3 BIG Miter Saw Station Upgrades! Stop Block, Dust Collection & Zero Clearance

📦 Materials Used On The Miter Saw Station Upgrades (affiliate):

🛠 Tools Used On The Miter Saw Station Upgrades (affiliate):



📲 FOLLOW CRAFTED WORKSHOP!


SCRIPT :

My miter saw station build was one of the earliest woodworking projects on this channel and was by far the largest project I had untaken at that point. This miter saw station is based on Jay Bates’ popular design and it has served me well over the last four years.

That said, I never really got it set back up properly after I moved into my new shop about a year ago, and, after receiving this beast of a new miter saw from JET a few weeks ago, I decided it was finally time to give the miter saw station a few upgrades.

These upgrades included adding a t-track stop block system for making more accurate, repeatable cuts, adding removable panels to the saw opening to improve dust collection, and finally making a zero clearance insert plate for the new JET miter saw.

I got started by working on getting some t-track added to the work surface, and this was a fairly straightforward process of routing a few grooves to house the t-track pieces. I used an edge guide to ensure I had a nice, straight groove, and I did have to remove the maple trim on this left side before routing.

I snuck up on the depth and got to my final depth after two passes and ended up with a really nice, snug fit with the t-track just below the surface of the plywood.

I repeated the same process on the right half of the miter saw station, although I don’t really see myself using a stop block on this side very frequently, and then I could route another groove for the peel-and-stick measuring tape.

This tape, which I got from Rockler, is actually made of metal and is just thick enough to catch on boards as I slide them across the work surface, and I figured housing the tape in a shallow groove would also help the numbers keep from being worn off over time.

I initially routed the groove for the tape measure right next to the groove for the t-track, but I realized this wasn’t going to work with the stop block design I was planning to use. Because of this, I needed to re-route the groove, this time routing it about an inch and a half from the t-track groove. That extra groove wasn’t a problem, as it was shallow enough where it wouldn’t cause any issues.

Once again, I repeated the process on the right half of the miter saw station and also cleaned up that maple trim, which had seen better days, while I was at it using my low angle jack plane.

When I went to install the t-track, I realized I had actually mistakenly ordered the wrong type of t-track from Rockler, where I get all of my t-track, and had received pieces with no holes pre-drilled. Because of this, I needed to drill holes for my mounting screws and also countersink the holes so the screw heads would sit flush with the surface of the t-track

Of course, I didn’t have a small enough countersink bit on hand, so I just went ahead and got the t-track mounted in the grooves temporarily before coming back to countersink them later.

Since there wasn’t a ton of plywood left for the screws to thread into after routing the grooves for the t-track, I decided to add a little more strength to the connection by adding some CA glue before screwing down the t-track and this made for a rock solid bond.

[csimet]

0:55 I did mine the exact same way, but did put the tape measure right up against the t-track grove (the blocks I have sit above the tape and will not touch). I'm lucky to have enough space on one shop wall to build my ~19' station... provides more than 10' of cut ability to either side. I used Fastcap tapes... they are metal and lay perfectly flat (they are the best IMHO). Next I'm building a set of 4' removable fence extensions, so they can be stored when I want to use the tables for other tasks.

[woodworkingonthecheap]

This is a really cool Miter Saw stand. Ill use this plan when I have the space for a miter saw!

[SujMenon]

That stop block design is very useful. Will be copying that soon. Lol. And that Jet's blade is so reflective, it looks like a mirror 👍

[KCElectrics]

Like the upgrades, the removable panels help dust collection so much, I did this not long ago and it’s a game changer!

[brucenovotny]

Thanks for all the great ideas and inspiration. Watching this is so much more satisfying than watching a movie...🙂👍🇨🇦

[bighammer]

Great ideas on the upgrades for the miter saw. Always exciting improving ones setup and being more efficient.

[joeymerrell]

I’ve had that same mitre saw for almost two years now. It’s an awesome saw.

[DaveDoesCarpentry]

Love your craftsmanship! Inspiring me to get working’

[jamesdavies]

Them improvements makes a world of difference. Another way you could have done the tape is use a magnetic tape so then the tape could be moved to be calibrated to any new blade

[TarshaHomestead]

Thanks Johnny! I just finished my Jay Bates miter station video with some similar modifications as you made on yours. This inspires me to close in the hood a bit because I’m still getting blasted with dust.

[bret_Lambky]

Great video! I really like your additions! This workstation will benefit you for a lot of years to come!

[gordonfranken]

Looks great! You should think about putting a zero-clearance block on the fence of the miter saw, as that’s where additional tear out can occur.

[barryb]

Question about the Jet saw: knowing that Jet sent you the saw, what is your honest opinion about it compared to others that you have used? I have several jet woodworking tools, but have heard questionable things about the saw. Thanks ahead of time for the response!

BB in Oklahoma

[jerryhubbard]

I am in th process of building my new wood working shop. My next project is to make a station for my brand new DeWalt 779. Instead of T-track, my system will use Microjig parts which are. much cheaper and more versatile.

[duinin]

I couldn't take my eyes off that blade... that thing is beautiful lol. Great work on the miter station though, I plan on building a similar one soon

[judas]

Wow. So cool Johnny brooke . Watching ya all the way from 🇲🇺 Mauritius. Lots of love 💖💖💖 . Love your contents

[MCsCreations]

Great work, dude! It's looking much better now! 😃
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[kevincriswell]

Very nice modifications! I think I might’ve used that first blank you made of the zero clearance plate as a template to flush trim additional plates.

[chetnash]

Very useful. Thanks for the good ideas

[MrJKellerLewis]

Nice video. I've been thinking magnets too