Cross cut sled

[jarhead]

I think it's time to make a cross cut sled. I want to make the sled about 26"x40" and was wondering how to go about cutting it square. Is the circular saw good enough or do I have to find someone who already has a sled and can cut it for me?

[dedaddy]

Cut it with an axe if you want to. The only thing critical is that it travels parallel to the blade and the fence is square to the blade. The edges don't matter.

[LarryG]

Lee's right. Set the sled's fence as square as you can make it and attach it with a screw at both ends. Make a test cut, check it for square. If it's off, remove the screw from one end of the fence, adjust as required, and drive the screw into a new hole a half-inch or so away from the original. Repeat as necessary. When you've got it dialed in, attach the fence permanently.

[Mainemarc]

Yeah, what Lee said!

[jarhead]

Doh! I guess I was not thinking. [:I] The only thing that matters is that the front fence is exactly 90 degrees to the blade and the runners. I will use an axe then.

One more question... is it better to make the kerf of center to allow more support for longer pieces on one side?

[monte]

You'll like the sled once you build it Alex. It's one of my most used jigs. While you're at it you might want to consider building a miter sled as well.

[jarhead]

quote:Originally posted by monte

You'll like the sled once you build it Alex. It's one of my most used jigs. While you're at it you might want to consider building a miter sled as well.

Tom,
Yep, a miter sled is also in the plans. My mentor has one and I got to use it a couple of times; made cutting miters a breeze.

So is it better to make the kerf of center to allow more support for longer pieces on one side?

[Jim Boyd]

quote:Originally posted by jarhead

quote:Originally posted by monte

You'll like the sled once you build it Alex. It's one of my most used jigs. While you're at it you might want to consider building a miter sled as well.

Tom,
Yep, a miter sled is also in the plans. My mentor has one and I got to use it a couple of times; made cutting miters a breeze.

So is it better to make the kerf of center to allow more support for longer pieces on one side?

That depends. I have one where the kerf is down the middle. I use it like the smt except no angles. I have another that the kerf is at one end and it is used to square up panels.

[monte]

quote:Originally posted by jarhead

quote:Originally posted by monte

You'll like the sled once you build it Alex. It's one of my most used jigs. While you're at it you might want to consider building a miter sled as well.

Tom,
Yep, a miter sled is also in the plans. My mentor has one and I got to use it a couple of times; made cutting miters a breeze.

So is it better to make the kerf of center to allow more support for longer pieces on one side?

Depending on how much table room you have, you can build the sled as long as you want to. By having the kerf in the center you'll be supporting the offcut piece more. My most used sled has 40" to the left of the kerf and only about 8" to the right of the kerf. My miter sled has the kerf centered so I can cut miters on either side and have sufficient support for the stock.

[JeffW]

Make it as big as you want as long as you can lift it.