6 Tips to Building a Better Cross-cut Sled for Your Tablesaw

A cross-cut sled for the table saw is a must have jig for any serious woodworker. More accurate than a miter gauge, it also makes cross-cutting any board easy and safe. However, in order to provide the proper results it must be built with care. I made my first sled last year, following a plan in a popular woodworking magazine. Yet, in a matter of months, the maple runners swelled so much that the sled wouldn't slide in the miter slots. That's when my type "A" personality kicked in and I became determined to learn all I could about the ins and outs of building a cross-cut sled that would last. That research forms the basis for the tips and techniques presented in this instructable. And, while I can't take credit for any of these great ideas, I think you will find the insights of some very talented woodworkers helpful.

Step 1: Tip 1: Milling the Sled Runners

The runners ride in the two miter slots and guide the sled as the workpiece is pushed past the blade. They are most often made from hardwood such as maple or white oak, however, steel, aluminium or plastic runners are also options. Wood runners are more commonly suggested, most likely, because of the moderate cost. The disadvantage of wood runners is that the wood can swell with changes in humidity making smooth travel through the miter slots difficult or impossible.

Tip #1: Since most wood movement is with the grain, mill the sled runners with the grain running vertically as shown in the photo. This will minimize or eliminate side to side expansion of the runner in the miter slot.

Miter slots can vary slightly in size but most are 3/4" wide x 3/8" deep. Most plans call for milling the runners for a snug yet smooth sliding fit with no side to side play (also called slop). However, if the runner width swells too much it can become a problem and, as I mentioned, this is where I ran into trouble with my first sled. The good news: Tip number two allows some wiggle room when milling the runners to width.

Note: The height of the runners should be less than 3/8" so there will be some space under the runner for sawdust debris

Step 2: Tip 2: Building the Sled Base

 1/2 " MDF is an excellent and recommended choice for the sled. Base the size of your sled on the size of your table saw and your woodworking requirements but not so large that it is difficult to control.

TIP #2: Build the sled as two separate halves that will be joined together when attaching the fences. Constructing the sled in this manner will guarantee that the sled runners ride tightly along the blade side edges of the miter slots allowing for a less than perfect fit if the runners are milled slightly smaller than the slots.

First, cut the sled base as square as possible, making the length slightly longer than your final dimension (approx. 1/2" or so).

Second, after determining how much of the sled you want on each side of the blade, cut it in two.

Third, measure the distance from the blade to the inside edge of each miter slot and add 1/4" to that dimension. Using those dimensions, cut spacer boards to clamp to the appropriate half of the sled base. These boards will be used to position the runners for mounting to the base.

Fourth, pressing the runners firmly against the spacer boards, glue and nail them in place.

Fifth, after the glue has dried, put one half of the sled base in the appropriate miter slot. It should extend the extra 1/4" or so past the blade. This excess will be trimmed off to create a perfect zero clearance for that half of the sled. Repeat the process for the other half of the sled base.

IMPORTANT: Remember to press the sled base FIRMLY against the blade side edge of the miter slot when trimming off the excess MDF, otherwise the two halves may not join together properly.

The photos show the process for attaching the runners to the base and trimming the base halves for a perfect zero clearance to the blade.

Photo one: A piece of MDF is used as a spacing template. It is cut 1/4" wider than the distance from the saw blade to the corresponding miter slot. Line up the spacer with the edge of the sled base and clamp it to the base and your workbench.

Photo two: Add glue to the runner.

Photo three: Press and hold the runner firmly against the MDF spacer.

Photos four & five: Nail the runner to the base.

Photo six: Set the sled base in the appropriate miter slot and trim off the excess

Photo seven: One half of the sled base after trimming (viewed from the output side of the saw)

Step 3: Tip 3: Building the Fences

The front and rear fences for the sled are most often made of solid hardwood. However, there is no guarantee that the fence will hold it's shape and remain true over time. For this reason, I thought tip number three made sense and was also a really good idea.

Tip #3: Construct the fences like a sandwich with the top and bottom pieces made of 1/2" plywood and several middle layers of 1/2" MDF.

The fences should be at least 3" high and 1 3/4" thick. The length of the front and the rear fences can vary depending on the preference of the user. Since the purpose of the front fence is to simply help hold the sled together, I opted for a shorter fence. This also reduced the total weight of the sled. My rear fence runs the full length of the sled but I noted many examples where the fence was an inch or two shorter on each end of the sled to facilitate angle cuts.

