Welp I am new to wood working and bought myself a nice but smaller tablel saw yesterday and I have been watching video's to educate myself on how to make a sled. after watching three other video's my heart sank becauseeee my table saw only has one track. I understand the five cut method and was trying to write down the math form for adjusting the cuts. LET ME TELL YOU, your video replenished my heart and your sled is exactly what I need to make for my table. Now I just have to buy me a router and a band saw and that should be good to last me a lifetime since I will be 66 next month. Thanks for giving this old lady hope!
I demo-ed a 1950's kitchen for a remodel and found that the old cabinet doors are perfect for saw sleds. High quality 3/4 birch veneer plywood and very dimensionally stable after all this time. Best of all, they were free! I've also cut up the smaller doors for a number of one time and multi-use jigs.
I made Norm's panel sled about 15 years ago and have used it countless times since. Glad you borrowed from his simple yet effective design. Yours came out great and I hope it lasts you many years too.
I was a big fan of the New Yankee Workshop, watched with my grandson every week. Missed or don't remember the panel sled. Thanks for bringing it back to all of us who have been struggling with wide panels and narrow "ultimate sleds" or miter gauges with the miter bar being far too short to set up an accurate cut. I just relied on my table saw fence, but knew there was a better way. This is another jig in my future projects.
Ha - the irony here is that the only jig I always remembered Norm for was his panel cutter! :) ETA: It was a great show, wasn't it? You always felt like at the end of each episode "Yep - I could make that now!" because everything was so clearly explained and calmly demonstrated. And yet 20 years later I've never managed to build anything Norm did because he was just so brilliant at everything he put together.
Wow! I finally got around to watching this video! I love your take on the "one size fits all" issue! NOTHING needs to do EVERYTHING! That's why you don't frame with a finish nailer or cope with a circular saw. That's why people like us have so many tools!😅 This is a great sled! Thanks for the video and the idea!
Totally feel your 95% vs 100% issue. I think this happens in a lot of creative/maker things. I'm a professional software developer for decades, and this happens ALL THE TIME. Just remember, "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good". Great vid Scott.
I was just wanting to come to comment along the same lines as well - and it doesn't seem to matter what area one is creating in. If a person is trying to design tools and workflow for their own home based workshop, of whatever sort, it can really get stymying when it comes to balancing "what will work well most of the time" vs "what will absolutely work all of the time." Working in a home studio, there's always the opportunity to "solve" a "problem" by buying another little gadget. But realistically, it can often be just a reframing of whatever the "problem" is - a lot of the time it can be a small compromise in a workaround that lets things work nicely most of the time. For those rare other occasions, those can just get handled as they come. But mostly good is preferable to always adequate (or seldom perfect). EDIT: Also, *subscribed*, Scott - I super dig what you're throwing out there!
@@theyrecousins I actually think my background in framing houses helps me move through that thinking quicker. I was very accustomed to building saw horses in 5 minutes at each new job site but in software I would have to create a UniversalSuperLightUltraConfigurableSawHorse utility library that every single project relies on and and is broken by frequently :D
1. While the 5-cut method is really interesting and brilliant it's unwarranted. Just did it once it works but never used it again. I've been making cross cut sled just using a carpenter's square and never failed me. I just verify by simply flipping the sample piece and see if the cut still aligns. 2. Your take on the "Ultimate" cross cut sled - full of features and heavy - is spot on. My go to sled is now a very simple light one. My previous "ultimate and universal" sled is still there in a remote, less premium spot of my shop, waiting for the rare special-task moment when it would be called upon again. 3. One sided/one-runner sled is also what I prefer. However, if I were you I would have just use 1/2 ply for the base - a lot lighter yet does the job as well. Also, I would stick to the tried and tested back, rather than front, fence. Front fence would require more user effort to balance and secure the piece.
@@saltwaterrook4638 I’ve built beautiful furniture on my sled that was checked/built with a square. The term “accuracy” in woodworking is too often applied to the obscene degree.
@@5280Woodworking I have to agree. Most woodworkers are using a crosscut sled for a cut between 2 and 12 inches long. A variance of 1/500th over 24 inches becomes irrelevant at those shorter lengths, even with compound error, when using wood.
Depends on what your tolerances are for a given project. The 5 cut method takes minimal effort and time. To get a 24 inch crosscut edge that is a perfect reference for a long tenon on tight, gapless breadboard ends is worth the 10 or 15 minutes it usually takes. Better to have it and not need it.
15:04 My method to attach the fence: 1) Drill two holes to attach the fence. The hole nearest the blade is permanent. With a small round file elongate the hole closest to the outer edge so that the fence can pivot about a mm forward and back. 2) Use a good square to attach the fence as close to 90° as possible.📐 3) Make your cuts to find square. 4) When you're ready to permanently secure the fence, loosen the outer screw slightly to move the fence forward or backward as required, then tighten it down. 6) Install your remaining screws.
I used a piece of 1/4 mdf for the base of my sled. All the strength comes from the front and back pieces which I connected with a couple longitudinal bars which make for nice handles. Whole thing is light and sits nice and flat. I like your detail with the chamfer for the sawdust.
Nice design, Scott. You'll probably want to add a support to the other side of the blade. It can be stationary and could be locked into the t-slot during use, but without it your cut-offs will want to pinch the blade and you'll also get tear-out as the blade exits. Scott
6:11 sled’s on the left, because (1) of how the arbor sticks out to the right, the kerf will be flush with the sled even if the blade changes; (2) right (dominant) hand closer to the middle of the sled; and (3) long boards don’t hit the fence.
8:45 my last sled i built had a 6mm base, the thin board conforns to the cast iron bed so its always flat. The base is only really there to help thingsxslide and keep the fence perpendicular to the blade. I'm planning to build my next one using 2mm phenolic sheet as it slides really well and is incredibly stable
I was just getting ready to make a table saw sled for squaring larger panels when I randomly came across your design. I have to say I like it because its light,easy to make and very functional for panel squaring, I'll will probably use this design. Thank you for sharing! Oh and the most common reason why most sleds should be on the left side of the blade is because most table saws are right tilting, which means the blade mounts against the arbor on the left and if the sled were on the right of the blade then the cut line will be off if you ever change blades that have a different kerf thickness.
