Cross Cut Sled Build

[Stanley C. Pearse]

Considering making a cross cut sled for my table saw. So my question is...if you were to build one today...what features would you design into your build?

[Stanley C. Pearse]

...and a Merry Christmas to you as well!

[Onno Kok]

I don't have a picture of my crosscut sled handy, but I'll try to see if I can find the original plans. It features a reversible fence that turns it into a 45° mitre sled. This sled has the blade go into a thick piece of stock when you finish the cut. You can not see the blade once it goes into the stock as it is buried. I find this very safe and have never had an issue with not knowing if I have cut completely through the work piece.

Merry Christmas all!

Onno

[Stanley C. Pearse]

Thanks Onno!!  When you get a chance post a picture of it.

Merry Christmas to you as well!

Stan

[Onno Kok]

Hello All and Merry Christmas!

Here are a few pics of the cross cut sled I made a few years back. I got the plans from ShopNotes Magazine's special issue "Tools & Jigs". This was one of my early projects and is mostly made from scrap. It has served me well and the ability to make 45 degree miters is real handy. As you can see the blade gets buried as you make the cut keeping hands well clear of the blade. Once you have used it for a while you know how far to push it across your saw to make a complete cut. The plans had the aluminum bar stock covered in PSA sandpaper to prevent slippage of the stock, but I have not added that. The fences slide along a kerf and makes it super simple to flip the fences for miter cuts. I would like to add a T track for a stop block, but I usually just clamp one in place. The toggle clamp was my addition though I do not use it much.

I didn't build it, but in the article they also include plans for a tenoning jig that slips into the same track as the main fences.

Cheers

Onno