Three jobs
- Hold the saw. A jobsite or benchtop saw must not slide, rock or tip, even when a long board leans on one side of it.
- Carry the work. A board or panel longer than the table needs support as it leaves the blade, at the right height.
- Let the dust out. Dust has to fall or be drawn away from under the saw, not pack around the motor and mechanism.
Holding the saw
DEWALT's instruction for its DWE7491 jobsite saw is typical of what makers ask: mount the saw firmly to a stable surface or to the stand provided, on a surface stable enough that large pieces of material will not tip it over. It warns that ripping or crosscutting can tip a saw that is not securely mounted. Its compact DWE7485 manual says simply that the saw must be secured.
DEWALT's bench mounting for the DWE7491
Cut a base
A square of 1/2 in plywood with a 15 × 15 in opening under the saw, to let dust escape.
Bolt the saw to it
Through the four holes in the saw's base, with 1/4 in machine screws from below and nuts and washers on top.
Protect the bench
Screw two strips of scrap to the underside so the bolt heads do not mar the bench.
Clamp the base down
Use a C-clamp to hold the plywood base to the bench whenever the saw is in use.
A saw sold with a stand — DEWALT sells the DWE7491RS with a rolling stand — should go on that stand as its maker instructs. Folding and rolling stands make a saw portable; they do not make a long, heavy board any lighter, so they still need support behind the saw for long work.
Carrying the work
Unsupported work is a cause of kickback, not just of a dropped board. DEWALT's DWE7485 manual explains the mechanism: a long or wide workpiece tends to pivot on the table's edge, causing loss of control, blade binding and kickback, and large panels sag under their own weight, so support must go under every overhanging part. SawStop asks for rollers, an outfeed table or similar support for rips longer than about 4 ft.
| Support | Holds the saw? | Carries the work? | Points to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker's folding or rolling stand | Yes, when fitted as instructed | Only as far as the table | Locked open on level ground; still needs outfeed support for long work |
| Workbench with the saw clamped or bolted down | Yes | Yes, if the bench top runs out behind the saw at the right height | Dust opening under the saw; nothing in the slots' path |
| Outfeed table | No | Yes, behind the saw | Top flush with or just below the saw table; clearance for sled runners |
| Roller stand | No | Yes, at one point | Height and roller direction — see roller stands |
- Height. SawStop sets its folding outfeed table's tubes flush with or just beneath the saw table top. A support that stands proud of the table catches the end of the board as it arrives.
- Capacity. SawStop rates its outfeed table at 250 lb; a home-built table should be at least as sturdy as the heaviest panel you will cut.
- Slot clearance. POWERTEC warns that out-feed support must not obstruct a sled's miter bar. Stop an outfeed table short of the slots' path or cut clearance grooves in line with them.
- Sides as well as back. For wide panels, DEWALT's manual calls for support to the sides as well as the rear.
A single support point is covered in roller stands. For the bench itself — top, base and height — see the workbench guide.
Letting the dust out
DEWALT's mounting instructions are built around the dust opening: 15 × 15 in under the DWE7491. Its compact saw's manual adds why it matters beyond tidiness: sawdust that builds up under the table is combustible and may self-ignite, so clear it regularly. A bench that boxes the saw in should leave that opening open, or connect the saw's dust port to extraction.
Before building or buying a saw bench
- The saw is bolted or clamped down as its maker instructs, or fitted to its own stand
- Nothing rocks or tips when a long board is laid across one side
- Long work has support behind the saw, and wide panels at the sides
- Outfeed surfaces sit flush with or just below the saw table
- Sled and miter-gauge runners can pass the outfeed support
- Dust can leave from under the saw, and is cleared regularly
Sources
Mounting figures are DEWALT's for the DWE7491; other saws give their own, and a saw sold with a stand should be used as its maker instructs. The outfeed table figures are SawStop's for its own accessory.
- 1.
DWE7491 10" (254 mm) Job Site Table Saw, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: Bench mounting for the DWE7491: firmly mounted to a stable surface or the stand provided; a surface stable enough that large pieces will not tip it; a 15 × 15 in opening for dust; a 1/2 in plywood base with the saw bolted through its four holes, clamped to the bench; the warning that ripping or crosscutting may tip a saw that is not securely mounted.
- 2.
DWE7491RS 10-in. Jobsite Table Saw and Rolling Stand. DEWALT.
Used for: The DWE7491RS sold with its own rolling stand.
- 3.
DWE7485 8-1/4" (210 mm) Compact Job Site Table Saw, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: The requirement that the saw be secured; support to the rear and sides for long or wide work, which pivots on the table's edge, and under every overhanging part of a sagging panel; regular cleaning of sawdust from under the saw, which is combustible.
- 4.
Owner's Manual, 10" Professional Cabinet Saw, Model PCS31230. SawStop.
Used for: Rollers, an outfeed table or similar support for rips longer than about 4 ft.
- 5.
Owner's Manual, Folding Outfeed Table, Model TSA-FOT. SawStop, 2025.
Used for: The folding outfeed table's size (44-1/4 × 32-1/8 in), weight (37 lb) and 250 lb capacity, its tubes set flush with or just beneath the saw table, and its fit to SawStop cabinet saws.
- 6.
Owner's Manual, Model No. 71403 Table Saw Crosscut Sled. POWERTEC.
Used for: Out-feed support that must not obstruct a sled's miter bar.
About this guide
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