I like the mentality of creating a few smaller, more purpose driven sleds, then one "ultimate all in one" sled. Aside from being more manageable it's also much easier to iterate on them based on how you ACTUALLY use them :)
My thing is...I don't really do much plain everyday crosscutting on my table saw. That's what my miter saw is for. A sled would be used to mount a box joint jig or something like that to.
The point of about optimum solutions being specialized rather than generalized is really key. Every shop is unique. Every workflow is unique. Having a tool that does your most common jobs as efficiently as possible at the expense of jobs you never or rarely do is exactly right.
You could use a cut off piece, if you dont have feeler gauge.if you need to rotate fence counterclockwise then put closest end between block and fence. secure block, rotate lenghwise cut off piece and adjust fence
I just use the Incra Miter 5000. It does everything yours does, is easy to adjust and it can cut 100% repeatable angles up to .5 degrees of accuracy. And the T slot adapter can be put on or removed without having to take the whole thing apart.
I have the Incra 1000 and it goes to .1degree ( one tenth of 0ne degree ) . That is machine shop accurate. Have they never seen Incra? Absolute repeatable! Basic model = $100. USD
Yes, a lot lighter. Assuming a 1" hole every 2" in the field on the side left of the blade, I estimate you'd remove the weight of about 116 sq in. of that area.
Hi Scot, I am enjoying your videos. re; loss of height when using 3/4 plywood base - whiners! Yes, if you are using a saw table with an 8' blade, but cutting with a 10 or 12" blade, depth of cut should not be a problem. re; Mitre bars for the sled, I have used some plastic drawer glides and have not been worried about swelling or wear and tear needing adjusting. I have an old saw with a troublesome fence that needs measuring at both ends before cutting, each and every time. I do like the small version of a cut sled with the additional ideas.
Never try, it's a trap. Once you cut your first board, you urge to get more wood and tools and you find yourself justifying spending a lot of money for your new hobby. :D
This is great! Love the chamfer on the bottom of the fence. Heard about that somewhere after I had built my first sled. Not sure how I feel about the fence in the back, but I might try this out. Pretty sure that roller on the miter bar is to go out back so when the front of the sled is heavy, it won't tip off the front of the table. About the blade side... If the sled goes on the right side of the blade, you can't use it with a dado stack. From the left side you could do whatever width dado stack you want.
Good video, thanks for the 5 cut explanation. I've also seen cross cut sleds with holes drilled in them which makes them even lighter. I'm with you! Light and nimble and accurate is the way to go.
We are currently making a video on walnut slabs and could have used a good cross-cut sled. We tried to make a cross-cut sled recently. Did some quick work with scrap wood and CA glue. This is something one should really take some time and design. We would like to attempt it again. your video was inspirational.
I have the same sled as your old one and it is heavy. I reduced the weight by cutting handing into each end of the sled, but its still heavy. I love the idea and the weight reduction. My question for you is you end up with tear out when crosscutting because the piece isn't supported from behind? I debate on this sled but mostly use sled for cross cutting.
It would be nice if you would use a riving knife in your table saw. It is of course your decision what safety measures you use while working and how close you come with your hands to the blade, but as a youtuber you are a role model and encourage others to work the same way. Personally I never had to remove mine for any cut, especially if the knife is not higher than the blade.
I didn't see this comment posted but forgive me if it is a repeat. I think it is important to know before going to build this, the woodworker really needs to consider their height and reach. Your arms may be weak (😊) but what I would do to have your height and reach! Having the fence on the back side of the sled would not work for my 5'3" frame. Unless I stood on a stool which I have had to do in a pinch but not really that safe. All that said..I completely agree with the no need for massive jigs! And really enjoy your Videos!!
The sled doesn't reference the fence, it references the miter slots. So the reality is, the method of putting the piece against the fence doesn't actually do anything to make your sled square at all. You can set the base panel at any angle on the bar as long as there is material past the blade to be cut off. It really doesn't matter because once you run the piece through the saw, you have one edge that is parallel with the miter slot. From there its easy to square a fence anywhere you want to on the base. The 5 cut method is actually really brilliant, because you could, in fact square up a fence that is up to 11.25 degrees off.
Thanks for cool insights!! As a short person that’s tamping on the counter, I feel too short to get leverage that feels comfortable on my wrist and shoulder to push down the tamper unless I am on my toes. Maybe I’m doing it wrong.
I heard Veritas and said, this guy is Canadian! Great video. Just bought my first table saw and looking for a basic sled to start. Thanks for the great design
My jigs all have Ultra High molecular weight polyethylene , it doesn't swell, is very stable, resists wear unbelievably well & its slippery. drills, cuts with regular wood working blades & drills ...awesome product for sleds & jigs ....did i mention glue doesn't stick to it
Depending on your general use case, greater reliability totally makes more sense than greater flexibility. Tailoring your workspace to your workflow is simply good practice, regardless of circumstance. I'm a fan of both multi-purpose and specialized tools and use them both in different situations for different purposes.
Thanks Scott. Finally I saw a good channel from Canada. Most people include link to tools used in the video but almost all of them are pointing to US sites.
You look like a pretty tall guy. I'm 5'5". Don't feel comfortable reaching over the blade all the time. But, lots of good ideas I can adapt to a near-side fence version. Thanks.
Love it !! Super smart design and the 5 way cut to make it sqare is SO !! much easier ti understand and explain to friends. Thank you very much , your french Canuk friend Jay-R .
Again Nice Job on your video shots. you can tell you spend time on shooting it. This sled is on my list to build for sure! Thanks for taking the time to do your videos
1st content of yours I'm seeing - Love the Ab version. I have yet to build one because of the reasons you mentioned wanting a new one. Thanks brother! Looking forward to seeing more of your work. I appreciate your in a small shop and able to manage it all. I'm in similar situation but with 2 car garage and a lot of kids/home things in there.
