Miter gauges fence or sled?
 

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 in message
...
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.

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.

Tom Quackenbush wrote in
:

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

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" wrote in message
...
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 .

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
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 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.