By Mark Clement
It's hard to imagine a production oriented jobsite without a miter saw. But a miter saw clamped to a regular workbench doesn't have the functionality to run at top speed and performance. For that it needs the in-feed and out-feed support of a portable miter saw stand. While each of the products detailed below takes a different slant on the miter saw stand, all have features and benefits that can make your miter saw an even more efficient and effective part of the on-site setup.
PortAmate PM700 Miter Saw WorkCenter
The PortAmate PM7000 Miter Saw WorkCenter from HTC Products, Inc. looks tricked out, ramped up and ready to roll, taking the concept of multi-functionality to the next level, according to the company. Not only can you use the PortAmate with a miter saw, you can use it—interchangeably—with other tools. So now, instead of setting your portable thickness planer on the floor and running a mile of stock that needs to be re-sized, you can have it loaded at bench height—with in-and out-feed support. The company says that changing tools out is fast and easy using their universal machine mounts.
There's a third support arm you can slide along the main rail for accommodating long work or small pieces quickly; I'd get a couple extra for various levels of support along the rail. It will save adjustment time for accommodating stock of different lengths later.
The unit has a smart onboard plug. There's a wheel for easy mobility and work light for burning midnight oil. The unit breaks down into a compact size for jobsite storage or moving it around in the truck. Rubber feet and wide, stable legs make it OK to set up the PortAmate inside on a level surface or out in the mud where it's anything but level.
www.HTCProductsInc.com
Trojan MS2000 Miter Saw Station
The Trojan miter saw is ready for business. It's collapsible for easy storage in small or cramped shops and doesn't require that you remove the saw. It also folds open to support 13 feet of wood. This is a great feature when cutting long pieces. The unit has rollers so making adjustments to get right on the mark is easier, and the galvanized rollers won't rust (even in the dampest shops) according to Trojan. The steel frame is powder coated so it resists rust and rough spots, too.
For more support, Trojan sells the MS2000X extension wing which adds about 30 inches of support. The wing nests under the table when not in use—a cool looking feature. This is great for deck builders or siding installers working with really long stock, says Jeff O'Mealy, the inventor, fabricator and all around lead-guy of Trojan Tools. By the way, O'Mealy is credited with the first miter saw stand, which he made in his metal working shop some 20 years ago—and he's still at it.
What's also nice about the Trojan MS2000 is it has wide in-feed and out-feed arms with several supports along the way, called ladder-frame support. This is great for cutting small pieces like moldings or large chunks like framing or shelf blanks. The rail height is adjustable to fit all kinds of different saws, so once you set up, you're ready for business. It even has big pneumatic wheels for maneuvering mud and stairs with the saw attached. "It'll save you more time than you think," says O'Mealy.
www.TrojanTools.com
Lee Unlimited Power Bench
I'm not sure which is more compelling: the story behind this tool or the tool itself.
The Lee Unlimited Power Bench was invented by South Dakota contractor Clint Birkeland to meet his own jobsite requirements. After designing the first one, he realized he was onto something he started telling people. That was in 1999 and he's still going strong. Here's why: his bench does what he says it does.
Portable, tough and ready for anything, the Lee Unlimited Power Bench can serve as the center of your jobsite. Clint reports that while carpenters and trim guys can get a ton of mileage out of his bench, plumbers, electricians, steel stud guys and framers also love it. "It's the only portable bench out there tough enough for the big stuff like black pipe and piles of conduit," says Clint. Durability, he'll tell you, is his mainstay.
Clint and a small staff build the Power Bench themselves in his shop, so when you get one you're getting a real piece of American ingenuity. Clint believes in his Power Bench so much it's hard not to get caught up in it.
The Power Bench is 9 feet long, 18 inches wide, 85 pounds and has an adjustable deck to accommodate most major miter saws (both wood and metal cutting.) The legs are adjustable too, so you can change work heights or adjust to uneven terrain. You can add a 55-inch extension table which enables you to cut 18 foot stock without losing the balance point. There are stops for repetitive cuts, and there's even a basket that can be inserted in the table that accommodates a drill press.
All-in-all, tough stuff for tuning up your miter saw's performance.
www.PowerBench.com
Mark Clement is a remodeler and author of The Carpenter's Notebook and The Kid's Carpenter's Workbook, Fun Family Projects! Find out more at
www.TheCarpentersNotebook.com.
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