Table Saw Sled Design

I’m back! My wife and I just returned from a month-long trip up to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington to scope out possible places to retire. While my goal is to post weekly, there will be times when that is not possible. On to the current topic…

A table saw is one of the more useful machines in the wood shop. It comes with a fence for ripping and a miter gauge for crosscutting. The fence, assuming it’s a decent one, is indispensable. The miter gage is useful, but not really the best accessory for crosscutting. It’s adjustable, which might sound great, but that also means it gets out of adjustment. Its guiding feature, the fence, is relatively small, so it doesn’t work great for larger or longer pieces. A good sled fixes both of those drawbacks.

sled on table saw

Before I go into how to make a good sled, I have some thoughts on what to consider when designing your sled. Some things to consider: Size, materials, construction, fence shape, storage, kerf location, etc. Watch the video to hear my insights.

2 Responses to “Table Saw Sled Design

  • Paul Babcock
    2 years ago

    Thank Carl. Well done as always. Exciting news about your contemplated move. The design considerations were very informative. Take care. Paul

  • Anthony Bober
    2 years ago

    Absolutely love the two sleds – cross cut and angled cross cut sled – you showed us how to make in class (and they work great.) Thank you.

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