Finally, my fences include additional hardwood support on both the front and rear fences. On the rear fence the support provides both additional height and a dedicated "push block"  to keeps my hands a little farther away from the blade. I salvaged these pieces from my original sled since I liked the look and functionality and because my new fences were only 2 1/2" tall without them.

To build the fences:

1) Rip your plywood and MDF pieces to size
2) Glue them up using clamps
3) When dry, scrap off any glue squeeze out
4) Clean up the the faces (and ends if necessary) by using a finishing blade and making a fine cut pass on the table saw

Step 4: Joining the Fence Halves

This step doesn't contain a tip, it merely explains the process for making sure the two sled halves are joined together properly. The photos below provide a summary of the steps. Here is the sequence I followed:

1) Drill countersunk holes through the sled base to attach the fences to the sled (later in this step).

2) Photo #1: Put the sled halves in position on the table saw and lightly clamp them together so the runners are pressing against the blade side of each miter gauge slot. Photo #2 shows how the left runner snugs against the miter slot.

3) Photo #3: Clamp the front fence in position and drill holes in the fence using the pre-drilled holes in the sled base as a guide.

4) Photos #4 & #5: Add glue, clamp the front fence to the sled and drive 2" screws into the countersunk holes. Allow an hour or two to dry.

5) Remove the clamp on the front fence and reposition the sled on the saw to attach the rear fence (you may need to remove and reattach the clamp holding the two halves together).

6) With the rear fence clamped in position, drill a single hole through the fence (first hole on the left end) using the predrilled hole in the sled as a guide. Drive a screw into the hole and remove the clamps.

7) The next step will square the fence to the blade.

Step 5: Tip 4: Squaring the Fence to the Blade

The only way to get an accurate cut is to have the rear fence perfectly square (at a 90 degree angle) to the saw blade. Most often a single square is set against the blade and the fence to determine the proper fence position. There is nothing really wrong with this approach but I think the next tip makes the process all the more foolproof.

Tip #4: Use two 90 degree drafting triangles, one on each side of the blade, to assure finding the correct position to secure the rear fence.

The reason I like this method is that, if your fence isn't perfectly straight, your blade is warped or out of alignment on the saw, then getting both triangles square to the fence and blade at the same time isn't going to happen.

Note: I have a moderately priced contractor style table saw and, after this exercise, I came to the conclusion that my blade was just a hair off (maybe half a hair). Since I wasn't about to take the saw apart I decided to finish the sled and see if the results were acceptable. They were, so I'll leave perfection to those of you with better equipment than mine.

After finding the proper position for the fence, strike a reference line on the sled using a very sharp pencil.

Step 6: Final Assembly

You are now ready for the final assembly.

If, after securing the rear fence to the sled (as outlined below), you encounter any resistance sliding the sled:

GO TO TIP #6 FOR HELP!

Next, you have two choices. You can either:

(1) Clamp the fence to the sled at the reference line and shoot a small nail through the underside of the sled (on the end of the fence opposite the screwed end).  Next, with the fence now secured to the sled, remove the clamp and make a test cut* to check if square. If the fence is out of square, tap the fence with a mallet to slightly adjust the angle of the fence, then make a second test cut and check again**. Repeat this procedure until you obtain a satisfactory result. Now, with the fence square to the blade, reclamp and drill holes in the fence using the pre-drilled holes in the sled base as a guide. Finally, screw down the fence with 2" long wood screws.

or, as I did...

(2) If you have confidence in the accuracy of the reference line, clamp down the fence, drill a hole for a set screw on the end of the sled and screw down the fence. Make a test cut and check. If you like the results, reclamp the fence to the sled and finish drilling the mounting holes in the fence. Complete the assembly by securing the fence with 2" long wood screws.

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*HOW TO DO A TEST CUT:

A test cut is a foolproof way to see if the sled is set up correctly.  Simply rip a good size piece of scrap (making sure it has straight, parallel edges). Press the workpiece against the fence and cut into two pieces. Slide the cut edges together to see if they fit together without any noticeable gaps. If all looks good, take one piece and flip it over (front to back) and check the fit again. Any error in the cut not visible on your first inspection will now be doubled and be much more obvious. As shown in the photos, if the edges butt together firmly with no gaps then the fence and blade are aligned correctly.

