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Crosscut sled size?

MisterT | Posted in Tools for Home Building on April 20, 2006 01:25am

I am going to build a crosscut sled for Grizzelda.

I found a partial sheet of 1/2″ A-C that is 48x 33.

Is this too big???

Don’t want to make it too unwieldy, but I can always cut it down later…

How big is Yours??? 😉

 

Mr. T. 

“My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions – or bury the results.” – Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold.

 

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  1. Piffin | Apr 20, 2006 01:38am | #1

    'bout 30 by 38

     

     

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  2. User avater
    IMERC | Apr 20, 2006 02:03am | #2

    32x60 would be better...

    mica'd........

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

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  3. alias | Apr 20, 2006 02:48am | #3

    a crosscut sled varies from what your doing ,here are some things i think about dont make it so big as you cant use the fence in conjunction with the sled, i would use 3/4 " birch veneer ply with hard wood runners (mahogany, oak ) if you can find it use aluminum though it may take some time to find. another alternative is UHMW -ultra-high molecular weight plastic very stable again takes some looking for it. when using the hard wood for your fence rabbet over the ply glue then screw . make sure the fence is of very tight grain hardwood . because when the seasons change so does the wood if too drastically will pull the plywood base out of level and will buckle and render it useless. i will post some pic's on the morrow . of the three i have in the shop..... slainte' k

    .." we judge ourselves by our motives, and others by their actions........."



    Edited 4/19/2006 8:25 pm ET by alias

  4. User avater
    Pondfish | Apr 20, 2006 04:26am | #4

    That's not a bad size.  I use 48x24 1/2" MDF panels for my sleds; width is good, but I often wish they were deeper when I want to cut a table top...

     

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    1. JulianTracy | Apr 20, 2006 05:53am | #5

      This was the first sled I ever built - a few months ago. It's specifically for my Portable (only) Bosch table saw.Funny thing is, I had never really used one before, so I just found a set of plans on the web and kindof made it like that. Had no idea what the dimensions ought to be before I started.So I build it, and after 2-3 cuts with it it's totally obvious exactly what I should've done differently! As it is, it's not bad, but I see no reason to have it symetrical over the blade - all of my cutting is from the left, so next time I'll have most of the base to the left. Also, it should have been a bit deeper - I think I ended up with 15-16" crosscut capability - not bad for my portable uses, and I do need to keep it reasonable so I can actually keep it in the trailer at all times, but I should've have given myself a bit more depth.Interestingly enough, I had the idea that it was basically just for cross-cutting large boards that wouldn't fit it the slide saw, but it's actually really handy for trimming very small pcs. on the tablesaw - those that you wouldn't even do on a miter saw - spacer blocks, etc.. The sled makes those kind of cuts doable very safely. (Or at least it seems like it)JT

      1. User avater
        loucarabasi | Apr 20, 2006 01:36pm | #6

        JT, I built one last month and I Love it. I made a small one and a larger one. Can you build one for when the blade tilts to 45?

        -Lou

        1. JulianTracy | Apr 20, 2006 03:25pm | #7

          Now that you mention it - that'd be a good idea. No reason you couldn't, right?JT

          1. Sancho | Apr 20, 2006 04:16pm | #8

            I make mine about 244" wide b/c it's about the average size of a kitchen cab. The length well it depends if your using one miter or 2.

            If one it will be to the edge of the wing. If 2 the end of both wings.

            If you have a exended fence say a 50" It would be to the end where a wing would be.

            I personally like the 1 mitre runner b/c it allows for more control on smaller thinner pieces and I add stationary supports for the othe side of the table...

            That is necessary to avoid kick backs.   

                         View ImageView Image

          2. alias | Apr 21, 2006 12:49am | #9

            here are those fences........... have fun. slainte'.." we judge ourselves by our motives, and others by their actions........."

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