Portable Mitre Saw Table (Cantilever Design)

[Keith William Knull]

This is one of my many projects using scrap aluminum ladders with plywood attached as a work surface. The light weight and structural rigidity is perfect for portable platforms.
I recently purchased a mitre saw and wanted a table and stand that was easy to break down and move but also not overly complicated.
Seeing as how I already have a set of sturdy saw horses, It was a no brainer to just build a table that spanned them with wings on either side. The rigidity of the ladder sections allowed for a cantilever design that eliminated the need for support legs.



The table is in 3 pieces: a base platform and two wings. Each weigh 25lbs and are approx. 7’ long.



The saw is secured by wedging the base plate under aluminum tabs. The wings slide lengthways into aluminum tracks attached to the base platform.



The overall length when assembled is 15’ 8”. The wings are locked into the base and have a 30” bearing surface.



Along each wings length, there’s a magnetic strip embedded in a routed groove which secures a tape measure. The tape is calibrated to the saws blade by loosening the set screws and sliding it left or right along the magnetic strip.



For measuring lengths that are longer than the table, the integrated tapes can be retrieved from under the end of the table wings and extended up to 12’.

Overall, a very simple and rigid design that’s fast to set up and break down and won’t give you a hernia when loading and unloading.
Materials are: 1 sheet of 1/2” plywood, scrap 3/16” thick aluminum (al-13) sheet, wood/metal self tapping screws, scrap aluminum ladder sections, 14’ x 1/2” magnetic tape, two 12’ tape measures.