Hello all, Most tool stands that I've seen have splayed legs for more
stability. I'd like to make one that has straight legs instead , but am
concerned about stability since I will have my Performax 16-32 on the top,
and my Dewalt dw735 planer on a lower shelf. That's a combined weight of
about 200 lbs. Is there a specific ratio between height and width that
will assure stabilty? I'm guessing a minimum of 2:1- so for a height of 36
inches it has to be at least 18 inches wide. Does that sound about right?
Thanks for any help,
Gene

--





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"Gene T" wrote in message
...
Hello all, Most tool stands that I've seen have splayed legs for more
stability. I'd like to make one that has straight legs instead , but am
concerned about stability since I will have my Performax 16-32 on the top,
and my Dewalt dw735 planer on a lower shelf. That's a combined weight of
about 200 lbs. Is there a specific ratio between height and width that
will assure stabilty? I'm guessing a minimum of 2:1- so for a height of
36
inches it has to be at least 18 inches wide. Does that sound about right?
Thanks for any help,
Gene


It's more a function of how the tool is loaded. Planers are loaded fore and
aft, and would benefit from a bit of a wide footprint in those directions.
Side to side is not meaningful. My planer stand is 30% deeper than the
length of the table. Works well.

"Gene T" wrote in message
Hello all, Most tool stands that I've seen have splayed legs for more
stability. I'd like to make one that has straight legs instead , but am
concerned about stability since I will have my Performax 16-32 on the top,
and my Dewalt dw735 planer on a lower shelf.

Any way you can set something up that attaches to the ground? Something as
simple as metal pipe with the screw down flanges on the bottom my suffice.

Gene T says...

Hello all, Most tool stands that I've seen have splayed legs for more
stability. I'd like to make one that has straight legs instead , but am
concerned about stability since I will have my Performax 16-32 on the top,
and my Dewalt dw735 planer on a lower shelf. That's a combined weight of
about 200 lbs. Is there a specific ratio between height and width that
will assure stabilty? I'm guessing a minimum of 2:1- so for a height of 36
inches it has to be at least 18 inches wide. Does that sound about right?
Thanks for any help,
Gene

That configuration would be more stable than just having one tool on the
top. There isn't going to be much force working to tip the stand under
normal use since the machines feed automatically and long stock will
have to be supported anyway so that you don't get snipe. I don't see a
problem unless you get drunk and fall into it.

I don't know if you are planning to make your stand mobile or not, but
if it is, I would reccomend that you try to build some sort of flip
down outrigger of some sort for more stability. Very similar to the
part of this type on the Shop Fox mobile bases.

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 23:33:18 GMT, "Gene T"
wrote:

Hello all, Most tool stands that I've seen have splayed legs for more
stability. I'd like to make one that has straight legs instead , but am
concerned about stability since I will have my Performax 16-32 on the top,
and my Dewalt dw735 planer on a lower shelf. That's a combined weight of
about 200 lbs. Is there a specific ratio between height and width that
will assure stabilty? I'm guessing a minimum of 2:1- so for a height of 36
inches it has to be at least 18 inches wide. Does that sound about right?

I built a tool stand for my little Delta TS, dimentions are 18.5" x
14.5" x 22.5", and it's steady as a rock. But, with an extra 14" of
height, I'd want it to have a little larger footprint, or some wider
material (I used 1.5" x 1.5" x .188" angle iron.)

Thanks for any help,
Gene

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 23:33:18 GMT, "Gene T"
wrote:

Hello all, Most tool stands that I've seen have splayed legs for more
stability. I'd like to make one that has straight legs instead , but am
concerned about stability since I will have my Performax 16-32 on the top,
and my Dewalt dw735 planer on a lower shelf. That's a combined weight of
about 200 lbs. Is there a specific ratio between height and width that
will assure stabilty?

By stability, I assume you mean the ability not to tip over, as opposed to
not sway in the breeze. You want the center of gravity as low as possible.
The formula must include what is on the stand, not the stand alone. The CG
should be no higher than the distance from center to edge. Splayed legs
allow for a smaller table on top and saves material, but it is not
necessarily any more stable than straight legs having the same dimension on
top as the base footprint and the tool centered on it.

Extreme examples. Take a 15 pound grinder with a base of 8" x 8". Make a
table that is 9" x 9" and it will easily tip over. The more you splay the
legs, the more difficult it is to tip. Take your 200 pound planer and sit
it in the center of your 30" x 72" work bench. You get the idea.


