Crosscut Sled

Here is a new crosscut sled I made for my table saw constructed from melamine-faced particle board, MDF and hardwood.
There are double flip-stops on the fence and perspex safety guards.
Removable, sliding hold-downs complete the accessories.
A plastic sleeved bolt tightened into the t-slots of the saw table at the appropriate spot ensures that the sled
stops at the correct position.
I have put a comprehensive post detailing the calibration of the fence on my blog, which may be of interest to those unfamiliar
with how to do this. I cover the 5th cut method and the dial indicator method in that post.
The fence itself is constructed from a build-up of MDF pieces glued together. I chose MDF for its stability. I then fitted a hardwood face to the fence to ensure a good registration surface.
One end of the fence is fixed with a bolted pivot which enabled the calibration to be done.
A micro-adjuster was made and fitted at the other end of the fence, again to facilitate the calibration.
Good calibration of the fence is imperative for square cuts to be maintained.


Attachment 19167 Attachment 19168

Nice Job Brendon
And very well explained about your calibration

Thanks Doug,
The calibration post on my blog takes a bit of reading. I felt it was too much to put up on this forum.
Thanks for taking the time to read it.
Your comment is much appreciated.
Cheers
Brendon

that is one of the nicest sled I have seen in a long time. I love mine and would not be without if after using it.

Thanks for your comment. Much appreciated. A good sled is essential.

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Thanks Brendon! We've added your Crosscut Sled to our Table Saws category,
as well as to your builder page: Brendon's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-crosscut-sled-54"> <img src="/uploads/203476/homemade-crosscut-sled-54.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-crosscut-sled-54">Crosscut Sled</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/Brendon">Brendon</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/table-saw'>table saw</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/sled'>sled</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
<!-- END /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->

Another excellent Brendon build along similar lines is his award-winning Radial Arm Saw Table:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/radial-arm-saw-table-jig-39759#post55871"><img src="https://www.homemadetools.net/uploads/144375/radial-arm-saw-table-4.jpeg" /></a></div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/radial-arm-saw-table-jig-39759#post55871">Radial Arm Saw Table</a> <span> by <a href="/builder/Brendon">Brendon</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/saw">saw</a>, <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/table">table</a></div> </div> </div> </div>

Thanks Guys
and thanks to the 300 or so people who have taken the trouble to click the link and visit my blog in the past 24 hours.
I appreciate your interest.
Brendon

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brendon

Thanks Guys
and thanks to the 300 or so people who have taken the trouble to click the link and visit my blog in the past 24 hours.
I appreciate your interest.
Brendon

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You have one of the best forum signatures. Large text, URL spelled out, plus frontloaded CTA (call-to-action): "Visit my blog". Next step would be offering a downloadable freebie like an ebook of projects. You can also use Google Analytics on your site, then convert your forum signature urls to tracking links. This will tell you exactly how many visitors you got from each source.

Very nice build. As a beginner in this sort of build, I'd like to see or describe how to build the micro adjuster on the sled so that adjustments can be made to insure the back fence is square. I'm really not clear on how this is done. Thanks again for the great build of the cross cut sled.

Thanks for your interest in this project.
Here is a picture of a simple micro-adjuster:
Attachment 19200 In its simplest form it is a metal bracket drilled and threaded to take a small bolt and fixed behind the free end of the fence. The micro adjustment can be made by turning the bolt a quarter turn and so pushing the fence forward a tiny amount. Note in the picture, the clamp to the right of the adjuster. This is used to hold the fence in place temporarily until calibration is complete, at which time the fence is permanently screwed from underneath and the clamp removed.
I hope this is helpful.
Brendon
If you want to discuss further feel free to private message me.

Brendon,

The photo to the temporary micro-adjuster is very useful. Your narrative and detailed instructions at your website to the 5th cut method and the dial indicator method are excellent. I own a dial indicator (many) and I think I would prefer using the dial indicator method and then do the 5th cut method (just the width measurements) to double check the accuracy. I did not know the 5th cut method and thank you for instructions.

Paul Jones

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Paul Jones

Brendon,

The photo to the temporary micro-adjuster is very useful. Your narrative and detailed instructions at your website to the 5th cut method and the dial indicator method are excellent. I own a dial indicator (many) and I think I would prefer using the dial indicator method and then do the 5th cut method (just the width measurements) to double check the accuracy. I did not know the 5th cut method and thank you for instructions.

Paul Jones

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Paul
The reason in my mind is to qualify your work in making a tool. No tool is worth it weight if it can not have a very high percentage of repeat ability. The fifth cut is to be able to take it to another level. With a machinist they will square up all six sides before making their part. It is about the same here. The new tool has to be proven. I like the procedure and can see how it will show any error. Again a tool is no better that the accuracy it holds. I have never thought to go to this extreme but the proof is in the results.

Thanks Paul. The 5th cut method is a lot more cumbersome than the dial indicator method. I would imagine a lot of folk own dial indicators nowadays but from the pedagogical point of view it is worth detailing the 5th cut method. In any case you a right, one method can be used as a check on the other.
Cheers
Brendon

Brendon
That looks really good. I have had one on my table saw for years but yours makes mine look rough. I think yours is probably far more accurate than mine.

Thanks Ozcee,
I appreciate your interest.
Brendon

fascinating. I'm not a wood worker by any means but owning the usual woodworking tools table saw, radial saw, Band-saws, scroll saw, routers, Miter saw, planes chisels and even a wood lathe I appreciate how others do things. I hadn't even thought of a crosscut sled

Just an awesome sled. Far better than what I am using. Must build myself one or two. One for smaller items and then a larger one for those bigger cuts.

GeneH.

Hi Frank
It's well worth putting a little time into making a sled; you won't regret it. It opens up many possibilities with the table saw.
Brendon

That's a good idea. Sometimes a big sled is just too cumbersome for small jobs.
Brendon

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brendon

Hi Frank
It's well worth putting a little time into making a sled; you won't regret it. It opens up many possibilities with the table saw.
Brendon

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I can imagine kind of like when I once made a panel saw rig for a guy to use his circular saw on I made a radius arm attachment for it that allowed him to cut arches as well as straight line cuts. He quickly figured out that he could set his blade at an angle and cut beveled edges or mount his router with a stylus in the center of the top and a pattern arm with a template for making repeatable intricate designs in cabinet doors

Hi

First, I am sorry for my poor English, it is not my language.
This morning, I just finish my crosscut sled, I use the dial indicator and a bolt M6 to adjust the front fence. It is fast and perfect. I use a précision square 30x40cm 5 mm thickness. I used a piece of wood 4x5x40 cm which I cut a groove 5x25 mm deep to keep the square fixed against the fence, the time I need to make the fence adjusted.
Thank you, Jonathan Rubinstein, for your email, to take me a look of Brendon's crosscut sled. I am very happy.

Yosi

Hi Yosi,
I am glad to hear about the successful adjustment of the fence on your cross-cut sled.
I am pleased that my post was helpful.
Happy woodworking.
Brendon

Brendon, Thanks for this great idea. I made already a couple of sleds, but yours is the best.

Thanks for that. You are very kind.
Brendan