I've been pretty happy with using a sled for crosscutting on my
table saw. My crosscuts are mostly 90 degreees.
I was just reading an old FWW shop tip about using two miter gauges
joined by a fence instead of a sled. It got me to wondering how well
that would work. It seems like it would be somewhat less rigid than
sled, but easier to make and more flexible with regard to cutting
different angles.
Does anyone here use the 2 miter gauge/fence setup? How do you like
it as compared to a sled?
R,
Tom .
"Tom Quackenbush" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've been pretty happy with using a sled for crosscutting on my
> table saw. My crosscuts are mostly 90 degreees.
>
> I was just reading an old FWW shop tip about using two miter gauges
> joined by a fence instead of a sled. It got me to wondering how well
> that would work. It seems like it would be somewhat less rigid than
> sled, but easier to make and more flexible with regard to cutting
> different angles.
>
> Does anyone here use the 2 miter gauge/fence setup? How do you like
> it as compared to a sled?
Actually it is quite rigid but cumbersome. You are better off with 1 guide
rail to deal with.
The sled is a sliding table more than anything else. I, too can crosscut
small stock all day at 90 with my miter gage, but when I need to control a
board too long or too wide, out comes the sled. Before I mounted rails
under the plywood, I'd screw its fence to the miter gage. Still do for some
weird angle cuts which are jigged on mini-sleds.
Don't need two, just one, properly done.
"Tom Quackenbush" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've been pretty happy with using a sled for crosscutting on my
> table saw. My crosscuts are mostly 90 degreees.
>
> I was just reading an old FWW shop tip about using two miter gauges
> joined by a fence instead of a sled. It got me to wondering how well
> that would work. It seems like it would be somewhat less rigid than
> sled, but easier to make and more flexible with regard to cutting
> different angles.
>
> Does anyone here use the 2 miter gauge/fence setup? How do you like
> it as compared to a sled?
>
> R,
> Tom .
Tom Quackenbush wrote:
<snip>
>
> Does anyone here use the 2 miter gauge/fence setup? How do you like
>it as compared to a sled?
Thanks for the replies, everyone.
I'd like to buy another (better) miter gauge anyhow, so I'll
probably give 'er a try.
I could have sworn I had an extra miter gauge lying around
somewhere. It'll probably turn up the day after I buy a new one.
R,
Tom Q.
I use that setup a LOT, and it works great. Fence is 3/4in baltic
birch with a phenolic surface, and is plenty rigid
I also have a big sled, but find I use the 2 miter gauges and a fence
much more often, used it this last weekend to make about 300 halflaps
for a project in 10ft 2x4s and 2x6s, worked well
John
On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 23:05:46 -0500, Tom Quackenbush
<[email protected]> wrote:
> I've been pretty happy with using a sled for crosscutting on my
>table saw. My crosscuts are mostly 90 degreees.
>
> I was just reading an old FWW shop tip about using two miter gauges
>joined by a fence instead of a sled. It got me to wondering how well
>that would work. It seems like it would be somewhat less rigid than
>sled, but easier to make and more flexible with regard to cutting
>different angles.
>
> Does anyone here use the 2 miter gauge/fence setup? How do you like
>it as compared to a sled?
>
>R,
>Tom .
Tom Quackenbush <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> Leon wrote:
>>Tom Quackenbush wrote:
> <snip>
>>> Does anyone here use the 2 miter gauge/fence setup? How do you like
>>> it as compared to a sled?
>>
>>Actually it is quite rigid but cumbersome. You are better off with 1
>>guide rail to deal with.
>
>
> Thanks for the response.
>
> I'm not sure, but I think that what you're calling "rails" are what
> I call "runners" (the male counterpart to the female miter gauge
> slots). I use two on my crosscut sled - do you make your sleds with
> only one?
One sled base, two parallel runners, one back fence (with blade-hiding
block), and, often. but not always, a front fence as well.
I have made a smaller sled for cuts where the blade gets tilted over. With
a sacrificial backer board, and a clamp rail.
I don't see the advantage of the two miter setup. Too many degrees of
freedom.
Patriarch
Leon wrote:
>Tom Quackenbush wrote:
<snip>
>> Does anyone here use the 2 miter gauge/fence setup? How do you like
>> it as compared to a sled?
>
>Actually it is quite rigid but cumbersome. You are better off with 1 guide
>rail to deal with.
Thanks for the response.
I'm not sure, but I think that what you're calling "rails" are what
I call "runners" (the male counterpart to the female miter gauge
slots). I use two on my crosscut sled - do you make your sleds with
only one?
R,
Tom Q.