Went sledding

[John Hechel]

Finally made a crosscut sled. Why did i wait so long? This thing is a game changer for squaring off big pieces like this chaotic end grain board. 

[lew]

Looks like a really great build. 

[Gunny]

Nice and big, love it.  One suggestion.  See picture below, paint the area in red.  Visual reminder to bloody stop or else.

 

 

 

This is how mine looks.  My helper has found this very useful as he used this.  Mine is different with the handle to accommodate my bad wrist and arm.  Not needed for normal people but the crippled one needs all the help he can get.  

 

[John Hechel]

5 minutes ago, Gunny said:

Nice and big, love it.  One suggestion.  See picture below, paint the area in red.  Visual reminder to bloody stop or else.

 

 

There is a hard stop screwed into the miter bar groove in the off-cut table, you just see it on the right side of the picture. This keeps the blade from coming through the cover guard. but I'll take your advice and color the guard.

[Gunny]

40 minutes ago, John Hechel said:

There is a hard stop screwed into the miter bar groove in the off-cut table, you just see it on the right side of the picture. This keeps the blade from coming through the cover guard. but I'll take your advice and color the guard.

 

 

Good idea, always good to have multiple safety mechanisms in place.  The RED just screams pay attention to me anyway.    My currently helper is very green to woodworking and using power tools.  Having this stuff already in place has been very helpful.  

[John Morris]

John, you are bad-a**, what a cool sled! Thanks for sharing!

[John Hechel]

59 minutes ago, Gunny said:

 

 

Good idea, always good to have multiple safety mechanisms in place.  

that is why the top is designed as it is. I can still access it easily to adjust the stock but it gives me a stop to remind me not to get my hands close to the blade. 

[Gunny]

34 minutes ago, John Hechel said:

that is why the top is designed as it is. I can still access it easily to adjust the stock but it gives me a stop to remind me not to get my hands close to the blade. 

 

What did you use for runners? 

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

I had built my first one some time back, mine was quite a bit smaller for some boxes I had been building...they are quite handy. Well done!

[kmealy]

If you have some, add a piece of Lexan or Plexiglas over the bridge.   It will keep sawdust (and potentially debris) out of your face.

 

I built one many years ago and use it all the time.  I've used it on 2" pieces and 14' boards.   I rarely use a miter gauge.    A while later, I made one for 45s for picture frames.   Then another for pieces too big (only runs on one side of the blade and has one fence only on the back.  I also use that one for bevel cuts.   This year, I needed a larger one for 45s (lone star), so cobbled together one for that.   Then a few weeks later, one for large pieces at odd angles (Kissmas trees), so I made one that would work for large pieces and has grooves for Matchfit clamps.   I guess I'm a crosscut sled junkie.

Edited February 13, 2021 by kmealy

[John Hechel]

19 hours ago, Gunny said:

 

What did you use for runners? 

Aluminum Miter bars from Rockler

[Gene Howe]

Good job on an essential table saw jig, John.