Comments on: A Granite-Topped Table Saw

By: bob

bob — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 23:50:27 +0000

At work we have a 2 ton granite slab about the size of a pool table, that we use for calibration of all kinds of linear measurement tools (Micrometers, gauge blocks, etc.) The granite top is super flat and very heavy. The surface is cool to the touch & really useful for layout work as well. I know we keep ours covered with a padded vinyl cover to keep it from getting nicked or gouged.

I don’t think that the wood use would damage the top, but if your table saw doubles as a layup table you may end up damaging it when you put down your hammer or your pipe clamps fall over. I think that a metal top would be better unless you have a moisture problem that causes everything to rust.

By: JamesBrauer66

JamesBrauer66 — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:45:30 +0000

Wouldn’t this top loose it’s finish at some point, and become a fairly rough surface? What happens to glue drips that get on granite? Probably be pretty tough to drill this top for a new rip fence. Isn’t granite sealer mostly silicone? How hard can you whack it with a hammer before it cracks?

I dunno about this, like the guy above, wood moves and compresses, and doesn’t require that much precision.

By: l_bilyk

l_bilyk — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:28:25 +0000

Just go with MDF extensions. The sanding tolerance on cabinet grade MDF is very small.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:26:08 +0000

This gives me an idea, I was going to build some good extension tables from my saw out of melamine coated mdf. I going to have to look around for a cheep sheet of solid surface couter top material (i.e. Corian) I bet that you make some sweet extentions.

Pimp my saw!

By: l_bilyk

l_bilyk — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:51:24 +0000

All this is fine and dandy, but lets not forget that wood moves. You can make you woodworking project with machine shop accuracy, but there is no guarantee it will remain that way a few years down the road.

By: SuperJdynamite

SuperJdynamite — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:53:55 +0000

I see granite slabs being offered up for free on CraigsList from time to time. Are all slabs of granite ground perfectly flat or is it just slabs marketed for such a purpose?

By: joel

joel — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:02:18 +0000

Not surprising… these slabs have been commonly used in tool rooms and modelmaking shops for precision measuring and sanding, etc… I personally don’t expect that kind of accuracy out of my table saw but some people do.

By: nrChris

nrChris — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:02:45 +0000

They also have a titanium nitride coated table top that is supposed to be the real deal. After spending over four hours restoring a very rusted cast iron table top back to a mirror shine, I can certainly appreciate the quest for alternative yet heavy tops. I would miss being able to use magnetic accessories though.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:59:53 +0000

Pretty cool, I was skeptical of the miter gage slots, but sounds like they have addressed it. Cost?