I meant "sleds", not "slides". Darned voice-to-text
Oh, and definitely two runners. Bandsaw drift is a myth. Double the contact surface is math. Just supplying a different opinion
So if I had to make a list of things I put on my sleds:
- Plywood construction
- ZCI's
Attachment 445111
- Adjustable fence
Attachment 445112
- Blade exit guard
Attachment 445110
- T-tracks for smaller pieces
Attachment 445115
- Standardize your fence height and thickness so that stops and other goodies can be used between sleds (see that? I said sleds
)
I have been tempted to add t-track to the fences but, have trick little clamps that serve me well. I use t-track a lot so I am not sure why my sleds remain t-track free(???). I have used aluminum, UHMW and straight grained wood for runners. All work well. I shellac and wax the bottoms, and wax the runners. Along with a well maintained tablesaw top the bottoms give years of service without wearing through.
Attachment 445114
The larger sled is a bit hefty and I keep considering putting some cutouts in it to help with the weight. It is only for larger panels which I don't do very often so it just keeps getting used instead of "improved". I did make a simple sled support so that I can have it in the "start" position without having to hold it up.
Attachment 445116 .
Attachment 445117 .
Attachment 445118
I have sleds that have survived for three tablesaw changes by just relocating the runners. The leading fence is glued and screwed. The 'operator position' fence is adjustable on t-bolts. I have only re-adjusted one fence, on one sled, in probably 15 years. I trust them implicitly and they have only let me down once (that would be the time I re-adjusted
).
Have fun developing the sled(s) that check off all the items on your list.
P.s. in the last pic you can see that I added little rubber feet for the sleds to stand on when they are leaned against the wall for storage. These keep the sleds off of my concrete shop floor so they do not wick moisture.