panel sled zero clearance inserts?

[Eric Ryder]

All the sled talk has reminded me about correcting one fault I find with my shop made sleds. Anyone have an idea for replaceable inserts around the slot and the fence cut.

I'm interested in the slot insert for variable width dados with a dedicated dado sled.

For normal crosscuts, I usually reference the measurement mark to the blade slot in the fence. Over time, the slot can get a bit ragged, so it would be nice to replace this area rather than remake the sled.

WIthout a better idea, I'll probably mortise the 3/4" fence for a 1/4" X 1" wide piece of glued hardwood and remortise as needed. Inelegant to the max:) Since my dado sled has a 1/4" ply bottom, I'd need a different approach for that.

Eric

[Bernie Hunt]

If you sled bottom was thicker, then I'd say use the mortise idea there to. Like the throat plates with replacable inserts. Norm used to use one back in the early days.

With only 1/4" of material to work with, I think you are going to be hard pressed to make a solution. You can try and mortise in 1/8" hard board. Another idea would be to cover the entire bottom with 1/8" hardboard. Assuming that your fence doesn't move, then it would cause no harm other than losing 1/8" of blade height. When it got ragged, you could just remove the piece and replace.

Any other option I think of required butt splicing 1/4" to 1/4" and it would interfere with the work surface of your sled.

Bernie