Please help me refine my routine for cutting square panels

[JeffG78]

Personally, I think it's great that this thread came back from the dead. I was just thinking of making a sled myself and now I don't have to search. Thanks PH

I do have a question though. Is there a reason you chose to put the stop piece on the top of the sled rather than the bottom? My guess is that it's due to the short BT3 table, but I figured I'd ask. Do you have the dimensions of the sled?

[Lonnie in Orlando]

Wes,

My BT3000 doesn't have miter slots, so I don't have a sled. I move my miter table on and off a lot, too.

If you are not doing so ... put the miter table on the right side of the blade between the saw table and the accessory table to balance the workpiece better.

Re Accuracy (1): I check my miter table occationally after removing and replaceing it. It is always spot-on.

Re Accuracy (2): To make perfect boxes, the miter table and miter fence must be aligned perfectly. Here is the method that I use to set them.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=33234

- Lonnie

[Gator95]

Even easier than a true crosscut sled, I use a simple "panel cutting sled" like norm uses here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZFOX9kUKm4

That's pretty much exactly what I use, and this setup has the advantage of being able to use the bladeguard/splitter/antikickback pawls assembly on the saw. With a 2-runner x-cut sled these bits have to come off.

Of course, Nahm doesn't use such things...

[poolhound]

Personally, I think it's great that this thread came back from the dead. I was just thinking of making a sled myself and now I don't have to search. Thanks PH

I do have a question though. Is there a reason you chose to put the stop piece on the top of the sled rather than the bottom? My guess is that it's due to the short BT3 table, but I figured I'd ask. Do you have the dimensions of the sled?

Yes its mainly to do with the short BT table but many sleds I have seen for bigger saws are this way around as it removes that limitation completley. I applied a skateboard friction tape to the fence/stop so the board doesnt move as you push it through.

You can build it any dimension that makes sense for you. I will go an measure mine and get back to you.

[poolhound]

Do you have the dimensions of the sled?

The panel sled is ~25 1/2" sq.

[JeffG78]

Great. Thanks Jon. I will build one this weekend.