Rob Hough
03-15-2010, 2:17 PM
So my old sled (and not a very accurate one) won't work on my new saw (miter slots are spaced differently) and being that it wasn't all that accurate in the first place... I've decided to build a new one. I'll update this thread as I build.
Over the weekend I came across some phenolic faced plywood for $20 on sale at my local Rockler, and I thought it would make a great base:
http://sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=321&pictureid=3085
Right now I have a pair of steel miter bars attached to the base. They are only attached using a couple of screws and I'm not 100% sold on using these particular bars, so I haven't bolted them down permanently. I like that I can adjust them, but they are quite heavy.
I raised the blade through the sled so that I would have a reference point to work with. I extended the blade kerf with a sharpie to both ends of the base. I also drew basic layout lines (using my new square) for the front and back fences.
I'm leaning towards providing means for a zero clearance insert on the sled but I'm not 100% how to do that. I'm thinking either a 2-3" wide slot. How are people attaching this? Just countersunk screws or bolts?
I'm definitely planning on going with the 5-cut method to insure it is square but I think I might need some help on the fence. What material would make a suitable, and long lasting fence material? I'd like to attach a t-track across the top of the fence so I'm not sure how well MDF would work for that. Perhaps if I adhered a wood cap to accept the track?
I've used the following threads for some of my reference material. Any other advice is always appreciated:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=50581
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=127651
and the 5-cut method
http://www.thewoodshop.20m.com/five_cut_method_swf.htm
Over the weekend I came across some phenolic faced plywood for $20 on sale at my local Rockler, and I thought it would make a great base:
http://sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=321&pictureid=3085
Right now I have a pair of steel miter bars attached to the base. They are only attached using a couple of screws and I'm not 100% sold on using these particular bars, so I haven't bolted them down permanently. I like that I can adjust them, but they are quite heavy.
I raised the blade through the sled so that I would have a reference point to work with. I extended the blade kerf with a sharpie to both ends of the base. I also drew basic layout lines (using my new square) for the front and back fences.
I'm leaning towards providing means for a zero clearance insert on the sled but I'm not 100% how to do that. I'm thinking either a 2-3" wide slot. How are people attaching this? Just countersunk screws or bolts?
I'm definitely planning on going with the 5-cut method to insure it is square but I think I might need some help on the fence. What material would make a suitable, and long lasting fence material? I'd like to attach a t-track across the top of the fence so I'm not sure how well MDF would work for that. Perhaps if I adhered a wood cap to accept the track?
I've used the following threads for some of my reference material. Any other advice is always appreciated:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=50581
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=127651
and the 5-cut method
http://www.thewoodshop.20m.com/five_cut_method_swf.htm