Traditional cross cut Sled work just fine and are probably a lot safer to use. I have 2. a large one and a smaller one. Been using them for 30 years Weight is an issue but can be made lighter by not overkilling it .
Amen! About 7 years ago, I built one of the "ultimate crosscut sleds" made popular on RUclips. What was I thinking? At last, I am free! Have not yet built another but a truly liberating thing happened last month when I needed a roll off to handle some bathroom reno work in our house. I looked at that damn behemoth leaning against my router table, walked it out and tossed it in the roll off. Ever since building that thing it has been nothing but a headache. Can't leave it on the saw, every place you put it int the shop it's in the way, it is constantly falling over. I honestly grew to hate the thing! So thank you for recognizing that in certain unique situations, size doesn't make something better. Think I'll give your design a try.
I am new to woodworking and this will be one of the first projects for me. Would the size of this sled be to large for a small 8.25 Dewalt jobsite saw?
Try using virgin (white) UHMW Polyethylene runners for your sleds. UHMWPE is: highly abrasion resistant, self-lubricating(used to make plain bearings), has an ultra low coefficient of friction(second only to virgin Teflon) so it slides extremely easy, it does not change size with humidity, it is easy to work with using wood working tools, and it is inexpensive.
Super well executed build and entertaining vid, 500 points deserved young man. I built the same sled 20 years ago. . . only one problem, if you forget to hold your work securely against the front fence it will kick back. I'll give you 500 more points if you point that out to your viewers. Think heel and wedge blocks like in an old typeface printing press frame. I'm a fan of your channel, like your style .
Shoot a few blasts of CA accelerator on the wood. When you join it with the aluminum miter bar, instant set. This is a great way to use accelerator: CA on one side, accelerator on the other. BAM.
Great sled and video Scott! I too have one of those big and heavy sleds, I will be making one like your here very soon! Love your videos and style of presenting your projects. Already looking forward to your next one. Thank you for sharing!
I made the Norm Abram panel sled 20 years ago and still use it today. I have never felt the need to make any other sled for my table saw. It's my go-to sled. Really enjoyed your Volg. Cheers From Western Australia.
If you orient the grain on a hardwood runner side to side in the slot, seasonal humidity changes will cause it to expand down into the miter slot, minimizing issues. I prefer to use two layers of 1/4" luan underlayment plywood glued together that gives me just under a 1/2 " thickness. Being plywood, it has minimal seasonal movement, if any. And I can pick up a 2x2 piece of it at my local home center vs ordering and waiting for a metal runner.
Yeah, I called you out on the 3/4" thick sled on your last video. Still standing by that. I find 1/2" multi-ply is more than stable enough - so why go thicker? In fact, as I do more projects, I keep trying to go thinner. I built cabinets in my van/RV conversion with 3/8" multi-ply. Considering 1/4" now. Going to make your sled though (but, you know, with 1/2" Baltic birch). Very cool.
Agreed. Think about it. Of all the sled components, the base is in principle the least likely to introduce referencing errors, and the most likely to be stable in shear, which is its critical function. A thinner base doesn't change these factors at all. The only problem with a thinner base is its potential to deform out of plane, and in so doing to carry the fence out of square - not out of miter, at least not directly, but only that the fence may no longer be perfectly vertical. Imagine a base made out of thin sheet steel. The fence would wobble fore and aft, very slightly affecting depth of cut, but it would not rotate out of miter unless you twisted one end of the fence forwards and the other end backwards. That deformation out of plane is the effect to guard against in the choice of base material and thickness. And this is a further argument for making the sled the full width of the table. Half again wider means half again stiffer overall.
Scott a quarter inch piece of masonite would be fine enough for a base. If you want to make it lighter drill a pattern of lighting holes in it 1 - 2" The same goes for the fence. Make one and see. Supper light and just as stable. Time to rethink again. ¾" stock is so over kill for most things built in most shops! Columbus Michigan.
I need to redo my cross cut sled, and I do like the idea of specialized sleds. I have thought of using the 3, 4, 5 method for getting square, but I would do it in feet. Actually, if you wanted to use inches, any multiple of that would work, like 6, 8, and 10..... Should be close enough....
I work with perspex and need to have a repeatable accuracy of 0.01 mm. I manage this on a De Walt table saw with a homemade aluminium sled with an adjustable fence to accommodate the angles I need. That degree of accuracy I have never needed with any timber unless I am using really hard woods like Purple Heart or Ebony. The sizes I work with are between 19mm down to 7mm square, out of 300x300 stock, so accuracy is essential.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Norm's use for this style sled just to square up panel edges (hence the name of panel sled)? If you try to use it as a cross cut sled, the overhanging portion of the work is floating above the saw top with gravity trying to pull it down into the blade as you cut. Seems like a great way to get square corners for panels and also a recipe for kickback when trying to use it for anything else.
Over in Europe the gold standard is actually a panel saw with built in carriage sled on the side. My father who was a professional carpenter before me used a Felder combination machine that had this style of table saw but also a router table sunk into the top that you could set up to use on the other side of the machine. Sadly he passed away but that machine still sits in his old workshop and I hope to buy it from the current owner one day. All that said however, seeing this video I can't imagine having to do everything without that panel saw carriage!
I never see panel saws in the US, except at the big construction supply stores. They seem incredibly good for panels. I see people using track saws here, but track saws are a pain to constantly setup and move around. A panel saw would be amazing. I noticed they are way overpriced, which is probably why nobody has them here, they are like $5,500 of USD or something like that if I remember right.
Too true about perfection. Heck, even machinists can only really work to within the tolerance of their measuring gauges which will probably not be perfect. I appreciate the tip about feeler gauge to correct the error after the 5 cut method. This is simple and I never thought of it when I built my last sled. Cheers!
