I saw Bob from Kidderville’s crosscut sled and thought some of you might find my interpretation of interest.
The original design called for 3/4 inch MDF. That was too heavy for me, so I made it of 1/2 inch MDF, plus I downsized it a bit. I ran a little 1/16″ deep groove on the underside of the main panel to hold the UHMW plastic runner straight and true ($2.00 for the plastic at a local steel and plastics distributor – and I only paid that because I insisted. They were going to give it to me for free).
After I had the fence attached and the thing up on my tablesaw, I realized I had to have some more support for it, not only on the outboard end, but also as I drew it toward me for cutting wide panels. So I built the substructure you see in the photos.
My primary inspiration was using the hollow end of the square box tubing the fence rides on to hold what I call the “gore horn” in place. I drilled through the box tubing and wood piece at the same time and dropped a 1/4 bolt in place through them both.
The three piece substructure is very simple and is held in place with drop-through bolts. They just slide into holes, there aren’t nuts or washers underneath to keep things in place. Gravity does it all.
From where I have all the pieces hung up and resting against a wall by my tablesaw, I can have the entire thing up and going in about 40 seconds. Breakdown is a little faster. I can cut up to about 41″ wide with this rig. Anything wider than that and I go to a circular saw and guide.
Zolton
If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It’s not a pet. – Jackie Moon
Replies
NICE! Love the thought put into the shape of the table and it's supporting members. What are the cutouts at the leading edge of the table used for? Clamping holes? Maybe just for lifting?
Edited 1/15/2009 1:44 pm by WillGeorge
Will,
If you're talking about the oval-shaped holes around the perimeter of the sliding crosscut sled, yes, those are for lifting. Also, as the article in FWW said, they reduce the weight of the sled (slightly). Plus, they look cool! Like I had put some thought into the design!
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Hey Zolton,
What a great idea.
Have been looking at my wee machine long & hard with a view to increasing its capacity,and if'n you don't mind, I will adapt your design for my shed.
Robin
Robin,
You asked if I minded if you adapted my sled support system for your own use. Heck, I don't mind. I adapted it from the article in FWW in the first place. There's nothing new under the sun..
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
There's nothing new under the sun.. WRONG!
1. When a new baby comes into this cold hard world!
2. Your first kiss.
3. That European slider saw arrives for your shop.
4. A black USA president.
5. A baby first said a REAL word.
6. You finally got a 'razor' edge on that blade after years of trying to do so.
Many more...
Edited 1/16/2009 7:31 am by WillGeorge
Zolton, I must've been shoveling snow or somethin' when Bob posted about his sled. Might you post the link or thread number so's I could find it? Then I'd know the whole story...and be even more impressed with how you modified it!
FG,
Here's Bob's post and photos about his sled...
http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=42192.62
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Thanks, Zolton, it's bookmarked.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Zolton,
Well you old divvil. That's a mighty fine lookin sled ye got there. Is that the Kreg stop block fixture on the fence?
Also, and I have a gut instinct about it (pun intended)but why do you call it the gore horn?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Bob,
The "gore horn" is so named because if you're not paying attention, you can gore yourself on the sticky-outy part..
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Bob,
Forgot to answer your other question. Yes, that is a Kreg Flip Stop on the fence. Makes for quick and easy measuring for cutting.
My next step is to mount a Top Track and Flip Stop on my sliding miter saw fence. Every time I use that saw and have to use my tape measure from a tooth on the blade to my present sliding stop I wonder why I haven't gotten it together to buy and mount the Kreg system. It would save a lot of time and be much more accurate than the way I'm going along now. Inertia maybe. Or the fact that it's negative six out this morning and I'm moving very slowly..
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
So, you and Chris don't mind it we all adapt this wonderful idea to our own situation. Well, I think I'm going to do that. My saw is integrated into a 7' X 8' work table with the router table to the left of the saw. It too has a track so I think I can use the track on the saw and the one on the router table for the slider.
Thanks
ASK
My sled is designed with a sliding dovetailed arm that is used to set the length of repetative pieces to be cut. The small block with the two pins is used for short pieces shorter than the width of the sled. The stop at the left hand side is used for longer pieces up to 4 feet long. The small block can be usefull in that it can be removed to square a board then replaced to cut to the preset length. The turn knob locks the arm in place. The sled is 1/2 birch wirh a hard maple runner. If I had it to do again I would use a material for the runner that does not change with humidith.
Mr. Bird,
That looks like a nicely built sled, with a handy telescoping arm stop on the fence.
Your mention of the removable short block made me think of the Kreg Flip Stop, which I put on my rig (and which the orignal "ultimate" sled in the FWW article has). The stop just flips backward and out of the way so you can square the end of a piece, then flips back down again so you can cut the either end of the piece. That's very handy, as I'm sure you find yours.
But the things I like best about the Kreg Top Track system is the measuring tape that you can stick on it and the adjustable fine-line sight glass. With that, I've been able to dial the system in to get exact measurements - something I always had difficulty doing before using a tape measure. It's way quicker, too, to just be able to slide the Flip Stop into place using the affixed measuring tape.
The Kreg stuff is not free, of course, but I found it a good investment for the type of work I do..
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Thanks Zolton, Yes, if I were to build a new one today I would use the Kreg stuff but when I built this seld 14 years ago when things like that were not avilable. The seld is used 5 or 6 days a week and I have gone through plenty of runners. Keep saying I am going to make the next one out of steel of some durable plastic.
I have a sled similar to Zoltons and am using the UHMW strips from Lee Valley. They're sized to fit standard mitre slots perfectly, are smooth operating and easily installed. Wish I could comment on their wearability but haven't used it enough to tell.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Thanks, I'll look them up. Keeping warm? It was -13 here last night and a wind chill of -27 Right now my shop is 50 so that is why I am on the computer so early.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled