Homemade Footswitch

[smitty0312]

I was wondering if anyone has made their own footswitch. There really isn't too much to a footswitch so I thought maybe someone has come up with their own version and save a few bucks too! Thanks Smitty

[~greg]

I suppose you could but it was worth the $12 at harbor freight not to mess with it.
What part of Illinois are you from?

[Jim McDonald]

Smitty--
I looked into doing it myself and to get a switch that was rugged enough to withstand the abouse and sufficiently rated to carry the load--the switch itself was nearly the cost of Harbor Freight's. And I bought the HF switch when it was not on sale at $20.

There are two types--click on, click off and deadman's. In my opinion, get the deadman switch so when you take your foot off, it breaks the circuit. No use having to stomp the switch just to get it to turn off in case your blades starts heading south.

[smitty0312]

Took you guys advice, I live about 45 min. from a local harbor freight store in davenport, Ia, got the switch that you don't have to turn on and off, just step on to start and release to shut off.....$14.99. Thanks again! Smitty

[marshall]

Smitty : You"ll enjoy it , I have a friend that brought one at Harbor Freight, he likes it. Well when and I need another one thats where I'm going also. Marshall

[Dragon]

Great investment
Diane

[minowevie]

Smitty, I got both of the foot switchs. I already have one on my scrollsaw. but when I seen the ones at HF. I got both kinds, I put one on my drill press. and now I don't have to hold the wood and flip the switch, just stip and drill cool. and I also put one on my table saw. when cutting the long pieces, buy myself. I hate holding the wood, and reaching under the saw to turne it on. so I put the step on step off foot switch on that. and drag it back to turn it on or off. and hands free.I don't have to hold my foot on the switch, I can just click it on, and step up to cut my wood. when I get to the end of the board, I can reach under the saw and turn it off, or just step on the switch. at that price. no problem. we will see how long they last. good for you. I got mine for $9.00 and $11.00 at a sale just last month. your friend Evie

[greatdane2]

Evie, and others. I find having an off switch that is big enough to hit with my knee,hip and or foot is the way to go for me. I use a large switch that is about 6" x 10" on the off side. When cutting long pieces I like the swich that I can bump off with out taking my hands off the wood. My brother in law cut off the fingers on his right hand on a table saw and so am a little shy with mine. The big paddle stye switches are not cheap but there are lots of plans available to adapt a regular switch so that you can turn off the saw easier. The other thing I did was add a second paddle stye switch on an extra cord with a magnetic base for my big band saw. With a long cord I can resaw long boards and still shut off the saw with out letting go of the wood. I had noticed that using my 14" saw that when I had to turn the saw off I would move the wood around trying to shut it off. Having all my tools with a paddle off switch is a cheap way to save fingers.

Alan.

[DWSudekum]

I made my own... I have all the parts ... I am an engineering type of person and love to build things

DW

[Barefoot1]

I just modified mine . . . .


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