I made the most exact sled ever by using my CNC to cut a rectangle, with a miter gauge slot at 90 degrees to the long side. Inserted the rail, attached a fence against the long side of the sled, and ran the whole thing across the blade. Quick and accurate (if you have a CNC). PS: there's an alternative, floating around RUclips, to the redundant 5 cut method. Its 3 cuts, uses the same principles as the 5 cut, and there's no math at all. But you still need the feeler gauge.
I have a Dewalt jobsite saw. There is not enough table to only use one side of the saw, which would cause it to fall off the end. So this sled will not work for me. I did build an ultimate sled, same dimensions as yours, but fence is shorter, smaller, thinner, used 1/2 inch baltic birch plywood, Kreg stop fence ruler, and cut away 3 inches from my kerf so that I can make custom zero clearance inserts, attached from the bottom. Works great and only weighs 19 lbs!!
Nothing stopping the original sled from being lightened, and you could even do it completely hidden fairly easily. Take the front and rear fences off. Use a Forstner bit a little under the width, and drill up from the bottom hogging out material to close to the top, and avoid the screw holes, side holes etc. Then lighten the plywood from the bottom, making sure to not go through. Take the point off of a Forstner bit so you can cut flat and nearer to the top surface. You could also just go fully through the plywood, and put your own new veneer surface on top and bottom. Should be relatively easy to get to 1/3rd of original weight, maybe even down to 1/4 if you try hard. The crosscut sled is about having the reference surfaces and alignment, not about keeping all of the internal wood weight, so just get rid of that part.. And the forward fence is almost 100% about holding the gap together and in line. Forget the full fence, use a piece about 6" wide with a couple of screws on each side. Then you can easily take it off for the rare time you have a larger width board, but the ends don't flop around at the gap the rest of the time.. That said I do generally prefer the other design myself as well. But most of the main drawbacks of the normal larger type sleds can be mitigated.
I am 100% with you on this. I have a small sled and then just a decent miter gauge with numerous sacrificial fence setups for various angles and cuts. I use MDF for all of it. My fences are all done with t-bolts to make it super quick to switch, allowing me to have everything stay a zero clearance, as only one cut type is done on each. I’ve never wished I had a huge sled now. I did back in the day when I had a giant one with my job site saw, but now that I have a cabinet saw I prefered to downsize.
This is perfect. Due to space, I've had to settle on a jobsite table saw, so not enough support on the left side of the blade (or the infeed, for that matter. I'm going to build this one, but I'm going to make my cut side on the right side of the blade. That'll give me all the lateral support I need. It never occurred to me, to put the sled's fence on the backside! :)
Interesting choice of finish. I also heard if you mixed boiled linseed oil with paste finishing wax and then apply to your sled, it makes it so the sled glides really nice while protecting your sled from moisture. I am finally going to build one soon, thank you for all your tips. I think I like the small one too, easier to handle and store, and for bigger cuts I can just use my straight edge.
Just remember that boiled linseed oil is literally explosive. If you leave it laying around it can spontaneously combust. So you have to have a designated area that is fire proof to dispose the stain rags and brushes if you're using it. I decided to stick to not using boiled linseed oil and returned the can I had to the store. Stains are dangerous too and can combust. It's apparent after watching videos that many woodworkers still don't know about the spontaneous combustion of stains, and boiled linseed oil. They sell metal stain garbage cans on Amazon, and these prevent 100% of fires by having a tight fitting lid and being steel.
Crosscut sleds like this-great design though it is- significantly reduce the cutting depth of the blade, the one I have just junked was 5/8ths" thick and it was a problem as I only have a table top saw so today I bought a pack of damaged laminate flooring (£5!) from B&Q which I believe is only1/4" thibc and will make a new sled out of it tomorrow. I can't do without one now, they make using the saw very much safer-and often, more accurate
when you have the chamfer at the bottom of the fence to catch saw dust dont you still have to clean it out every time or else it builds up anyway and has the same issue as if you didnt have the chamfer? so if thats true why not just brush out the dust anyway without a chamfer? can someone explain?
Get your Panel Sled plans here: scottwalsh.co/products/panel-sled
Master craftsman. Loved his shows.
Welp I am new to wood working and bought myself a nice but smaller tablel saw yesterday and I have been watching video's to educate myself on how to make a sled. after watching three other video's my heart sank becauseeee my table saw only has one track. I understand the five cut method and was trying to write down the math form for adjusting the cuts. LET ME TELL YOU, your video replenished my heart and your sled is exactly what I need to make for my table. Now I just have to buy me a router and a band saw and that should be good to last me a lifetime since I will be 66 next month. Thanks for giving this old lady hope!
I demo-ed a 1950's kitchen for a remodel and found that the old cabinet doors are perfect for saw sleds. High quality 3/4 birch veneer plywood and very dimensionally stable after all this time. Best of all, they were free! I've also cut up the smaller doors for a number of one time and multi-use jigs.
I made Norm's panel sled about 15 years ago and have used it countless times since. Glad you borrowed from his simple yet effective design. Yours came out great and I hope it lasts you many years too.
I was a big fan of the New Yankee Workshop, watched with my grandson every week. Missed or don't remember the panel sled. Thanks for bringing it back to all of us who have been struggling with wide panels and narrow "ultimate sleds" or miter gauges with the miter bar being far too short to set up an accurate cut. I just relied on my table saw fence, but knew there was a better way. This is another jig in my future projects.
Ha - the irony here is that the only jig I always remembered Norm for was his panel cutter! :)
ETA: It was a great show, wasn't it? You always felt like at the end of each episode "Yep - I could make that now!" because everything was so clearly explained and calmly demonstrated. And yet 20 years later I've never managed to build anything Norm did because he was just so brilliant at everything he put together.
Wow! I finally got around to watching this video! I love your take on the "one size fits all" issue! NOTHING needs to do EVERYTHING! That's why you don't frame with a finish nailer or cope with a circular saw. That's why people like us have so many tools!😅 This is a great sled! Thanks for the video and the idea!
