Where there's smoke....

[JohnT Fitzgerald]

...there's a dull blade. I was painfully reminded of that last night when I went to cut some supports for a tablesaw extension table out of maple. I had left a 'crappy' blade in my saw from when I was last cutting some pressure treated lumber, and forgot to put in a better blade. The saw motor (and also the smoke) let me know right away that I had goofed. Big goof, but no impact since it's just a support that will be hidden under the table.

On the plus side, it was the first chance I really got to benefit from my fence upgrade (Biesemeyer), and all I can say is that it makes SUCH a difference - especially over the old crappy delta stock fence. I'm hoping that the extension table makes a similar improvement, especially when cutting larger pieces.

Does anyone have tips on how/where to get plastic laminate for the top? I stopped at Home Depot and they had it only in 4x8 sheets - much more than I need. I'd love to get a 'scrap', or even a half- or quarter-sheet...

**edited**

[Lee Koepke]

John, back in florida, I made friends with a cabinet maker ... smaller shop guy that would let me wander thru his cutoff bin on occasion. His "scraps" fit my needs like that quite well.

[Jim Becker]

My local HD carries quarter sheets of laminate. So does Lowes.

[JohnT Fitzgerald]

really. hmm, I asked at HD and they said full sheets only. I'll try Lowes later today.

I like the idea about hitting up a local cabinetmaker or kitchen contractor - I may try that too.

[Larry Browning]

John, We have a laminate supplier here in Fort Smith AR that only sells to the pros, but the always have small cut off pieces that they usually put in the dumpster. I can call them in the morning as ask that they save me off a small piece (well, to them it is small) they can be as large as 24X48 or so. I can then go pick it up in the afternoon for FREE. The have on occasion let me rummage thru the dumpster as well. As long as I am not too picky about color, I'm good. (my router table top is sort of an light teal.)
Maybe you have a distributer like that in your area.

[JohnT Fitzgerald]

excellent idea, thanks Larry!