14 Comments

lanwater,

Your sled looks terrific! I really need to make one of these and have looked at numerous designs. I’ll add this one to my arsenal. You certainly did a fantastic tutorial. Thanks!

L/W

This is an excellent sled. I have to make one of these someday. I made a very simple one that pushes the stock. Is very lightweight and easy to use but I’m very limited on the width of anything I can cut.

The picture is right after I made it before it got used I have a place for it on the wall next to my saw and it’s very handy to grab and put away when needed.

I need to make one of these. I have a basic cross cut, which is wonderful, but then I have another for picture frame miters, and another for box miters, etc. I work in a very small one car garage, and simply don’t have space for every single sled. Creating one like this, and using the t slots for accessories would be very handy indeed. Nice one!

L/W: Thank you!

Brian: Thanks!
I have another simpler sled that was very effective but after I built this one I never looked back. That design has much more advantages despite being heavy.

David: It will be very handy. It has helped me improve my cuts:
-I know exactly where the blade will be cutting
-The work piece is supported on both side
-I can use hold down on the piece keeping my hands away (see below)

-In this particular design I can have a stop that’s outside the boundary of the sled itself. That was a life save when I built my bookcase.
I really like it.

Great Design, Great Execution – your modifications make it both more functional and commercial-grade.

I’ll need to upgrade mine, once the test-rocker build is complete.

Nice Work.
MJCD

Good job! I built mine very similarly. I used Maple for the base and 3/4in ply as well.

Nice sled lanwater, Very nice write up also!
30 years and I’ve never used one. lol Maybe I should make one.
I’m going to fav yours in case I ever do.
Thanks for posting

So the white stuff was plastic laminate and not formica? Is it called “plastic laminate” at Lowes? I just bought a heavy fixed based Bosch router and I’m getting ready to build a nice router table. Most designs call for “plastic laminate”. I also have a rickety sled that has no fences and it’s made with particle board. It’s getting flimsy. I need to make a router table and a new sled.

I may ask you some questions when I get to the construction aspect. I didn’t see measurements. Did the website I saw have sketchup downloads so I could measurements? Oh, and do the big holes in the sled allow for quick removal of the fences?

David

MJCD: Thanks!

HMike: Thanks!
I must tell you that I saw your sled during browsing before I built this mine and was impressed. It was much better than the other bunch I saw.

Bently! From What I have seen so far I am not surprised you do not have one because you do not need one.
I am very sure you can stand across the room and say “hey, you are 1/64 off”
That’s what Jim my teacher does to me all the time. When I challenge him to prove it, he take his long caliper out, measure, smile and walk away; He was right on. He also have years of experience just like you. I hope we meet one day.

David: to my knowledge Formica was the original brand /company. Every thing I read call it “plastic laminate”.
As for lowes good luck most of the employees don’t know what it is. However it is right where they put those cheap MDF kitchen counter top. They have about 6 different pattern. I like the white because It does not distract me and I get to draw lines on it that I can erase with an eraser:)
I put it on almost every surface in my shop. It’s durable. It allow material to slide easier too.
I must admit that I did some glue up on my saw outfeed table. When the left over glue dried I took a box cutter blade and scrape it off.

Caveat: They are very hard on the blade. When you score a sheet and try to snap it, make sure you do not let it bend all over the place, it will tear off; I have done that the first couple of times.

The site has measurement and a video. It is a good video.

Yes, the big hole allow the removal of the smaller fences.

And please don’t hesitate. Email any question you may have. I usually answer in the evening. I sneak some at work ( don’t tell).

Well done !
Like all the design changes and laminating the base on both sides is the way to go to keep it flat a step often ignored .

I just saw yours kiefer.
I need to make another one (:

Very nicely done. I’m going to make one this fall I think.

Excellent build Abbas,nice photo work up too.