Totally feel your 95% vs 100% issue. I think this happens in a lot of creative/maker things. I'm a professional software developer for decades, and this happens ALL THE TIME. Just remember, "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good". Great vid Scott.
I was just wanting to come to comment along the same lines as well - and it doesn't seem to matter what area one is creating in. If a person is trying to design tools and workflow for their own home based workshop, of whatever sort, it can really get stymying when it comes to balancing "what will work well most of the time" vs "what will absolutely work all of the time." Working in a home studio, there's always the opportunity to "solve" a "problem" by buying another little gadget. But realistically, it can often be just a reframing of whatever the "problem" is - a lot of the time it can be a small compromise in a workaround that lets things work nicely most of the time. For those rare other occasions, those can just get handled as they come. But mostly good is preferable to always adequate (or seldom perfect).
EDIT: Also, *subscribed*, Scott - I super dig what you're throwing out there!
For sure! Just curious, what are your current tools for software development?
Yes, really huge problem for us in software. Results in vastly over engineered and complicated monstrosities.
@@theyrecousins I actually think my background in framing houses helps me move through that thinking quicker. I was very accustomed to building saw horses in 5 minutes at each new job site but in software I would have to create a UniversalSuperLightUltraConfigurableSawHorse utility library that every single project relies on and and is broken by frequently :D
@@greglloyd2377 Make it work. Then make it better. Eventually it will become great... or you'll change what you need to work on 😉
Seeing the new Yankee workshop made me tear up and remember my dad. He adored that show and had a bunch of their plans and books.
I like your delivery and dry humor. This is a great video with excellent examples!
1. While the 5-cut method is really interesting and brilliant it's unwarranted. Just did it once it works but never used it again. I've been making cross cut sled just using a carpenter's square and never failed me. I just verify by simply flipping the sample piece and see if the cut still aligns.
2. Your take on the "Ultimate" cross cut sled - full of features and heavy - is spot on. My go to sled is now a very simple light one. My previous "ultimate and universal" sled is still there in a remote, less premium spot of my shop, waiting for the rare special-task moment when it would be called upon again.
3. One sided/one-runner sled is also what I prefer. However, if I were you I would have just use 1/2 ply for the base - a lot lighter yet does the job as well. Also, I would stick to the tried and tested back, rather than front, fence. Front fence would require more user effort to balance and secure the piece.
Well said, I agree on all points
Clearly, accuracy isn't a concern for you.
@@saltwaterrook4638 I’ve built beautiful furniture on my sled that was checked/built with a square. The term “accuracy” in woodworking is too often applied to the obscene degree.
@@5280Woodworking I have to agree. Most woodworkers are using a crosscut sled for a cut between 2 and 12 inches long. A variance of 1/500th over 24 inches becomes irrelevant at those shorter lengths, even with compound error, when using wood.
Depends on what your tolerances are for a given project. The 5 cut method takes minimal effort and time. To get a 24 inch crosscut edge that is a perfect reference for a long tenon on tight, gapless breadboard ends is worth the 10 or 15 minutes it usually takes. Better to have it and not need it.
15:04 My method to attach the fence:
1) Drill two holes to attach the fence. The hole nearest the blade is permanent. With a small round file elongate the hole closest to the outer edge so that the fence can pivot about a mm forward and back.
2) Use a good square to attach the fence as close to 90° as possible.📐
3) Make your cuts to find square.
4) When you're ready to permanently secure the fence, loosen the outer screw slightly to move the fence forward or backward as required, then tighten it down.
6) Install your remaining screws.
I used a piece of 1/4 mdf for the base of my sled. All the strength comes from the front and back pieces which I connected with a couple longitudinal bars which make for nice handles. Whole thing is light and sits nice and flat. I like your detail with the chamfer for the sawdust.
Nice design, Scott. You'll probably want to add a support to the other side of the blade. It can be stationary and could be locked into the t-slot during use, but without it your cut-offs will want to pinch the blade and you'll also get tear-out as the blade exits. Scott
I have watched a number of sleds being built and yours makes the best idea for me. Thanks
Fence on the far side in place of the near
6:11 sled’s on the left, because (1) of how the arbor sticks out to the right, the kerf will be flush with the sled even if the blade changes; (2) right (dominant) hand closer to the middle of the sled; and (3) long boards don’t hit the fence.
8:45 my last sled i built had a 6mm base, the thin board conforns to the cast iron bed so its always flat. The base is only really there to help thingsxslide and keep the fence perpendicular to the blade.
I'm planning to build my next one using 2mm phenolic sheet as it slides really well and is incredibly stable
Love this video. Many woodworking channels don't analyze the needs versus end results. This video is perfect for all weekend woodworking enthusiasts.
I was just getting ready to make a table saw sled for squaring larger panels when I randomly came across your design. I have to say I like it because its light,easy to make and very functional for panel squaring, I'll will probably use this design. Thank you for sharing! Oh and the most common reason why most sleds should be on the left side of the blade is because most table saws are right tilting, which means the blade mounts against the arbor on the left and if the sled were on the right of the blade then the cut line will be off if you ever change blades that have a different kerf thickness.
I like the mentality of creating a few smaller, more purpose driven sleds, then one "ultimate all in one" sled. Aside from being more manageable it's also much easier to iterate on them based on how you ACTUALLY use them :)
My thing is...I don't really do much plain everyday crosscutting on my table saw. That's what my miter saw is for. A sled would be used to mount a box joint jig or something like that to.
Love the simplicity of what you are doing and your explanations are great
The point of about optimum solutions being specialized rather than generalized is really key. Every shop is unique. Every workflow is unique. Having a tool that does your most common jobs as efficiently as possible at the expense of jobs you never or rarely do is exactly right.
Really enjoyed your pleasant presentation, humor and general thinking. Learning while enjoying is the key.