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** Determining which direction to adjust the fence: If the gap in the test piece is at the rear fence, move the fence back. If at the front fence move the fence forward.

Step 7: Tip 5: Increase the Sled's Versatility With a Layer of Hardboard

Since a zero clearance kerf is necessary to avoid chipout when making any kind of cut, this next tip will dramatically improve the versatility of your sled.

Tip #5: Cut pieces of 1/4" hardboard and attach them to the fence and sled base with carpet tape. Then, with a regular blade, cut a kerf in the hardboard. At this point the hardboard is simply duplicating the kerf of the sled in providing the zero clearance necessary for a clean cut. However, eventually you may want to make wider cuts using a dado blade or with the saw blade set for an angle cut. These cuts will forever change the kerf size of the sled and fence. However, by simply replacing the hardboard when switching back to a regular blade set to zero degrees, you can easily return the sled to zero clearance cutting.

Step 8: Tip #6: How to Guarantee a Smooth Sliding Sled

If your sled glides over your table saw's surface from day one that's great. However it may not and, eventually, it pays to employ this last tip:

Tip # 6: Apply a light coat of Johnson's paste wax to the sled bottom and runners, then buff when dry. This should reduce any friction and make the sled slide much more smoothly. Alternately, you can apply the wax to the top of your saw and miter slots, or to both the sled and saw top if you like.

Note: Wax used on the table saw top will not affect your workpieces once the dried wax residue has been buffed off.

Step 9: If You Are an "A" Type Personality

Accuracy and precision are key components to good woodworking. So, if you are an "A" type personality like I tend to be, you may find this website both intriguing and maddening at the same time:

http://wnwoodworkingschool.com/5-cuts-to-a-perfect-cross-cut-sled/

On his website, William Ng has a fascinating video on how to test your cross-cut sled for accuracy and adjust it to within one thousandth of an inch of a perfectly square cut! Needless to say my sled didn't pass his test but it was fun to give it a try. In any case, since my test cuts look good and fit together well, I'm more than satisfied and confident my new sled will do everything I need it to do.

I hope you find these tips helpful if you plan on building a cross-cut sled. If you get yours to within .001 of a degree accuracy I'll be a little jealous but glad I may have helped in some small way.

Comments

[travis.muszynski]

Great sled. Looks like it will be very demensionally stable. Have your tried making runners from plywood yet?

[heaptrickster]

These are some great tips. I'm building my first sled now and this really helped. I found two items of your terminology confusing at first. When you talk about the sled's dimensions you say length to describe the width. Length is parallel to the blade. The other bit that confused me was orientation front and back. It seems like the fence you hold should be the front and the small one is the back. In any case once I understood what you meant it all made sense.

[Ncc1701-A]

I cut oak for the sliders. I had a craftsman, ground off the nubs in the tracks and gave a bit of sanding also. 5/8 wide. I also recommend melamine board, available in 48x24.

[westislip]

Thank you for such an informative post, I have just purchased a table saw and I will be following your instructions the week. Only change will be 1/2" Birch plywood. $20.00 for a 2 X 4 piece at Home Depot.

[KellyCraig]

Rather than spend money of expensive hardwoods for runners, I purchase 3/8" thick aluminum flat stock and cut it down to 3/4" widths for jig guides I use on my saws, router table and sanders.

Making my own guides from aluminum is MUCH cheaper than buying guides, or making them from exotic woods.

I've made so many guides, I bought an 8" carbide blade for non-ferrous metals and use it for aluminum and plastic. I haven't found need for more than the 8" blade and even a six would do for most things.

Before the dedicated blade, I used one of my 60 tooth carbide blades with very little set (offset) to the teeth. They did great. I got good cuts.

On a whim, I experimented with packing the teeth with canning wax (my wife isn't missing it, yet) and I covered the aluminum with it. Rubbing it on to the piece being cut only takes seconds to do and it makes a night and day difference.

The wax acts as a lube. Using it, the blade cuts notabley quieter AND the chips are not nearly as hot, as they bounce off my hands and arms. It, really, it worthwhile to use the wax.

I wore both safety glasses and my face shield because of the chips being thrown. They're a lot meaner than the dust tossed cutting wood.

I use a push shoe, rather than pathetic push sticks, since the shoes hold down about 11" of the stock at a time and stop any problematic chatter that might, otherwise, result.

