Hi all,
I'm finally setting up shop in my garage. The problem is the slope of
the floor. My garage floor is pretty flat from side to side, but
slopes about 1/2" every 4 feet from back to front. The total drop is
2.25 inches over 20 feet.
What is a good way to level the mobile tools and carts as I move them
around the floor? When using the table saw, the infeed support needs
to be about 5/4" taller than the outfeed support to have all the table
surfaces at the same elevation.
My solution so far involves some tape on the floor to mark the tool
locations. As long as the mobile carts are on those spots, everything
is level. I'd like something more flexible for general use.
Any ideas?
--Stan Graves
"Stan Graves" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> the floor. My garage floor is pretty flat from side to side, but
> slopes about 1/2" every 4 feet from back to front. The total drop is
> 2.25 inches over 20 feet.
If the drop is consistent - and you keep the tools in the same orientation,
then I'd think the solution is as "simple" as raising two casters.
I've got two problems - my slope is not consistent. Rise is less at front of
garage; more near door. And I like to be able to spin my tools around. I'm
wondering:
- is my only option to have the floor overcoated and re-floated to be level?
"Stan Graves" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> I'm finally setting up shop in my garage. The problem is the slope of
> the floor. My garage floor is pretty flat from side to side, but
> slopes about 1/2" every 4 feet from back to front. The total drop is
> 2.25 inches over 20 feet.
>
> What is a good way to level the mobile tools and carts as I move them
> around the floor? When using the table saw, the infeed support needs
> to be about 5/4" taller than the outfeed support to have all the table
> surfaces at the same elevation.
>
> My solution so far involves some tape on the floor to mark the tool
> locations. As long as the mobile carts are on those spots, everything
> is level. I'd like something more flexible for general use.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> --Stan Graves
As long as the floor is flat I'd hesitate to worry about it being a bit out
of level (except perhaps for an assembly table or workbench). If you can get
over that, then you just make your outfeed support the same height as your
saw and no matter where they are they will be flat.
-Jack
On 19 Jan 2004 12:06:37 -0800, [email protected] (Stan Graves)
wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I'm finally setting up shop in my garage. The problem is the slope of
>the floor. My garage floor is pretty flat from side to side, but
>slopes about 1/2" every 4 feet from back to front. The total drop is
>2.25 inches over 20 feet.
>
>What is a good way to level the mobile tools and carts as I move them
>around the floor? When using the table saw, the infeed support needs
>to be about 5/4" taller than the outfeed support to have all the table
>surfaces at the same elevation.
>
>My solution so far involves some tape on the floor to mark the tool
>locations. As long as the mobile carts are on those spots, everything
>is level. I'd like something more flexible for general use.
>
>Any ideas?
>
>--Stan Graves
since the slope isn't constant there isn't likely to be an easy
solution. you could get fancy with some self levelling machine bases,
but they are expensive and still wouldn't arrive at the same height at
different places in the garage. if each machine had all of it's own
infeed and outfeed tables attached and on the same base it might be
workable. otherwise you might work on making a set of wheel chocks of
different heights
Bridger
On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 12:06:37 -0800, Stan Graves wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm finally setting up shop in my garage. The problem is the slope of the
> floor. My garage floor is pretty flat from side to side, but slopes about
> 1/2" every 4 feet from back to front. The total drop is 2.25 inches over
> 20 feet.
>
> What is a good way to level the mobile tools and carts as I move them
> around the floor? When using the table saw, the infeed support needs to
> be about 5/4" taller than the outfeed support to have all the table
> surfaces at the same elevation.
>
> My solution so far involves some tape on the floor to mark the tool
> locations. As long as the mobile carts are on those spots, everything is
> level. I'd like something more flexible for general use.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> --Stan Graves
You state the slope is from one end of the garage to the other. Is there
also a slope from side to side? If that slope is 0 or close to 0, then
use your tools with a side-to-side orientation. If done correctly, your
path of travel for workpieces would be level.
It hasn't been a problem for me. My tools aren't level, but they are
sitting flat on the floor. Draw yourself on paper a simple picture of your
TS and an infeed support and an outfeed support assuming a perfectly level
floor. Now regardless of how you rotate the paper your tables are still at
the right height for you TS. The problem is if you try to level everything.
I don't know if it makes sense to you, but it did to me... I wouldn't level
your tools except maybe your bench. In your case your floor slope is about
1/4" over a TS width (assuming your saw is 2.5' wide) which isn't enough to
worry about.
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA
"Stan Graves" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> I'm finally setting up shop in my garage. The problem is the slope of
> the floor. My garage floor is pretty flat from side to side, but
> slopes about 1/2" every 4 feet from back to front. The total drop is
> 2.25 inches over 20 feet.
>
> What is a good way to level the mobile tools and carts as I move them
> around the floor? When using the table saw, the infeed support needs
> to be about 5/4" taller than the outfeed support to have all the table
> surfaces at the same elevation.
>
> My solution so far involves some tape on the floor to mark the tool
> locations. As long as the mobile carts are on those spots, everything
> is level. I'd like something more flexible for general use.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> --Stan Graves
I have an extreme solution for you Stan. Install level wood flooring
over the concrete. Your legs and feet will be happier and dropped tools
should survive a fall nicely. It hurts to drop an $100 router bit on
concrete...
Simple solution? none that doesn't involve bending down and jamming
wedges under the low sides of the equipment. I just ignore the slope of
my garage (ah, studio <g> ) floor. As long as the outfeed table isn't
higher than the TS table, everything moves along smoothly. I also have
lots of adjustable roller stands.
dave
Stan Graves wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm finally setting up shop in my garage. The problem is the slope of
> the floor. My garage floor is pretty flat from side to side, but
> slopes about 1/2" every 4 feet from back to front. The total drop is
> 2.25 inches over 20 feet.
>
> What is a good way to level the mobile tools and carts as I move them
> around the floor? When using the table saw, the infeed support needs
> to be about 5/4" taller than the outfeed support to have all the table
> surfaces at the same elevation.
>
> My solution so far involves some tape on the floor to mark the tool
> locations. As long as the mobile carts are on those spots, everything
> is level. I'd like something more flexible for general use.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> --Stan Graves