You could use a cut off piece, if you dont have feeler gauge.if you need to rotate fence counterclockwise then put closest end between block and fence. secure block, rotate lenghwise cut off piece and adjust fence
I just use the Incra Miter 5000. It does everything yours does, is easy to adjust and it can cut 100% repeatable angles up to .5 degrees of accuracy. And the T slot adapter can be put on or removed without having to take the whole thing apart.
Somehow, I suspect the cost of his sled is less than $325.
I have the Incra 1000 and it goes to .1degree ( one tenth of 0ne degree ) . That is machine shop accurate. Have they never seen Incra? Absolute repeatable! Basic model = $100. USD
Drill a bunch of holes with a hole saw in your massive sled and it will be much lighter without loosing much rigidity.
Yes, a lot lighter. Assuming a 1" hole every 2" in the field on the side left of the blade, I estimate you'd remove the weight of about 116 sq in. of that area.
It does make for some serious pinch points though.
But it does nothing to change the form factor or capacity of the sled, and little to change the balance.
02:19 he said he could, but it would be to much work for the later benefits.
@@Kahsimiah that's right 😅🫣
Hi Scot, I am enjoying your videos.
re; loss of height when using 3/4 plywood base - whiners! Yes, if you are using a saw table with an 8' blade, but cutting with a 10 or 12" blade, depth of cut should not be a problem.
re; Mitre bars for the sled, I have used some plastic drawer glides and have not been worried about swelling or wear and tear needing adjusting. I have an old saw with a troublesome fence that needs measuring at both ends before cutting, each and every time. I do like the small version of a cut sled with the additional ideas.
The summer Scott looks chill af
😂
Oh, I like the cut of your jig. A most satisfactory testing and correction technique you have there.
I gotta say, I have never and probably will never do anything related to Woodworking yet I find your Videos extremely interesting.
Never try, it's a trap. Once you cut your first board, you urge to get more wood and tools and you find yourself justifying spending a lot of money for your new hobby. :D
This is great! Love the chamfer on the bottom of the fence. Heard about that somewhere after I had built my first sled. Not sure how I feel about the fence in the back, but I might try this out. Pretty sure that roller on the miter bar is to go out back so when the front of the sled is heavy, it won't tip off the front of the table. About the blade side... If the sled goes on the right side of the blade, you can't use it with a dado stack. From the left side you could do whatever width dado stack you want.
Good video, thanks for the 5 cut explanation. I've also seen cross cut sleds with holes drilled in them which makes them even lighter. I'm with you! Light and nimble and accurate is the way to go.
We are currently making a video on walnut slabs and could have used a good cross-cut sled. We tried to make a cross-cut sled recently. Did some quick work with scrap wood and CA glue. This is something one should really take some time and design. We would like to attempt it again. your video was inspirational.
Silly question... What are the pros/cons of having the fence at the far side of the sled instead of the close side?
I have the same sled as your old one and it is heavy. I reduced the weight by cutting handing into each end of the sled, but its still heavy. I love the idea and the weight reduction. My question for you is you end up with tear out when crosscutting because the piece isn't supported from behind? I debate on this sled but mostly use sled for cross cutting.
It would be nice if you would use a riving knife in your table saw. It is of course your decision what safety measures you use while working and how close you come with your hands to the blade, but as a youtuber you are a role model and encourage others to work the same way.
Personally I never had to remove mine for any cut, especially if the knife is not higher than the blade.
I didn't see this comment posted but forgive me if it is a repeat. I think it is important to know before going to build this, the woodworker really needs to consider their height and reach. Your arms may be weak (😊) but what I would do to have your height and reach! Having the fence on the back side of the sled would not work for my 5'3" frame. Unless I stood on a stool which I have had to do in a pinch but not really that safe.
All that said..I completely agree with the no need for massive jigs! And really enjoy your Videos!!
The sled doesn't reference the fence, it references the miter slots. So the reality is, the method of putting the piece against the fence doesn't actually do anything to make your sled square at all. You can set the base panel at any angle on the bar as long as there is material past the blade to be cut off. It really doesn't matter because once you run the piece through the saw, you have one edge that is parallel with the miter slot. From there its easy to square a fence anywhere you want to on the base. The 5 cut method is actually really brilliant, because you could, in fact square up a fence that is up to 11.25 degrees off.
Thanks for cool insights!!
As a short person that’s tamping on the counter, I feel too short to get leverage that feels comfortable on my wrist and shoulder to push down the tamper unless I am on my toes. Maybe I’m doing it wrong.
I heard Veritas and said, this guy is Canadian!
Great video. Just bought my first table saw and looking for a basic sled to start. Thanks for the great design
My jigs all have Ultra High molecular weight polyethylene , it doesn't swell, is very stable, resists wear unbelievably well & its slippery. drills, cuts with regular wood working blades & drills ...awesome product for sleds & jigs ....did i mention glue doesn't stick to it
Depending on your general use case, greater reliability totally makes more sense than greater flexibility. Tailoring your workspace to your workflow is simply good practice, regardless of circumstance. I'm a fan of both multi-purpose and specialized tools and use them both in different situations for different purposes.
Thanks Scott. Finally I saw a good channel from Canada. Most people include link to tools used in the video but almost all of them are pointing to US sites.
You look like a pretty tall guy. I'm 5'5". Don't feel comfortable reaching over the blade all the time. But, lots of good ideas I can adapt to a near-side fence version. Thanks.
nice job, especially on figuring the deviation from the right angle
I will make mine to cut on the right side of the blade as I am Left handed and that is just more natural to me. Great video BTW.
Love it !! Super smart design and the 5 way cut to make it sqare is SO !! much easier ti understand and explain to friends. Thank you very much , your french Canuk friend Jay-R .
great little sled, I opted for the hdpe sled runners
Again Nice Job on your video shots. you can tell you spend time on shooting it. This sled is on my list to build for sure! Thanks for taking the time to do your videos
1st content of yours I'm seeing - Love the Ab version. I have yet to build one because of the reasons you mentioned wanting a new one. Thanks brother! Looking forward to seeing more of your work. I appreciate your in a small shop and able to manage it all. I'm in similar situation but with 2 car garage and a lot of kids/home things in there.
