Introduction and a few questions....

[Craig Shewmake]

Hello everyone! My name is Craig and I wanted to introduce myself. I have read many threads on here over the years and finally decided to join now that I retired and decided to tinker with a little woodworking in the the garage.

I have a 3 car garage. I am dedicating 1/3 to 1/2 for the hobby. Let me also preface any questions here with a little background. I am a guy in a wheelchair so some of my inquiries could seem a little odd. i.e.. height of some tools, weight, etc. I don't want to leave the wrong impression here though. I have always been athletic and was a world class wheelchair tennis and basketball player that competed in a couple Paralympics for the USA. So even though I am in a chair I am certainly not gimpy.

I purchased a Dewalt DWE7491 contractor saw last week. Put it together and got it all dialed in and running. And promptly took it all apart and sent it back! My original thinking was that it would be nice to be able to roll it over in the corner of the garage when not in use and allow me more space. While a nice saw, it is after all a contractor saw, and I instantly knew that it was not going to measure up to my needs. Not to mention, the table top was not flat. I had a hump in the middle that produced a 1/8" gap on either end when laying a straight edge in any direction.

So I am now deciding between the Grizzly G1023RLWX and the G0690. I know, I know, the pros and cons have been discussed add nauseam on many forums. I am heavily leaning towards the G1023RLWX because of the higher horsepower, dust collection shroud, and additional router table. No doubt I will waver back and forth over the next couple of days but I am ordering Monday regardless of the decision! I have no doubts I will be thrilled with either choice.

With all that said, I have a question for anyone with either of these saws. Is the bottom of the base solid? In other words, does it have a flat solid bottom or is it hollow and just the 4 side walls? The reason I ask is with regards to movability. I know you can get mobile stands for them but I keep reading how inadequate many of the offerings seem to be. I came across a site that sells the "Hoverpad" and was thinking that would be ideal for my situation. However, if the base has a hollow bottom then i would need to put a sheet of plywood between it and the saw and I don't want to raise it anymore than the 1" thickness of the Hoverpad. I am already freaking out about a kickback that would take off my head as I am sitting. So height matters!

Does anyone have any experience with the Hoverpads? Or does anyone know of a QUALITY mobile base that has retractable wheels so once the saw is in place I can lower it down on its own foundation and eliminate the 1" gap for mobile bases? I am curious to hear any suggestions.

I sincerely apologize for rambling! I am glad to be a new member of the forum, and am looking forward to contributing in any way I can.

Cheers,

Craig

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Welcome to the Creek Craig! Wade right in, the water's fine!

[David Eisenhauer]

Sorry, I can't help you one ounce with your questions, but do want to say hello and welcome to the forum. From your question (no contractor saw or Grizzly experience for me), it seems you are already thinking this stuff through in a forward thinking fashion. Others will chime in with answers, so just a hello from me.

[John K Jordan]

Craig, I recently searched and found the perfect mobile base (for me). I wanted one with completely retractable wheels to move a milling machine around then set it down tight against the floor.

What I bought was a SawStop industrial saw mobile base. This adds just 1/4" to the height as the saw sits on two 1/4" thick steel straps. The thing reeks of quality and will support 1000 lbs. I got it from Woodcraft.

One reason I got it was the ease of raising the machine. This may not work for you out of the box since it uses a foot pedal to operate a small hydraulic jack built into the base. If you have no leg strength/control you might modify it to use a hand lever and release. Another mod might use power from an air line just like in a 20 ton hydraulic press I saw at Northern Tool.

Another issue for your intended saw is the size of the base. It is sized specifically to fit the base of the SS industrial saw. For me this didn't matter since I'm welding up a heavy milling machine base and can make it any size I want. I don't know if it would fit your intended saw.

I also can't answer about the closed base. My only experience is with my Powermatic saw and the base is closed on the bottom. Perhaps someone with those saws can answer. A call to a dealer should answer that too. If a saw WAS open on the bottom, instead of setting it on a sheet of plywood I would probably cut a steel panel and weld it just inside the cavity so it wouldn't raise the saw. Or fasten the plywood inside.

I don't see where you live. Someone near with some metalworking capability might be glad to help modify things for you.

BTW, I may understand some of the issues you probably deal with. A very good friend lived nearly 50 years with no leg use and in his case, very limited arm/hand strength and control (from a spinal injury). Creative solutions to his mobility and function were sometimes an incredible challenge.

JKJ

[Ben Rivel]

Best base on the market for a table saw is the SawStop industrial mobile base. If you can adapt it to whatever saw you decide to go with that would probably be the best option.

[Craig Shewmake]

Craig, I recently searched and found the perfect mobile base (for me). I wanted one with completely retractable wheels to move a milling machine around then set it down tight against the floor.

What I bought was a SawStop industrial saw mobile base. This adds just 1/4" to the height as the saw sits on two 1/4" thick steel straps. The thing reeks of quality and will support 1000 lbs. I got it from Woodcraft.

One reason I got it was the ease of raising the machine. This may not work for you out of the box since it uses a foot pedal to operate a small hydraulic jack built into the base. If you have no leg strength/control you might modify it to use a hand lever and release. Another mod might use power from an air line just like in a 20 ton hydraulic press I saw at Northern Tool.

