Flip-top Bench for Planer

[Cubsfan]

So I'm always seeing plans for benches with a flip top for the planer (most recently in the latest woodcraft), and I'm thinking about making one. I just wanted to double check though: Is it ok for the planer to be upside down? Seems like that could hurt the alignment or something. Given that so many people build them, I'm guessing it's ok, but I figured it was worth asking to be sure

Thanks!

[charliex]

Go for it. No problems with the upside down part. The major trick is getting everything aligned and balanced so it turns easy. Here's a link to a couple of pic's of mine. It's the 12th post down.

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

[Cochese]

If you don't balance it (ie, if you want to have it tucked under a counter as high as possible), don't do it. That's the main key.

[pelligrini]

If you don't balance it (ie, if you want to have it tucked under a counter as high as possible), don't do it. That's the main key.

I've got my DW735 on a flip top with nothing on the other side so it will fit under my bench. I have no problems flipping it over, and have had no problems with the planer bing upside down. It is centered over the rod, but even if it were off center some I don't think there would be a problem.

That woodcraft cart looks cool.
Here's mine: http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=39913

There's a really nice one over on Sawmill Creek. His drawings and build notes are impressive too: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...Sander-Cabinet

[dbhost]

A pair of these are in the planning for me. One for my planer and jointer, the other for my Ridgid OSS, and I want to add a 12" disk sander to the mix... My main problem is finding a round tuit. I need one to get this project started, let alone finished... And I just can't seem to find one...

Honestly, the cocnerns for my back dealing with the planer and jointer are a HUGE part of what keeps me from getting things done.... I need to get this project finished so I can eliminate this excuse permanently...

[toolguy1000]

what is a "round tuit"?

[herb fellows]

A round tuit is a square tuit that has been rounded off.

[dbhost]

A round tuit is a square tuit that has been rounded off.

ROTFLOL...

A round tuit. Say it out loud, you'll get it, hopefully...

[Cochese]

I've got my DW735 on a flip top with nothing on the other side so it will fit under my bench. I have no problems flipping it over, and have had no problems with the planer bing upside down. It is centered over the rod, but even if it were off center some I don't think there would be a problem.

That woodcraft cart looks cool.
Here's mine: http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=39913

There's a really nice one over on Sawmill Creek. His drawings and build notes are impressive too: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...Sander-Cabinet

Mine was too unstable, even with weight in the bottom, and it was too hard on the back to flip it over.

[Cubsfan]

Thanks for the info everyone! I'll build that Woodcraft one and see how it goes. It would make my shop a lot more fun to use

[Cochese]

Just got my Woodcraft, and that looks like a very well designed flipper - much better than my effort. Might be an option for my sander, but I still prefer not to flip the planer.

[pelligrini]

Love the storage on that design, and I think running the outfeed and infeed of the tools parallel with the axis of the rod is a better design (not always practical). The only thing I don't like are the stops. I prefer having top that doesn't have appendages.

These stops were intresting: http://youtu.be/xrRYhy-IvtY

[Cubsfan]

Love the storage on that design, and I think running the outfeed and infeed of the tools parallel with the axis of the rod is a better design (not always practical). The only thing I don't like are the stops. I prefer having top that doesn't have appendages.

These stops were intresting: http://youtu.be/xrRYhy-IvtY

Yeah, I like those much better. I didn't really see why they'd make a nice work surface and then have those 4 stops on it.

[pelligrini]

There's another version of stops that use some rotating eye bolts. It got the stops off the top, but created another problem with them sticking out the side. I'm sure I would rip my pants, or my skin on them.

I used two 1/4" hitch pins on opposing corners for my stops. Not much protruding out the sides. I was going to do all 4 corners, but I found just the two to be stable as is. It was a lot easier to do just the two. One hole through the side and into the top, rotate the top and drill another hole into the top using the existing hole in the side. Alignment was perfect.

[dbhost]

There's another version of stops that use some rotating eye bolts. It got the stops off the top, but created another problem with them sticking out the side. I'm sure I would rip my pants, or my skin on them.

I used two 1/4" hitch pins on opposing corners for my stops. Not much protruding out the sides. I was going to do all 4 corners, but I found just the two to be stable as is. It was a lot easier to do just the two. One hole through the side and into the top, rotate the top and drill another hole into the top using the existing hole in the side. Alignment was perfect.

Funny you should mention that. I have the plans that call for the eye bolts. I was seriously considering bypassing that part of the plan, and instead using barrel bolts inside the sides, nothing protruding top, or sides. But barrel bolts tend to be somewhat sloppy...