Finally another vid 🙂. I have to make the sled just always been lazy ☺️
Great video!!!! I just don't know how you can handle that little tear out in the fence!!! Would drive me crazy
Your version of sled is the only one ive seen that operates like the sliding table of a panel saw. I'll certainly be making one for my dewalt saw.
Traditional cross cut Sled work just fine and are probably a lot safer to use. I have 2. a large one and a smaller one. Been using them for 30 years
Weight is an issue but can be made lighter by not overkilling it .
Amen! About 7 years ago, I built one of the "ultimate crosscut sleds" made popular on RUclips. What was I thinking? At last, I am free! Have not yet built another but a truly liberating thing happened last month when I needed a roll off to handle some bathroom reno work in our house. I looked at that damn behemoth leaning against my router table, walked it out and tossed it in the roll off. Ever since building that thing it has been nothing but a headache. Can't leave it on the saw, every place you put it int the shop it's in the way, it is constantly falling over. I honestly grew to hate the thing! So thank you for recognizing that in certain unique situations, size doesn't make something better. Think I'll give your design a try.
Great video. Think that sled is in my future after winter
I am new to woodworking and this will be one of the first projects for me. Would the size of this sled be to large for a small 8.25 Dewalt jobsite saw?
Fellow Nerd, I really appreciated your video. Thank you.
Try using virgin (white) UHMW Polyethylene runners for your sleds. UHMWPE is: highly abrasion resistant, self-lubricating(used to make plain bearings), has an ultra low coefficient of friction(second only to virgin Teflon) so it slides extremely easy, it does not change size with humidity, it is easy to work with using wood working tools, and it is inexpensive.
Super well executed build and entertaining vid, 500 points deserved young man. I built the same sled 20 years ago. . . only one problem, if you forget to hold your work securely against the front fence it will kick back. I'll give you 500 more points if you point that out to your viewers. Think heel and wedge blocks like in an old typeface printing press frame. I'm a fan of your channel, like your style .
Shoot a few blasts of CA accelerator on the wood. When you join it with the aluminum miter bar, instant set. This is a great way to use accelerator: CA on one side, accelerator on the other. BAM.
Great sled and video Scott! I too have one of those big and heavy sleds, I will be making one like your here very soon! Love your videos and style of presenting your projects. Already looking forward to your next one. Thank you for sharing!
I use Corian runners and they work great...
I made the Norm Abram panel sled 20 years ago and still use it today. I have never felt the need to make any other sled for my table saw. It's my go-to sled. Really enjoyed your Volg. Cheers From Western Australia.
If you orient the grain on a hardwood runner side to side in the slot, seasonal humidity changes will cause it to expand down into the miter slot, minimizing issues.
I prefer to use two layers of 1/4" luan underlayment plywood glued together that gives me just under a 1/2 " thickness. Being plywood, it has minimal seasonal movement, if any. And I can pick up a 2x2 piece of it at my local home center vs ordering and waiting for a metal runner.
You mean , orient the grain horizontally (just to clarify for people).
Yeah, I called you out on the 3/4" thick sled on your last video. Still standing by that. I find 1/2" multi-ply is more than stable enough - so why go thicker?
In fact, as I do more projects, I keep trying to go thinner. I built cabinets in my van/RV conversion with 3/8" multi-ply. Considering 1/4" now.
Going to make your sled though (but, you know, with 1/2" Baltic birch). Very cool.
Agreed. Think about it. Of all the sled components, the base is in principle the least likely to introduce referencing errors, and the most likely to be stable in shear, which is its critical function. A thinner base doesn't change these factors at all.
The only problem with a thinner base is its potential to deform out of plane, and in so doing to carry the fence out of square - not out of miter, at least not directly, but only that the fence may no longer be perfectly vertical. Imagine a base made out of thin sheet steel. The fence would wobble fore and aft, very slightly affecting depth of cut, but it would not rotate out of miter unless you twisted one end of the fence forwards and the other end backwards.
That deformation out of plane is the effect to guard against in the choice of base material and thickness. And this is a further argument for making the sled the full width of the table. Half again wider means half again stiffer overall.
¡Qué bueno el sistema de cinco cortes para comprobar la escuadra del trineo!
Desde España, ¡gracias por el vídeo Scott!
Scott a quarter inch piece of masonite would be fine enough for a base. If you want to make it lighter drill a pattern of lighting holes in it 1 - 2" The same goes for the fence. Make one and see. Supper light and just as stable.
Time to rethink again. ¾" stock is so over kill for most things built in most shops! Columbus Michigan.
Very cool. Nice video. Might have to give this a try! Thanks.
I need to redo my cross cut sled, and I do like the idea of specialized sleds. I have thought of using the 3, 4, 5 method for getting square, but I would do it in feet. Actually, if you wanted to use inches, any multiple of that would work, like 6, 8, and 10..... Should be close enough....
Loved the video. You have some good ideas, and your presentation is entertaining.
I work with perspex and need to have a repeatable accuracy of 0.01 mm. I manage this on a De Walt table saw with a homemade aluminium sled with an adjustable fence to accommodate the angles I need. That degree of accuracy I have never needed with any timber unless I am using really hard woods like Purple Heart or Ebony.
The sizes I work with are between 19mm down to 7mm square, out of 300x300 stock, so accuracy is essential.
Great sled. Also your video and editing skills are top notch. PS, your sister is really cute too!
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Norm's use for this style sled just to square up panel edges (hence the name of panel sled)? If you try to use it as a cross cut sled, the overhanging portion of the work is floating above the saw top with gravity trying to pull it down into the blade as you cut. Seems like a great way to get square corners for panels and also a recipe for kickback when trying to use it for anything else.
Build Plans in hand. Sourcing material. Do you have a source for the 36" - 3/4" Aluminum L-channel? Thanks Scott.
Thanks for explaining the 5-Cut-Method that well!
