I finally finished my new crosscut sled to replace my old one that didn't fit my new saw i got this summer. There were two features i really wanted after my experience with the first - hold downs for the piece being cut since it was awkward trying to hold down the piece on both sides while pushing the sled, and a stop since it was inconvenient to find a scrap of wood and a clamp all the time. While i was making a new one, i figured i would also add replaceable throat plates so i can cut bevels and dadoes, and add an extendable fence for longer boards. There is nothing original about it, but it should make a very useful sled.
The sled is 24" x 36". I can crosscut 21" wide boards on it, and i can remove the front fence to cut wider if necessary. With the fence extended all the way, i can have the stop out at 40". The fence is bolted down and can be realigned if necessary. It is currently accurate to about 0.001" over 12".
It took me a couple of months to build (i work at a very slow pace with little shop time), but it'll quickly pay back that time and more. There are some cosmetic goofs, but functionally it works very well and i'm very happy to have a sled again!
10-08-2007, 10:39 AM
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