Cutting Grid Post

[docrowan]

I have a cutting grid I made for slicing up sheet goods that I'm not happy with. I made it out of 3/4" sandeply, ripped into 5 inch wide "boards", which I then cut half-lap edge dadoes so I could fit them together in eggcrate fashion. The goal was lightness, ease of knockdown and setup, and low cost. Well, it really only met one of these criteria - low cost. It's still fairly heavy as I used over half a sheet of plywood. It is 7 different pieces, so it's not all that easy to set up and knock down. I've attached a picture below.

I had something of a brainstorm - I have a place where I can store the grid fully assembled, so it doesn't have to knockdown. Since I can make it rigid, I plan on using lighter wood and tighter fitting glued joints so it will be easy for me to haul out and flop on my saw horses. I plan on making it out of 1X3 radiata pine from HD. I chose 1X3's to reduce weight and also so I can cut the edge dado's with my 6 inch dado blade. I'm considering 3 8' longitudinal members spaced 12 inches apart and 5 4' transverse members spaced 16 inches apart. I know I'll have to be pretty careful to just barely cut through the sheet good so I won't nick the grid too much, but I do this anyway. Anybody ever built one like this, or do you have any advice?

[eddy merckx]

I don't have anything that elaborate. I've had great success with a pair of those yellow folding steel sawhorses from HD. I screw a few straight 2 x 4s to the tops and I have a fairly heavy and rigid platform. I really think you need some weight so the platform doesn't tip while you're trying to slide your sheetgoods onto it.

I also have finish nails on the undersides of the 2 x 4s, so I can flip them over and use them as a drying rack for finishing.

When not in use, the sawhorses fold into themselves and store on wall brackets.

Eddy

[radhak]

I made a grid from 1x4 pine from HD. I used two 8' long pieces, and laid four 4' long pieces across them, and am pretty happy with them. I don't use sawhorses, just lay them on the garage floor. I am guessing that's easier than on the horses, and just 6 pieces proved enough, because the notches on the 4' pieces are 12" from either side with a distance of around 22" between them.

I do not worry much about the CS cutting into it below the ply sheet : I have numerous cuts and it still works fine. Maybe when something snaps due to too many cuts I'll just replace it.

I did not even bother with dado stacks or the router for the half-laps. I simple marked the lines with pencil and used a jigsaw to cut the lap-sides, and knocked off the bottom with a chisel. fast and easy. I was done in around 30 minutes.

I'd think setting it up on a sawhorse (instead of a concrete floor) would be rather tedious - how do you go about it?

[cabinetman]

For jobsite set-up what works pretty good is a plain old hollow core door with a folding leg assembly screwed to one side. HD has them for less than $18.00. I glued 3/4" square plywood pieces to the door to use as a mount for the bracket for the folding legs.

It's very light, and sets up and folds quickly, and can be stored against the wall or just slid into the back of a truck. For spacers, I just use either 3/4" thick stock like 2" - 3" wide by 3' long, or 2 x 4 scraps.

Once set up, the table can be used to clamp stock to, used as a bench/table, or a set up area for glue/finish drying.
.

[bigstick509]

Here is a link that I used for my table.
http://www.thewoodshop.20m.com/panel_cutting_table.htm
If I have the time I will post a pic of the completed table later today.

[Uncle Cracker]

For jobsite set-up what works pretty good is a plain old hollow core door with a folding leg assembly screwed to one side. HD has them for less than $18.00. I glued 3/4" square plywood pieces to the door to use as a mount for the bracket for the folding legs.

It's very light, and sets up and folds quickly, and can be stored against the wall or just slid into the back of a truck. For spacers, I just use either 3/4" thick stock like 2" - 3" wide by 3' long, or 2 x 4 scraps.

Once set up, the table can be used to clamp stock to, used as a bench/table, or a set up area for glue/finish drying.
.

And since it's a door, in the summer, you can open it for ventilation...

[cabinetman]

And since it's a door, in the summer, you can open it for ventilation...

.

.

[Hellrazor]

If I am cutting a lot of sheet goods, I hook the yard cart to the 4 wheeler and throw 3 2x4's on top of the cart. Instant work area.

[LinuxRandal]

I used a homemade one for a bit a few years back, then I bought a Smart Table Kit from Eurekazone. Folds up small, yet can handle a 4x8 sheet and doesn't kill my back moving the table.

[LCHIEN]

looks like the grid will fall off the saw horses. You can drill some 1.5" holes in the members above the sawhorse, then use a clamp below to hold the grid to the horses. Might still be wobbly, you can put some sandbags on the base of the sawhorses then,

[rcimball@comcast.net]

Looks great and I'm sure it does the job. I have limited space in my shop and setting up saw horses and such is a time consumer. I have a sheet of foam insulation (4x8) that I lay on the garage floor, set the ply on top, adjust blade depth, and have at it. Sheet last a long time until replacement. Also light and easy to store.

[gsmittle]

And since it's a door, in the summer, you can open it for ventilation...

Stop, UC, you're killin' me!!!!

g.

[docrowan]

Thanks for the ideas, guys. The picture on the original post is what I have now, which I'm not satisfied with. Since I use a CS and saw board to slice up sheet goods I prefer to work outside for the extra space and dust control. I happen to have an old hollow core door right now, so I may try the fold up leg route. It's pretty narrow, I think only 24 inches, so I believe I'll screw 48 inch scraps to it to increase the width for thin sheet goods such as particle board to prevent sag on the edges. I'll try it with my existing saw horses and if I like it I'll buy the table legs. I like Mike's idea on his web link of being able to tilt up the sheet goods with no assistance.

[Tom Slick]

I've seen people use a sheet of rigid foam insulation. lightweight, somewhat cheap, seemed to work well.

[mashtun]

Cutting Grid Post

Well I don't know how you are getting your sheet goods home, but I have a truck

I noticed that the truck bed was the same height as two small plactic fold up tables I bought.

If I am cutting parallel to the four foot end of a sheet. I simply pull the sheet out onto the table. I make sure where I am cutting is in the gap between the table and the edge of the tailgate, and zing it off.

If I am cutting parallel to the long 8 ft access, then I use both tables. one directly bhind the tailgate, and on to the left side of the other table. This sheet is supported on table side completely, by the table, and half way through the other side, by the tailgate, and a thrid table.

No lifting of the sheet goods, except for getting them in the truck at the store.

John