone, I looked around the kitchen and decided the stove had to go too. It was working, but had definitely seen better days. I didn’t want to spend any time cleaning it and knew that home buyers would want a matching set of stainless steel appliances instead of mismatched appliances. I got to work trying to free the stove from its spot between the grease covered cabinets. After much tugging and pulling, I finally began to feel small micro movements. Once I had the stove pulled far enough forward, I found a wrench and began to disconnect the stove from the gas line. As I banged on the pipe, I hoped the gas company truly had turned off the gas. Finally the nut began to turn and soon I had disconnected the stove.  With one big jerk, I yanked it out completely. Behind the stove in a corner were two dead mice, a huge pile of grease topped with rodent poo, and a large rodent carcass (to me it looked big enough to be a squirrel, but others swear it is a rat). You’re welcome to be the judge, here’s the picture.

Dead Rat at foot

Raymond and I loaded the stove onto his hand truck and hauled it into the back yard. His van was full and he was getting ready to take the load to the dump when he told me he couldn’t come back tomorrow.

“Oh no! Why not?” I asked.

He explained that he had to have surgery on his knee. The shard of mirror that had broken out of a bag the day before had punctured into his knee. Unfortunately a piece had broken off into his leg. I felt horrible and couldn’t believe he came back after such an injury.

“I’m a man of my word.” He said. “I told you I’d be here today and so I came back.”

I thanked him for coming back to help me and assured him that I’d refer him to everyone I knew. If you need junk hauling in the Raleigh/Durham area, give Raymond a call at Junk 2 Dump in Fuquay-Varina, NC.

The next morning, I drove back to the house and started my first day of solo-demo. A big dumpster had been delivered that morning and I was looking forward to loading it up with the kitchen cabinets and some of the remaining furniture that had been left behind (most of it was particle board and not worth saving.) Walking to the back of the dumpster I groaned as I saw that the dumpster had been parked up against a small tree preventing me from opening the door.  That’s what I get for allowing the dumpster to be delivered without my supervision. Within minutes I had called the dumpster company and left a message asking for the dumpster to be moved.

kitchen with cabinets

Heading back inside, I looked at the kitchen cabinets and devised a plan of attack. I’d start with the lower cabinets and move onto the uppers after the lowers were removed. From the bed of my pick up truck I pulled out a hammer, a drill, a small pry bar, a large crow bar, and a sledge hammer. I strode up to the first span of cabinets with my hands on my hips as if I was challenging the cabinets to a duel. Bending my knees, I squatted near the first cabinet and got a good grip under the hunter green formica countertops. I steadied myself for a struggle and thrust my hips and hands upward with as much force as I could muster. The countertop flew into the air and hit the upper cabinets. I almost fell over laughing. No one had attached the countertop to the cabinet! They were simply resting on top. Luckily, this would be an easy demolition job. The rest of the counters came out just as easily with the exception of the counter that had the kitchen sink in it. After disconnecting the plumbing, it took a few minutes to cut through the caulk around the sink rim and another 15 minutes to loosen the clips from the sink with my drill. Finally the stainless steel sink gave up its hold on the counter. I walked out back and threw the sink toward the dumpster. Gleefully, I watched it sail through the air and over the rim of the dumpster.

Strutting back into the kitchen, I felt a huge sense of strength and accomplishment. Next I located the screws holding the cabinets to the walls. I easily removed them with my drill. Then the screws that connected the cabinets to each other were removed. One by one, I dragged the carcass of each cabinet out the back door and left them in the yard next to the greasy stove. I’d have to break them down to save space in the dumpster. (Plus, I wasn’t sure I could heft them over the dumpster rim until they were broken into more manageable sized chunks.)

To take down the upper cabinets, I wished I had an extra pair of hands to hold the cabinet while removing the screws. I rummaged through my truck bed until I found two things that might help me with the upper cabinets: a work stand and a 2×4. With the 2×4 inserted into the clamp of the work stand, I was able to wedge the board under the center of one of the upper cabinets. Crossing my fingers, I carefully removed the hanging screws. My makeshift support worked beautifully and I was able to remove the cabinet without it falling on me. I used my invention on the remaining uppers, making quick work of the cabinet removal.

removing upper cabinets

With the kitchen clear, I pondered how to clean up the grease and grime that covered the floors. Finally, in desperation I poured bleach, soap and water all over the floor, then used a squeegee to push the concoction through the kitchen, the laundry room and finally out the back door. The mixture turned dark brown instantly and I tried not to think about all the yuck I was pushing along. After the last of the cleaning mixture was pushed out the door, I repeated the process. This time I was relieved that the mixture didn’t turn dark brown.

As I walked around the house assessing anything else that needed removal before the mold remediation, I had that nagging feeling again. Although I had tested the flooring for asbestos, I felt like I was missing something. I looked up a phone number and pushed “call” on my phone. The span of five years disappeared as a familiar voice said, “Hello.”

. . . Continued in Chapter 12

If you are just joining the story, you may want to read all the Saving Etta chapters.

Are you enjoying the Saving Etta chapters? I’d love to hear from you! What are you enjoying the most?

6 of the Easiest Ways to Remove Pallet Wood

6 of the Easiest Ways to Remove Pallet Wood6 of the Easiest Ways to Remove Pallet Wood

Last week I shared with you the cold hard facts about harvesting pallet wood. But, like you, I still like to use pallet wood from time to time. Just make sure you’ve weighed the risks and the work involved to harvest the pallet wood before you get started. Today I’m going to show you 6 of the Easiest Ways to Remove Pallet Wood. If you’re up for the challenge, let’s get started.

How to Make an Air Conditioner Screen from Pallets

Pallet upcycling is all the rage today. But, if you’ve ever tried to remove the planks from a pallet, you know it’s not an easy task. Pallet nails are typically spiral nails and are designed to grip that wood with fierce strength. If that’s not enough, there can be 4-5 nails per joint. Sheesh, you’d think pallets were built to hold a 10 ton elephant. Well, actually, it is made to hold tons of product as it is lifted by a fork lift. Which explains why harvesting pallet wood can be labor intensive.

To save you time, sweat, and a backache; here are the quickest and easiest ways I’ve found to salvage beautiful rustic pallet wood. Read more