Panel Sled

[Creamy Goodness]

So I'm finally (I know, don't kill me) building my first panel sled after 7 years of wwing. I've found different plans on the web thanks to all of you, and I've settled on a design for 2 sleds, one straight and one with a mitre. I have a few questions though if ya don't mind.

1. Does it make sense to have 2 different sleds, one for large panels and the other for smaller stuff? Idea being I'd like to have something really large for helping with sheet goods. Not insanely large mind you.

1. If I make a large panel sled, is there anything I can do to the bottom of the sled to make it slide easily on the TS?

[Morris Dovey]

[1] Makes sense if they'll serve your needs (-: [2] How about UHMWPE guides to fit the miter slots and some "slick tape" strips to reduce friction with the table top?

[Creamy Goodness]

Thought about using glides I saw at the BORG. they'll glide over anything and hold up to 1600 pounds. But they also raise the panel 1/2 inch off the TS and would slide off the edge when you push it forward (I don't have an outfeed table, just rollers)

[Frank Ketchum]

shellac the whole thing to make it stable and wax the underside and runners in the miter slots. also wax your tablesaw top.

[Leon]

ABSOLUTELY... One day you may want to cut compound miters. You will need a sled opposite side of the blade tilt. I use 2 all the time.

If you sled is good and flat and you guide bar is straight, it should slide easily but you can a coat of TopCote to the bottom of the sled and the top of the saw.

Can you read AutoCAD drawings? DWG format. If so I can e-mail you BASIC plans to a sled that will cut miters. I have not built the sled and feel that it has its limitations but you could probably get some good ideas from the drawing.

[B a r r y]

Sure. I occasionally will build a new sled for a specific project, if I don't have one that's suitable. Once you make one or two, you'll see just how quickly they can go together.

I'll usually glue the runners to the panel at the end of a session, leaving them in place on the saw overnight with weights sitting on top. The next day, I can quickly screw on the front and back fences. Not including glue drying, I can knock one out in about 30 minutes of actual work.

Large architect's triangles are great for aligning the rear fence.

Shellac or wax will help it slide.

Barry

[Jerry Gilreath]

I'd like to see that one myself. I only have the one for straight panels.

[Pat Barber]

Miter sliders are the hot ticket...

will end up with more than two sleds...

The real big one is a good idea for large plywood panels and other stuff like that...

A smaller one is also very handy....

You will end up using sleds a LOT....and wonder what the hell you were thinking earlier....

Creamy Goodness wrote:

[Larry C in Auburn, WA]

I like the idea of a couple sizes for the sleds. I built a "medium" sided one and I should really build a smaller to use most of the time. I'm not sure how useful a sled would be for sheet goods. I guess it depends on exactly what you mean by sheet goods. The extreme would be a sled big enough for a 4x8 sheet which is obviously crazy so it depends on how much of the sheet you need a sled for.

Never built a sled for mitres so can't comment.

I waxed the bottom of my sled including the tracks and it slides like snot across the saw. The saw is also waxed of course.

[Leon]

Its on its way.

[Pounds on Wood]

Buildem out of melamine. They'll be slicker than snot on black ice.

--

[Stephen Meier]

Do they make single sided melamine?

Personally I like to leave the top unfinished (raw plywood). It helps keep the workpiece from shifting.

Wax for the bottom does it for me.

-s

[Mike Rinken]

hehe, that made me laugh. I've be a CADD user since AutoCAD release 2.5, I'm an IT Manager at an architectural firm, and I used to be a CADD Manager. Not that you needed to know all of that, but yes I can read a CADD file. I LOVE desiging things in CADD and then building them.

Please email me at mwrinken at comcast dot net

If anyone wants, I just got done with a plan for mission style benches for our new kitchen table.

[Mike Rinken]

I'm sure this has been covered a million times in the NG, but what Wax does everyone prefer?

[Jim]

What kind of saw do you have? I made a pretty slick sled for my grizzly contractors saw, but it isn't likely to work for any other kind since it uses the round rails to support a secondary guide/support.

[Larry Jaques]

On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 19:24:50 GMT, Pat Barber brought forth from the murky depths:

A less expensive source is

46J90.15 UHMW strip 3/8 x 3/4 x 24" $3.95 46J90.16 UHMW strip 3/8 x 3/4 x 48" $6.95

I ordered the 48" strip to use on a mitering sled.

In my stock was some slippery (teflon) tape which I used on the runners of my large sled now. It works and holds up well if the mounting surface is perfectly smooth.

.-. Life is short. Eat dessert first! ---

Comprehensive Website Development

[codepath]

Also at Lee Valley:

25U04.01 UHMW Tape 1" x 18' $12.95

Good for putting on the bottom of the sled.

codepath

[Creamy Goodness]

Jet 10" Contractors saw.

[Creamy Goodness]

mwrinken at comcast dot net

thanks Leon.

[Pat Barber]

I almost forgot, you NEED to look at this site:

http://home.earthl>