I ALWAYS use a feather board to keep the stock against the fence. After all, even being a few thousandths off will make the difference between slop and nearly impossible to push through the miter slot.

The flat stock I bought was about 8" wide and 4' long, so it gave me several guides for things like a log cutting, circle cutting, or [this] cut off sled, Kregg Hole pocket plug sleds (bandsaw) and so on for around the price of a single guide.

Obviously, the aluminum is not affected by moisture and is quite durable.

[SeanM256]

Nice sled! I will be making myself a new sled using your tips. Although I'll be keeping a feature that I added to my current sled. I don't have a picture but it's easy enough to envision. I ran a 3" wide piece of plexiglass between the hi points on my fences. It acts as a blade guard and safety glasses. It is secured by two screws on the driver side fence and one screw on the far fence. On the rare occasions that I need to run a piece that is higher than my blade limit, I remove the driver side screws and swing it out of the way. It a nice feature. Also, somebody here wrote about using pieces of a plastic cutting board as the slot runners. That is an excellent tip that I definitely will be using.

[KellyCraig]

Good plan. It might be worthwhile to swap the screws out for a dowel screw and a knob.

[domino88]

Very nice sled, great photos.

My only major concern with this design is safety:

1. I would highly recommend a blade guard to cover the blade when the sled passes over the blade. It's too easy to have a finger in that location when you are focused on that perfect cut you need to make. I would not feel comfortable using a sled without that, because I really like my fingers.

2. this second point is less critical, but on my sled, I have two sticks, fixed on top of the fences, running along both sides of the blade. They create a bit of a "no finger zone", they prevent stuff from falling on the turning blade and they form a bit of a cage preventing big pieces being kicked back directly in your face in case something goes wrong.

I have an old instructable on my sled you can look up. Thanks for sharing.

[KellyCraig]

You could even use food coloring to mark the No-Hands-Zone. Be aware, if you use red, you may forget and panic when you see it. Seriously, I have to remind myself I was using red dye or food coloring earlier in the day. Oh well, it can be like having a cup of coffee and a reminder of what our toys, uh, tools are capable of.

[Polymorph]

Nice!

[CraftAndu]

Hey, nice sled! I see you have makita contractor saw. What do you make of it? Would you recommend? Cherrs

[KentM]

Actually it is a Bosch contractor saw. It's a great saw. I highly recommend it.

[domino88]

I live in a country where TS options are quite limited. I am quite happy with the Makita saw. But you need to make your own sleds and jigs to get some accuracy out of it.

[Matermark]

P.S. Does the crosscut sled render the digital unit useless/non-functional?

[KellyCraig]

Yes, and no. Like Kent indicates, the digital lets you know the relation of the fence to the blade. To run a sled, you must remove the fence, to allow the sled to rest flat on the bed, where it is guided by two guides that run in the miter tracks.

Since the miter track bars are permanently affixed, for the most part, a fence is unnecessary. Of course, since the guide bars and the back fence of the sled are calibrated to produce consistent ninety degree cuts, accuracy of set up is not an issue.

Of course, you still have to check the cuts once in a while, such as if the sled has been dropped. Too, you need to insure no dust or chips is/are between your piece and the fence, and you must still line up your cuts, whether by eye or stop block.

[KentM]

I use a stop block clamped to the sled when making multiple crosscuts of the same size (when possible). The digital guide is most effective for rip cuts, IMHO.

[MichaelV238]

Excellent. Thank you. I too have the Bosch contractor saw and had to deal with the blade out of alignment. Turns out it is adjustable (2-bolts front and 2-bolts rear). With a bit of tweaking, I finally got it pretty close. I am on my way to get materials to build this. Thanks again.

[srilyk]

Adam Savage's crosscut sled has a red danger zone marked on the back side of the sled, that might be a helpful addition.

[domino88]

Marking a red zone still does not physically prevent fingers from being in that location when the blades comes out. Installing a simple blade guard made out of a piece of scrap is just too easy and too cheap to think about it twice. Just takes a few minutes. Then you don't need to think or worry anymore about your fingers being in that treacherous location.

[CoryM38]

This made me think of gluing thumb tacks point side out as a tactile reminder not to put my thumb there. But really a scrap block of wood covering the blade completely is really the easier and safer solution. Thanks, I'll be adding that feature when I get my sled built.