Another issue for your intended saw is the size of the base. It is sized specifically to fit the base of the SS industrial saw. For me this didn't matter since I'm welding up a heavy milling machine base and can make it any size I want. I don't know if it would fit your intended saw.

I also can't answer about the closed base. My only experience is with my Powermatic saw and the base is closed on the bottom. Perhaps someone with those saws can answer. A call to a dealer should answer that too. If a saw WAS open on the bottom, instead of setting it on a sheet of plywood I would probably cut a steel panel and weld it just inside the cavity so it wouldn't raise the saw. Or fasten the plywood inside.

I don't see where you live. Someone near with some metalworking capability might be glad to help modify things for you.

BTW, I may understand some of the issues you probably deal with. A very good friend lived nearly 50 years with no leg use and in his case, very limited arm/hand strength and control (from a spinal injury). Creative solutions to his mobility and function were sometimes an incredible challenge.

JKJ

Thanks for the detailed reply. I finally got around to updating my profile with location etc. I only asked about the base because the manufacturer was closed and I figured with so many discussions on that brand of saw that quite a few guys here had them.

That SawStop Industrial looks perfect! And I would save 3/4" over all the other brands. It's 20" x 25 and my saws base is 20.5" x 20.5" So close!

I am kind of shocked there aren't more offerings built similar. I would have no problem hooking up a handle to it. I am not keen on the wheel lock on most brands.

Thanks again

[Craig Shewmake]

Best base on the market for a table saw is the SawStop industrial mobile base. If you can adapt it to whatever saw you decide to go with that would probably be the best option.

I agree. It's by far the best looking that I have come across searching today.

[Marshall Mosby]

Welcome Craig, it's always good to have a new member. Please do share your work and any queries regarding the same. People have a lot of experience here.

[glenn bradley]

General Tools used to offer an "Access Line" of products configured for people with limited range in height and reach. I could not find anything current and the line may have died with their Canadian plant but, it would be worth a call.

[John Lankers]

Welcome to the forum Craig.
What I recommend might make your search for the right saw even more challenging.
Have you considered a small sliding tablesaw instead of a cabinet saw? You could clamp almost any workpiece to the slider and instead of pushing the workpiece through the blade you could be in your wheelchair pushing the slider safely from the side, have better control over the cut and also stay out of the line of potential kickbacks, even long rip cuts are easy on the sliding table.

[Cary Falk]

Craig,
I have the G1023RL and it has a sloped dust pan that makes the cabinet totally enclosed for dust. With that said, it sits on a sheet metal plinth that makes the bottom essentially hollow. Like this cast iron Unisaw one but in steel.


I can't help you on the mobile base thing. I make my own because none that I know of have 4 rotating wheels. I store all of my tools in 1/3 of a 3 car garage. It is like a jigsaw puzzle. This is an old picture and some of the tools have changed but the puzzle stays the same.

[Ben Rivel]

Thanks for the detailed reply. I finally got around to updating my profile with location etc. I only asked about the base because the manufacturer was closed and I figured with so many discussions on that brand of saw that quite a few guys here had them.

That SawStop Industrial looks perfect! And I would save 3/4" over all the other brands. It's 20" x 25 and my saws base is 20.5" x 20.5" So close!

I am kind of shocked there aren't more offerings built similar. I would have no problem hooking up a handle to it. I am not keen on the wheel lock on most brands.

Thanks again

There is a conversion kit that allows the Industrial Mobile Base to me used with the PCS SawStop as opposed to the ICS SawStop which it is designed for. Perhaps that would size it down enough for your saw. Check it out. I think its only an additional $30 or so as its just a couple bars and bolts.

[Craig Shewmake]

Welcome to the forum Craig.
What I recommend might make your search for the right saw even more challenging.
Have you considered a small sliding tablesaw instead of a cabinet saw? You could clamp almost any workpiece to the slider and instead of pushing the workpiece through the blade you could be in your wheelchair pushing the slider safely from the side, have better control over the cut and also stay out of the line of potential kickbacks, even long rip cuts are easy on the sliding table.

Just looked at some. WOW. That would be so much safer for me because I was/am definitely concerned with rip cuts of any length knowing I have limited reach for pushing material through. But damn, they are expensive! It's like buying a new car. Oh you want the leather seats, that only comes with package A and is an additional 3k. Oh and you want to tow with it, that only comes with package B and is an additional 5k. LOL

These sliders really would solve a lot of my safety concerns by allowing me to be on the side and out of harms way. Not friendly on space limitations through. I really didn't know they existed. Darn you!

[John K Jordan]

That SawStop Industrial looks perfect! And I would save 3/4" over all the other brands. It's 20" x 25 and my saws base is 20.5" x 20.5" So close!

I'll have to measure when I go to the shop to see if there is somehow an extra 1/2" there or if it could be modified. I do see that the pro SawStop saw appears to have a similar mobile base built in.

I didn't think about the slider option. I added a Robland sliding table to one to my Powermatic and it is perfect for cross cutting. I see SawStop offers an add-on slider for $1000.

JKJ

[Frederick Skelly]

Welcome Craig! Glad to have you with us!
Fred