Mobile Base - Tilting Top for Saw ?

[ssmith1627]

Hey guys, I got started on my mobile base over the past week or so. Following some pics I had seen posted on this site -- very basic but will give me what I want in a sturdy stable base and storage as well.

Last few pics on this page:

http://ssmith1627.myphotoalbum.com/v...album01&page=5

How many of you have included tilting tops to be able to clean out the dust under the saw itself ? I'm still at a point where I can easily incorporate that and it certainly sounds worth the trouble. But with the additional set of rails, how do you handle it ? Unbolt those parts to the rails and THEN tilt to clean it out once in a while ?

If anyone has pics to share of their setup, I'd greatly appreciate it. I've searched the forums and found just one example so far.

Thanks,
Steve

[Tom Miller]

I chose not to go with the tilting top in my mobile base. I figured if I need clean-out access, the left side panel comes off easily enough. I could even add a 4" DC port. I hope not to need frequent access for any other reasons. Then again, if it's a BT3100 that needs elevation screw lubrication....

Regards,
Tom

[bigsteel15]

Hey guys, I got started on my mobile base over the past week or so. Following some pics I had seen posted on this site -- very basic but will give me what I want in a sturdy stable base and storage as well.

Last few pics on this page:

http://ssmith1627.myphotoalbum.com/v...album01&page=5

How many of you have included tilting tops to be able to clean out the dust under the saw itself ? I'm still at a point where I can easily incorporate that and it certainly sounds worth the trouble. But with the additional set of rails, how do you handle it ? Unbolt those parts to the rails and THEN tilt to clean it out once in a while ?

If anyone has pics to share of their setup, I'd greatly appreciate it. I've searched the forums and found just one example so far.

Thanks,
Steve

Looks to me like you're at roughly the stage I'm at and our bases are quite similar. I put a tilt under my saw.
I will try to post a couple of pictures tonight.

[bigsteel15]

Steve,
See more pictures here
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=21435

I used rare earth magnets on the right hand side and they hold it down great.

[drumpriest]

I was wondering about this myself, the tilt system. I also have a wide table setup, how do those with a wide table do the elevation thing? Seems cumbersom at best.

[RayintheUK]

Don't know whether the one example you saw was mine, but this is how I did it:



The idea was to unbolt the rails connection, ease the main rails back a hair by slackening the cam locks on the saw, then tilt up.

In practice, I've found that session clean-ups can be achieved by poking the shop vac through the dust extraction cut-out in the rear panel. Thorough clean-outs are easily done by removing the side panel (as Tom Miller said), leaving the tilt-up for really serious stuff only - YMMV.

The full story of the build is here if you've not already seen it. HTH

Ray.

[ssmith1627]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated. It really does help to see it in pictures.

I'm gonna take off that side panel tonight because I haven't done that. Had my saw 6 months now and I've just done what Ray mentioned......using the slot around the dust port in the back to vacuum out the bottom side of the saw. Want to remove the panel and look around in there a bit before I decide which way to proceed.

I got the last "box" built and installed last night. Posted a few new pictures. The melamine top isn't screwed into place yet -- just getting the fit right -- but I'm getting close.

http://ssmith1627.myphotoalbum.com/v...umName=album01

Thanks again.

Steve

[DonHo]

I didn't make my saw as a tilt top but I also didn't put a frame around it so it clears the top of my mobile base by +- 3/8". I just use a length of 1/4" hardboard, slide it under the saw and rake the dust out then either use the shop vac or broom to clean it up. I use my saw almost every day and clean under it about once a week. There's not a lot of buildup but I also use dust collection on the back port and on top with the sharkguard.

DonHo

[vaking]

Mine has extended rails and I can flip it around the back (not left side like most) without unbolting rails. A little heavy but doable. I recently had to change belts and it came very handy.

[venkatbo]

Smith et al,

'am unable to visualize the benefit of the tilttop.

Was wondering if its possible to enhance cleaning ops by "placing" an "inverted 'cone' with a square base" under the TS, and have the DC attach to the bottom-most point... that way all the dust will gravity-feed to the bottom, and the DC can do its bit from the bottom (back)... may be the back can even be a trap-door like setup.

What 'am I missing here in the effectiveness of the tilttop... in my thought, it may not be needed, avoiding the extra engineering invloved.

Thanks,
/venkat

[bigsteel15]

This (W1004) is what I intend to install under mine

http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/produ...=B2502&NTDESC=

I will still have the tilt-up though in case something goes wrong, or I need to do maintenance.

[Roy Dean]

I built a titlting top base for my BT3K some 5 years ago and posted photos on the forum at that time - guess that there have been lots of revisions to the forum software since then and the history may have gotten lost.

The original photos are still on imagestation:-

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...1/fdbdf02e.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...c/fdbdf06f.jpg

I still use the saw and base in the same configuration - have made a few additionsa and minor changes, but it works fine. I've been too busy with other things during the past couple of years and have not been able to spend any time in the shop making furniture or improving all the gadgets.

[bmyers]

Instead of a tilt top I went with nothing at all under the saw and just let the dust hit the floor.




Full Scoop:

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...ghlight=ladder

Part Duo:
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...ghlight=ladder


This setup has been great for me. It was quick and easy to build and has served me well. I've since done more to and added doors and drawers in later posts, but the thread above is the basic setup.

Be sure to post pix of your creation.

Bill

[JimD]

My base is in the articles section - Spruce and Sandeply. Sam's base is also there. Both have tilt-ups. To tilt my saw, I shift the rails off the flat-stock that clamps it to the base and then tilt away. It takes longer to remove the outfeed bridge table than to shift the rails and neither takes very long.

The key advantage of tilting the saw up is for maintenance. The BT3100 is a good saw - very good for the money - but the motor elevation system must be cleaned and lubricated periodically. It is very convenient to be able to tilt the saw up for this. I also remove the right-hand side panel (I have relocated the ground). Those two steps give you great access and avoid a lot of bending over. You can do the maintenance without tilting up, it is just not as convenient.

If you do not have a way for the dust to get out from underneith the saw, you also need to tilt-up to remove it. My extra dust port pretty well takes care of that, however.

Jim