Project by Heisinberg | posted 02-05-2015 04:50 PM | 4023 views | 15 times favorited | 11 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
Here is my new crosscut sled. This new new sled has been on the “must do list” for sometime now. The build became necessary after my other one bit the back of my leg and ankle for the last time. When I would set the sled down and lean it against my bench it would have a habit of tipping back at me just as I turned and walked away. This “habit” needed to be cured in the design of V2.0 along with some added features I had not thought of in the first version.
V2.0 is 24”x24” and made from mdf and mahogany that I had left over from the blanket chest build. Front fence is mahogany and mdf laminated and the the rear is mahogany. One of the issues with the old sled was it only had a T-slot in the centre of the fence and I wanted it along the entire length of the fence. I also made the bump stop from mahogany and is designed to fit on both the upper and lower parts of the fence. The stop is gapped the thickness of my ruler so when I place it on the lower side of the fence and is turned around it will clear the table top. The cure for the tipping issue was to place the rear fence 1mm in from the back edge. This allows the sled lean forward without tipping over in either direction. No more sneak attacks on the back of my ankles!!!
The key I found to squaring the fence to the blade is to make sure the base is dead square and when attaching it to the runners you take extra care to make it square to them as well. By doing this I was able to attached the fence to the base along the edge and it was bang on the first time. I also milled the runners so they were just a hair tight but could still slide in the slots. By doing that it allowed me to fine tune them with a little bit of sanding once the sled was assembled. There is zero play side to side now and even if I push on it from either side with one hand there is no racking. I applied a coat danish oil to the fences only and a coat of minwax finishing wax to the rails and the bottom.
I’m super happy with how well this sled turned out and looking forward to making a truck load of sawdust with it. One thing I’m planning to add will be a extended auxiliary fence for longer stock. If you have any questions or idea’s for accessories that can be added to improve it’s function please feel free to ask or share.
-- "I've still got things left to do." – Walter White
11 comments so far
redSLED
home | projects | blog
790 posts in 3352 days
#1 posted 02-05-2015 05:57 PM
Nicely done, good write up. I am still way overdue on my first table saw sled – thanks for the inspiration.
-- Perfection is the difference between too much and not enough.
Jed66
home | projects | blog
8 posts in 3044 days
#2 posted 02-06-2015 03:44 AM
Nice sled, I love the tip about keeping the back fence inset from the edge so it doesn’t tip over.
SL77
home | projects | blog
27 posts in 2691 days
#3 posted 02-06-2015 04:50 AM
Very nice sled, did you use mahogany for run re also?
Heisinberg
home | projects | blog
40 posts in 3059 days
#4 posted 02-06-2015 04:58 AM
I did use mahogany for the runners. It wouldn’t be my first choice but my selection of stock is limited due to not being at this for very long. I think maple would be the way to go for many reasons. See how it works for now.
-- "I've still got things left to do." – Walter White
Tomoose
home | projects | blog
422 posts in 4833 days
#5 posted 02-06-2015 03:31 PM
Good looking sled. I need to make a new one and will keep your design elements in mind. Love the bar-code label left on the MDF – I have some shop jigs wearing that same badge of honor!
Cheers,
Tom
-- “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” Pablo Picasso
SL77
home | projects | blog
27 posts in 2691 days
#6 posted 02-06-2015 03:54 PM
I have some free walnut I was going to use, I also read where a guy used high density plastic stock which is interesting to me but it seems expensive. I think I’ll try with maple first.
TheFridge
home | projects | blog
10863 posts in 2946 days
#7 posted 02-06-2015 04:06 PM
Uhmw is cheap. Especially for runners. You can but it in 3/8” x3/4” in many lengths. The actual measurements of the piece I got was a bit larger so you can machine it to your needs.
-- Shooting down the walls of heartache. Bang bang. I am. The warrior.
Ray Lewis
home | projects | blog
6 posts in 2667 days
#8 posted 02-06-2015 04:08 PM
You’ve just motivated me to redo my sled. Great Job!
Ray
-- Ray, Oregon, Http://WoodworkerRay.com
SL77
home | projects | blog
27 posts in 2691 days
#9 posted 02-06-2015 04:35 PM
Any online sources? The stock I looked at was going to be about $30-$50 for a couple of pieces. I just thought wood would be cheaper but I’m interested in the ease of movement that I think the UHMW would provide.
Well, I guess this is not too expensive since I would have surplus for other jigs
Amazon bar stock
Richard
home | projects | blog
11310 posts in 4493 days
#10 posted 02-07-2015 05:15 AM
Very Nice Sled!
-- Richard (Ontario, CANADA)
kennymac
home | projects | blog
47 posts in 2665 days
#11 posted 02-19-2015 12:04 AM
Damn, I just finished mine, never even thought of cutting a dado for a track in the top. Nice job!
Have your say...