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Various Shop Aids

Project by IowaWoodcrafter posted 674 days ago 1566 views 9 times favorited 9 comments Add to Favorites Watch

The first picture is my first attempt at a crosscut sled. It works pretty well but I have some ideas for making a better one.

The second picture is a miter sled and a spline jig. For those that don’t know Woodsmith Magazine is working with Iowa Public Television developing a show called The Woodsmith Show. The miter sled I made is a variation of one that was shown in one episode of the show. To make the sled you place two runners in the miter slots. I attached a tall piece of wood to the front and back to ensure the plywood stayed together. Use your fence to cut the plywood bottom about 3/4 of the way through the sheet. Continue holding the sheet against the fence and temporarily attach the runners to the plywood. Turn the whole thing over and attach the runners using countersunk screws. Turn right side up. Place an architects plastic triangle against one side of the blade to determine one side of the miter fence. I drew two lines 3/4 inch apart removed everything and attached the fench to the location. I repeated for the other side, double checking that the triangle firmly rested against both fences.

The spline cutter was made using the miter fence. I cut two pieces of wood to create and test the miter. After ensuring they created a perfect 90 degree angle, (tested against the architects triangle), I then followed a similar method to the miter sled to attach the two pieces of wood against the side of the sled. On the back side that you can’t see are an additional to pieces of wood that snuggly fit over the table saw fence. This allows me to slide the spline cutter down the fence to make precision splines for items like picture frames.

The last item is a homemade downdraft sanding table. I took standard 2×4 stock and rabbited an edge on the top and bottom. One rabbit is 1/2” thick and is used to hold a piece of plywood to create the bottom. After creating the 1/4” rabbit on the top I cut additional 3/4 by 3/4 inch sections spaced evenly along the top of the two long 2×4’s. I glued in strips of wood in these slots to support the top which is made of 1/4 inch peg board. I then drilled two holes the same size as the outside, (inside? don’t remember now), diameter of a shop vac hose. Two shop vac to 4” dust collector hose adapters are inserted into the holes and I attach my dust collector to these. I can random orbit sand all day and not have to clean up afterwards.

-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter


9 comments so far

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1097 days


posted 674 days ago

Nice! I just might have to steal that idea for the downdraft table.

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

View Sawdustmaker's profile

Sawdustmaker

253 posts in 676 days


posted 674 days ago

Nice idea on the downdraft table. What was your source for the black fittings? I have one of those plastic blow molded tables with fold up legs like they sell at Sam’s club. It’s lite weight and I think a four inch to a two and a half inch adapter could be installed by using a hole saw along the edge and then drilling the down draft holes. That way I can still use it as a spare work space when my work bench is full.

-- Brian, Virginia Beach

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 674 days ago

Mighty nice set of fixtures. I’m going to have to make a miter jig.

View IowaWoodcrafter's profile

IowaWoodcrafter

256 posts in 955 days


posted 674 days ago

We have a couple local stores that sell dust collection accessories. Blaines Farm and Fleet and Menards to name a couple. If you don’t have anything local you can purchase them from Woodcraft or Rockler.

-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter

View David's profile

David

1982 posts in 1017 days


posted 674 days ago

Owen -

Thank you for posting this. I am just finishing a crosscut sled myself. Funny I had the same thoughts . . . I think I can improve this next time!

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

View TreeBones's profile

TreeBones

1558 posts in 902 days


posted 674 days ago

Shop AIDS? Be careful, it may be infectious… every one here might end up with some of this.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3

View gizmodyne's profile

gizmodyne

1659 posts in 968 days


posted 673 days ago

Nice Sleds. I am getting ready to make one myself. Thanks for the post.

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

View Bob A in NJ's profile

Bob A in NJ

519 posts in 877 days


posted 673 days ago

Very nice, I have the sled also but need the down draft table. Thanks for posting these.

-- Bob A in NJ

View Irwin's profile

Irwin

15 posts in 682 days


posted 656 days ago

Nice work and some great ideas for my own shop. Just wondering what the reasoning is for the 2 shopvac inlets. Thank you in advance for your time.

-- If you're walking on eggs, don't hop!

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