Over in Europe the gold standard is actually a panel saw with built in carriage sled on the side. My father who was a professional carpenter before me used a Felder combination machine that had this style of table saw but also a router table sunk into the top that you could set up to use on the other side of the machine. Sadly he passed away but that machine still sits in his old workshop and I hope to buy it from the current owner one day. All that said however, seeing this video I can't imagine having to do everything without that panel saw carriage!
I never see panel saws in the US, except at the big construction supply stores. They seem incredibly good for panels. I see people using track saws here, but track saws are a pain to constantly setup and move around. A panel saw would be amazing. I noticed they are way overpriced, which is probably why nobody has them here, they are like $5,500 of USD or something like that if I remember right.
Loved that look when you pointed to the Kreg flip stop 😳 🤣 Another great build and video. And an homage to Norm!!
even the commercial is funny and entertaining :) Good job!
Too true about perfection. Heck, even machinists can only really work to within the tolerance of their measuring gauges which will probably not be perfect. I appreciate the tip about feeler gauge to correct the error after the 5 cut method. This is simple and I never thought of it when I built my last sled. Cheers!
I love this! Time to throw my janky version on the firewood pile.
I made the most exact sled ever by using my CNC to cut a rectangle, with a miter gauge slot at 90 degrees to the long side. Inserted the rail, attached a fence against the long side of the sled, and ran the whole thing across the blade. Quick and accurate (if you have a CNC).
PS: there's an alternative, floating around RUclips, to the redundant 5 cut method. Its 3 cuts, uses the same principles as the 5 cut, and there's no math at all. But you still need the feeler gauge.
You are so cool :D chill vibe this dude has... great video ofcourse, gave me new motivation with your 95% speech to make another CCS! thank you !
Very well explained and demonstrated!
How do I find the link for your sled plans?
I have a Dewalt jobsite saw. There is not enough table to only use one side of the saw, which would cause it to fall off the end. So this sled will not work for me. I did build an ultimate sled, same dimensions as yours, but fence is shorter, smaller, thinner, used 1/2 inch baltic birch plywood, Kreg stop fence ruler, and cut away 3 inches from my kerf so that I can make custom zero clearance inserts, attached from the bottom. Works great and only weighs 19 lbs!!
UHMW also makes a good runner choice.
Nothing stopping the original sled from being lightened, and you could even do it completely hidden fairly easily. Take the front and rear fences off. Use a Forstner bit a little under the width, and drill up from the bottom hogging out material to close to the top, and avoid the screw holes, side holes etc. Then lighten the plywood from the bottom, making sure to not go through. Take the point off of a Forstner bit so you can cut flat and nearer to the top surface. You could also just go fully through the plywood, and put your own new veneer surface on top and bottom.
Should be relatively easy to get to 1/3rd of original weight, maybe even down to 1/4 if you try hard.
The crosscut sled is about having the reference surfaces and alignment, not about keeping all of the internal wood weight, so just get rid of that part..
And the forward fence is almost 100% about holding the gap together and in line. Forget the full fence, use a piece about 6" wide with a couple of screws on each side. Then you can easily take it off for the rare time you have a larger width board, but the ends don't flop around at the gap the rest of the time..
That said I do generally prefer the other design myself as well. But most of the main drawbacks of the normal larger type sleds can be mitigated.
I am 100% with you on this. I have a small sled and then just a decent miter gauge with numerous sacrificial fence setups for various angles and cuts. I use MDF for all of it. My fences are all done with t-bolts to make it super quick to switch, allowing me to have everything stay a zero clearance, as only one cut type is done on each.
I’ve never wished I had a huge sled now. I did back in the day when I had a giant one with my job site saw, but now that I have a cabinet saw I prefered to downsize.
How did you cut with a mitre guage , must have ment mitre saw.
This is perfect. Due to space, I've had to settle on a jobsite table saw, so not enough support on the left side of the blade (or the infeed, for that matter. I'm going to build this one, but I'm going to make my cut side on the right side of the blade. That'll give me all the lateral support I need. It never occurred to me, to put the sled's fence on the backside! :)
I seems that most fence designs has the fence on the nearside as opposed to the farside of the sled. Why do you do yours on the far side?
Interesting choice of finish. I also heard if you mixed boiled linseed oil with paste finishing wax and then apply to your sled, it makes it so the sled glides really nice while protecting your sled from moisture. I am finally going to build one soon, thank you for all your tips. I think I like the small one too, easier to handle and store, and for bigger cuts I can just use my straight edge.
Just remember that boiled linseed oil is literally explosive. If you leave it laying around it can spontaneously combust. So you have to have a designated area that is fire proof to dispose the stain rags and brushes if you're using it. I decided to stick to not using boiled linseed oil and returned the can I had to the store. Stains are dangerous too and can combust. It's apparent after watching videos that many woodworkers still don't know about the spontaneous combustion of stains, and boiled linseed oil. They sell metal stain garbage cans on Amazon, and these prevent 100% of fires by having a tight fitting lid and being steel.
Where did you get that orange ruler /straight edge you use around the 2:00 minute mark?
Good solution. Might give that a try with some salvaged IKEA mdf.
MDF is heavy. Part of what he's avoiding.
Nice....I like to put a hand hole in my sleds to make them easier to pick up.
Can any t-track bar work for your sled design??
Crosscut sleds like this-great design though it is- significantly reduce the cutting depth of the blade, the one I have just junked was 5/8ths" thick and it was a problem as I only have a table top saw so today I bought a pack of damaged laminate flooring (£5!) from B&Q which I believe is only1/4" thibc and will make a new sled out of it tomorrow.
I can't do without one now, they make using the saw very much safer-and often, more accurate
when you have the chamfer at the bottom of the fence to catch saw dust dont you still have to clean it out every time or else it builds up anyway and has the same issue as if you didnt have the chamfer? so if thats true why not just brush out the dust anyway without a chamfer? can someone explain?
Great explanation and naration! Keep up with good work. U deserved a subscription!👍
Excellent video and process. Thank you for sharing.