CONTINUING SAW SLED ADVENTURES

On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 11:27:34 -0400 (EDT), [email protected]
(T.) wrote:

> Still working on the saw sled. Still learning. Damn, I just
>looked at this, and it's a lot longer than I had figured it would be.
>

Pictures? We need some stinkin' pictures......

TomL

[email protected] (T.) wrote in news:7456-3F8AC466-282@storefull-
2131.public.lawson.webtv.net:

> I'll still have a piece of 2X4, or something similar over
> the blade - I think this is important too - any PITA because if it is
> offset by the safety factor, in my belief, I'm afraid of tools like a
> saw, so want to make them as idiot proof as possible.

If you can scare up a scrap of lexan or similar, and use that for
a guard instead, you might prefer it. There's something to be
said for being able to see the blade while still keeping fingers
at a safe distance.

John

T. wrote:
> This is taking a lot longer than most of you would take. I don't
> care. I'm not working from any plans, but I look at it, and decide what
> each step should be. When I come to each step, I think on it before I
> make the next change.

Jeez. My little one-runner sled took me all of one Saturday and part of
Sunday, plus a little tweaking here and there, now and then. I don't
think I'm included in the "most of you" part. :-)

Dan

"T." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This is taking a lot longer than most of you would take. I don't
> care. I'm not working from any plans, but I look at it, and decide what
> each step should be. When I come to each step, I think on it before I
> make the next change.

Reading your toils with interest JOAT. I finally "finished" my second
attempt at a sled last week. Ended up looking a lot like Mehler's design.

Where I spent all of my time was trying to ensure the fence was dead-on 90
degrees accurate. Thank the WW Godz for Tightbond Extend as I needed every
minute of that extended setup time.

Now that it's done - it nice to know I've got a sled that I can grab and
w/out any setup, get a square cut.

Can you post some pics?



"T." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Still working on the saw sled. Still learning. Damn, I just
> looked at this, and it's a lot longer than I had figured it would be.
>
> It worked great, all that weight seemed to make ti slide very well,
> and the extra weight kept my saw stand from dancing across the floor.
> It had started that after I took out a section, to lower it a bit. But,
> the damn sled was getting so heavy it was going to be hard for me to
> lift ikt on and off. No prob in that even just a few years ago, but bad
> joints now make it a prob.
>
> So, cut some off of each side, so now the bae of the sled is now
> probably a bit over a foot wide. The front to back is still the same.
> Now it's a lot handier for me to lift on and off tho. Still slides
> great.
>
> I have also added a stop at the back, so I won't be able to slde it
> forward too far. And, I have put a chunk of 2X4 on the back, to enclose
> the little portion of the blade that gets that far. It also positions
> my hand to guide the sled. On top I put a section of the cut-off over
> the blade. Now I would have to slide my fingers under that before I
> could get them anywhere near the blade, not much chance of
> absentmindedly doing that.
>
> I'm still thinking about modifying the caulking gun into a
> hold-down. I'm thinking drill a hole thru a piece of 2X6 and that
> should do it. I'll have to clean up some 2X4 for that tho. My kids
> left some lying outside, and they've gotten a bit nasty, altho still
> solid. Had sanded some down for other parts of the sled, but that takes
> a bit long, so got a wheel for my drill and gonna try that. I'm not
> buying anyting for this project, it's all wood I already have, and
> scraps.
>
> I'll be gluing a front stop on today. Then I won't be pulling it
> back too far, and maybe drop it on my toes. Anyway, I found if I pull
> it back past a certain point, it tends to tip. The stop will prevent
> both.
>
> The dancing saw stand stops when I put a bit of pressure on it with
> a foot, but that's pretty awkward a times, at best. So, I'm figuring
> maybe a couple of bags of sand on the base will take care of that.
>
> I did do a test cut on the sled yesterday. Cuts a treat. Just a
> bit awkwar, having to have a foot on the base to keep it still, and
> having to hold the wood in position with one hand, and pushing the sled
> with the other.
>
> Oh, yeah. I have a 2X4 on the back, and I left that the same
> length on the right, didn't cut it when I cut the base. Did trim about
> 3 inches off the left side. Then I took a cheap wooden yardstick I had
> laying around, cut it, and glued it on the front of the 2X4, numbers
> down. Now I have a 15" ruller there so I can measure a cut with no
> marking. Or, can clamp a stop block in place, and make repeated cuts.
> I glued another piece of the yardstick on the left of the blade, and one
> on the back of the 2X4 on the front of the sled. That let me set the
> bridge over the saw blade in place, and glue it.
>
> This is taking a lot longer than most of you would take. I don't
> care. I'm not working from any plans, but I look at it, and decide what
> each step should be. When I come to each step, I think on it before I
> make the next change.
>
> The next sled will go together a whole lot faster, and be a whole
> lot lighter. But, won't work a bit better than this one. And, won't
> need any changes.
>
> The next one will use 3/4" plywood, even though I have a big piece
> of that thick stuff left - it's just too heavy. I will still be using
> 2X4. The next one will also be a bit wider than this one is winding up,
> but width is not near as important as I originally thought. But, front
> to back, the next one will be about the same, maybe even a few inches
> more. I will also have stops, front and back. I think they are
> important. I'll still have a piece of 2X4, or something similar over
> the blade - I think this is important too - any PITA because if it is
> offset by the safety factor, in my belief, I'm afraid of tools like a
> saw, so want to make them as idiot proof as possible.
>
> I'm happy I decided to make the sled. Never felt the need for one,
> and still don't actually need one, but it's a good learning experience,
> I'm enjoying it, and it's going to let me make repeatable, accurate,
> cuts a lot faster. Now if I could just do the rest of my projects
> faster.
>
> JOAT
> I find the best approach is to take life as it comes.
> - Death
>
> Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
> Web Page Update 12 Oct 2003.
> Some tunes I like.
> http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKE/
>