Splayed legs allow you to stand closer to the tool as you have room for your
belly to hang over the base. OTOH, if there is too much splay, you tend to
trip over the legs when you get closer and use the top surface as the visual
reference as to where to stand.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 23:33:18 GMT, "Gene T" wrote:

Hello all, Most tool stands that I've seen have splayed legs for more
stability. I'd like to make one that has straight legs instead , but am
concerned about stability since I will have my Performax 16-32 on the top,
and my Dewalt dw735 planer on a lower shelf. That's a combined weight of
about 200 lbs. Is there a specific ratio between height and width that
will assure stabilty? I'm guessing a minimum of 2:1- so for a height of 36
inches it has to be at least 18 inches wide. Does that sound about right?
Thanks for any help,
Gene

IMHO, that depends on whether you're exerting side pressure...
Also, if it has wheels, make it at least 40% wider at the bottom, or it will
fall over when you move it.. DAMHIKT


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

"mac davis" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 23:33:18 GMT, "Gene T"
wrote:

Hello all, Most tool stands that I've seen have splayed legs for more
stability. I'd like to make one that has straight legs instead , but am
concerned about stability since I will have my Performax 16-32 on the
top,
and my Dewalt dw735 planer on a lower shelf. That's a combined weight of
about 200 lbs. Is there a specific ratio between height and width that
will assure stabilty? I'm guessing a minimum of 2:1- so for a height of
36
inches it has to be at least 18 inches wide. Does that sound about
right?
Thanks for any help,
Gene

IMHO, that depends on whether you're exerting side pressure...
Also, if it has wheels, make it at least 40% wider at the bottom, or it
will
fall over when you move it.. DAMHIKT

It also depends on how wide the top is to be. For a 1" shelf. 18" sounds
reasonable. For anything wider, 1/2 the height + the width of the top
would surely be more practical... ;]

- Andy

Pedant? Moi? No, I like my women a little older.

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 02:27:46 +1000, "Andy McArdle"
wrote:


"mac davis" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 23:33:18 GMT, "Gene T"
wrote:

Hello all, Most tool stands that I've seen have splayed legs for more
stability. I'd like to make one that has straight legs instead , but am
concerned about stability since I will have my Performax 16-32 on the
top,
and my Dewalt dw735 planer on a lower shelf. That's a combined weight of
about 200 lbs. Is there a specific ratio between height and width that
will assure stabilty? I'm guessing a minimum of 2:1- so for a height of
36
inches it has to be at least 18 inches wide. Does that sound about
right?
Thanks for any help,
Gene

IMHO, that depends on whether you're exerting side pressure...
Also, if it has wheels, make it at least 40% wider at the bottom, or it
will
fall over when you move it.. DAMHIKT

It also depends on how wide the top is to be. For a 1" shelf. 18" sounds
reasonable. For anything wider, 1/2 the height + the width of the top
would surely be more practical... ;]

- Andy

Pedant? Moi? No, I like my women a little older.


I might also add that the weight of the tool makes a difference...
In my case, it was a 36" belt, 9" disc sander combo that was way too top heavy
to not make a wider base when adding casters... sucker fell over the 2nd time I
moved it.. lol


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

[---8---]
Hello all, Most tool stands that I've seen have splayed legs for more
stability. I'd like to make one that has straight legs instead , but
am
concerned about stability since I will have my Performax 16-32 on the
[---8---]
I might also add that the weight of the tool makes a difference...
In my case, it was a 36" belt, 9" disc sander combo that was way too top
heavy
to not make a wider base when adding casters... sucker fell over the 2nd
time I
moved it.. lol

That brings back memories of when I first started woodsmithing. (I'm only
barely out of the "bludgeon it 'til it fits" stage) An old-timer was
showing me around his workshop when I noticed an antique top-driven
scroll-saw that I would've said was made back in the bronze-age except there
was so much cast iron it showed up on geo-survey maps.

The base, a massive frame of 4x4's, stopped you from approaching anywhere
near what I would call a safe or comfortable working distance...I remember
wondering how he managed to see where he was cutting without binoculars!

- Andy

Ahhhh...this phrase should be in my new collection of
woodworking terms....

Andy McArdle wrote:


That brings back memories of when I first started woodsmithing.

(I'm only barely out of the "bludgeon it 'til it fits" stage)