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I have been asked about my air sleds, so here are 3 pics of the air sled under my bandsaw.

I just bought a new drill press and will be putting it on an air sled and will take some pics of the construction and post them in a few days.

The one under the band saw works really good. I also have one under the table saw which works but not as well.

Thanks for looking and for any comments, Steve

Gallery

Comments

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If this is what it seems to me then this is a brilliant idea.
Please confirm that this is effectively a hovercraft, powered by a compressor, to enable the machines to be moved.
Love to know some more practical details too.
Ron B
 

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I would think that your floor and how smooth it is adds to the efficiency of the sled?
 

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Amazing!

I am looking forward to seeing the building pics. of your next one! LOL

Thank you very much!
 

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Ron, powered by the blowing side of the shop vac, I don't think an air compressor would have enough volume.

Dez, yes the floor does need to be fairling level. This air sled under the bandsaw is fairly small and works great, the one under the table saw is much larger, works but not as well, hits high spots and the low spots allow too much air to get out. And I was thinking my floor was level, it is pretty smooth.

Joe, yes so am I, LOL. Just seems like I am a lot more tired lately, hope to get back to normal in a few months, unless it's just age, LOL
 

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This is a fantastic idea! I wish I would have been tipped off on this prior to purchasing rolling stands for my bandsaw and planer - I would have went with this idea instead.

I just might do this to the bandsaw anyway it seems much easier than tilting, setting the wheels down, pushing, tilting to get the wheels back up. This looks like all you do is insert your tube, turn on the vac and just push!

Great job!

-bob
 

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Yeah, I'd like to see some details, too. This seems like a great idea.
 

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Don't forget that the hovercraft was made practical by the addition of the air-trapping skirt around the perimeter. Something like this might improve the performance with the table saw.
 

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I am impressed! This is a great version of the commercial model I used for years. Air Sled uses 3/16" aluminum plate with a neoprene skirt to trap air at the edges and they easily move a fully loaded side x side refer. I dont need to relocate my tools very often but may make one of these for the fun of it.
Air Sled a video on their website showing one in action at the bottom of their page, but you wont get many tips on how they are made.
Steve has figured this out on his own and may do a blog if enough people ask very nice. hint,hint
 

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I would really like to know more about how this progresses. Great idea. Thank you.
 

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Thanks Steve. How about a photo of what the underside looks like. Multiple holes?
 

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Great adaptation of this type of appliance:
http://www.airsled.com/appliance.htm
We used these back when I was in college moving appliances.
I would have never thought of using them for the woodshop!
 

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great idea and build

a blog would be nice
when you get around to one
 

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Andy's Link to Air Sled apparently is incorrect… remove the word "HAS" from the end of the link… as corrected in this Post. The video is at the end of the lead-in article…

COOL device…

I think I'd rather make one… LOL

Andy, thank you for the Link & info.
 

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Love the idea, and the price at that link is insane. The floor being smooth looks to be the most important part.
 

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Nice idea. Like JJohnson mentioned, maybe figure out a way to emulate those Navy amphibian hovercraft that don't seem to have any problem on wavy ground. An old bicycle innertube????
 

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That sounds like a good idea!

The good ole Innertube trick! LOL
 

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Great idea! I'd like to see it working.
 

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Wow an interesting idea, and nice to see you do it too . I have been away for a few days to one of my sons also called Alistair when I return to see these wonderful goodies It would be interesting for me to try with my big saw 580 kilos eh LOL Alistair
 

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This is very interesting. A blog would be nice.
 

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Great idea!

I can see myself turning this one and gently pushing this across my shop floor. But with how my floor looks most of the time I might end up with something like this-

 
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