LumberJocks

crosscut sled for miters

Project by StLouisWoodworker posted 178 days ago 1561 views 36 times favorited 19 comments Add to Favorites Watch

I really messed up some boxes I was making by not being careful enough when cutting miters for the sides. Soon after dumping the trashed sides into the dumpster, an article by Doug Stowe appeared in the Nov/Dec 2008 issue of Fine Woodworking Magazine. In it, Stowe describes how he gets his perfect miters by using a shop made crosscut sled of his table saw. “That’s what I need,” I said to myself, so I put one together by following Stowes description and adding a couple of features. I added a T-slot for use with a hold-down clamp and a face board to allow adjustment of the rear rail to be perpendicular to the saw kerf. The accompanying pictures show the result.

-- Don Snyder (38.6N, 90.3W)


19 comments so far

View Sef's profile

Sef

61 posts in 402 days


posted 178 days ago

I’ve never seen the sled stop before. Great idea.

-- I may not know a lot, but at least I know that I don't know.?.?. I think. http://chathampenworks.com/

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

6680 posts in 970 days


posted 178 days ago

First class sled!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View lew's profile

lew

3703 posts in 507 days


posted 178 days ago

Beautiful!

I really like the adjustable rear fence.

View Todd Thomas 's profile

Todd Thomas

4690 posts in 200 days


posted 178 days ago

very nice…I may have to make me one…..

-- Todd, Oak Ridge, TN, Hello my name is Todd and I'm a Toolholic, I bought my last tool 10 days, no 4 days, oh heck I bought a tool on the way here! †

View TedM's profile

TedM

1737 posts in 484 days


posted 178 days ago

Great! I like the hold down feature.

-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com

View Tom Adamski's profile

Tom Adamski

309 posts in 522 days


posted 178 days ago

Very nice. I have always struggled getting the fence perpendicular to the blade. The sub fence seems to make adjusting easier. The sled stop is very ingenious too…

Tom

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.

View Andraxia's profile

Andraxia

111 posts in 260 days


posted 178 days ago

Very nice. I like the additions.

-- The wood slayer - Yes dear I did plan to make more kindling out of that wood I have been drying for the last year - honest!

View BTKS's profile

BTKS

225 posts in 216 days


posted 178 days ago

Nice sled,
I really like the extra features, sled stop, hold down and blade block with kerf markings. I assume the marks are to keep fingers away?? I’m working on a review of a new cabinet saw. I just got the 220 wired into the shop last night. This has got to be one of the first jigs I build for it. The rear fence adjustment is ingenious. Think I’ll take, OK STEAL, that idea and add an adjustment bolt with locking nuts.
The hold down is my favorite. Looks like it will accomodate about any common thickness of board.
Nice Job and thanks for the ideas.
BTKS

View StLouisWoodworker's profile

StLouisWoodworker

27 posts in 728 days


posted 178 days ago

Thanks for the many positive comments. BTKS: yes, the markings on the blade block are a reminder to keep fingers away—fingers cut in the shape of a miter are to be avoided. It makes my stomach churn to think about that. I’ve got to color those marks bright red as a safety alert. Tom Adamski: I looked at the boxes you make and like your designs and the precision miters you achieve. Nice work!

-- Don Snyder (38.6N, 90.3W)

View USCJeff's profile

USCJeff

864 posts in 820 days


posted 178 days ago

I have a feeling this one will be favorited a bunch. Nice take on the magazine design. Remember the article, love your interpretation

-- Jeff, South Carolina

View Karson's profile

Karson

21155 posts in 1152 days


posted 178 days ago

Nice sled. A great job.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

16273 posts in 573 days


posted 178 days ago

This is a nice addition to your shop. I have been planning on making one of these and this one certainly is an inspiration.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View Lori's profile

Lori

64 posts in 676 days


posted 178 days ago

Very nice sled, I need to make one of those also.

-- Lori

View Wingstress's profile

Wingstress

119 posts in 266 days


posted 178 days ago

Fantastic! I have always thought sleds were basically the same, but the three features you added (sub fence, T-slot, and the fence stop) all are originals for me. Well done. This will definitely be favorited and stolen. Thanks for sharing…

Tom

-- Tom, Simsbury, CT

View spike's profile

spike

24 posts in 681 days


posted 177 days ago

though of everything. way to go. nice job!

-- "In my family, there was no clear division between religion and fly fishing" - Norman Maclean

View TomK 's profile

TomK

495 posts in 626 days


posted 151 days ago

Great design. Is there any tendency to over-tighten the sub-fence and distort it?

-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke

View StLouisWoodworker's profile

StLouisWoodworker

27 posts in 728 days


posted 151 days ago

Yes. Interesting and good insight that you’ve asked. My experience is that care is needed not to overtighten the screws holding the sub-fence and to check that there is little distortion over the length of the piece to be mitered.

-- Don Snyder (38.6N, 90.3W)

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

2771 posts in 439 days


posted 52 days ago

This is really a great sled …mine is so basic , yet cuts true squares for the past six years …maybe I’ll make a new one anyway after seeing this model : ) Thanks for posting it !

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belongs to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

View a1Jim's profile (online now)

a1Jim

5816 posts in 328 days


posted 52 days ago

very nice sled

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

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