A crosscut sled for dados...

[Mark Marzluf]

Here's another item I'd like to share with others here. This is my current crosscut sled.

My previous one was the typical 2X4 on ply. After using it for a couple years, I had gathered a "features list" of things I would like my new sled to have. That included the ability to use the sled for dados without loosing the ZCI aspect.

Here's what I came up with. The sled is made like many others. The base is 1/2" MDF with a laminate top. The runners are white oak, and the fence and inserts are all leftover Brazilian Cherry flooring. I included an Incra positioner to the fence for the stop block and a rockler hold down for the base..

My biggest goal was to include the "inserts" that make a ZCI for a few common dado stacks. The inserts are held in place with a couple of dowel pins that go through the fences and into the inserts. Before those were added, the inserts had a tendancy to pull into the blade. Now they don't move at all.

As always, thanks for taking a look at my little ww world....

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL96/791874/1553822/128035884.jpg


http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL96/791874/1553822/128035892.jpg


http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL96/791874/1553822/128038007.jpg


http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL96/791874/1553822/128035887.jpg

[Brad Noble]

Mark,

Weren't we supposed to build one of those for MY saw? :D ;) :D

Thats OK, I know where you live. Better yet, I know where you stash your lumber! :D

That is one fine cross-cut sled folks. And it works very well.


Brad

[Don Baer]

Mark,
That more like a piece of furniture then a tool.. great job and it saves a lok of space over have several sleds. cool Idea.

[Todd Reinbold]

that is way too beautiful to actually use. I would hang it over my mantel for all to admire.:)
I've been meaning to make one for awhile now. Won't be anywhere near as eye catching as yours though.
Todd

[Roy Wall]

Mark -

Nice work! So you take 3-5 identical ZCI strips and run separately with a standard kerf blade, 1/4" dado, 1/2" dado, etc... cutting them out while doweled in place for best ZCI match? And in all, the left blade edge of by the mdf is the reference for both the std kerf blade and the dados....?

Do you have "tick marks" on the top edge of the back fence to "slide" the measuring tape back and forth a touch (if there is any variance between blades)? Or do you find you can leave it and be accurate despite the blade changes....?

Two hanging holes, not TOO big........ , stop block? NICE!!!:)

[Julio Navarro]

I like how you have placed that hold down track on the bed of the sled.

I had grappled with the thought of how to make a dados with mine, now I know!!

Thanks a ton!