Popular Woodworking 2007-04 № 161, страница 11

Tricks of the Trade

Compiled by Paul Anthony Illustrations by Matt Bantly

Saw Sled Expansion Innovations

THE WINNER:

When designing a table saw crosscut sled, I decided that I wanted a large crosscut capacity, a sliding fence and a way to clamp the work to the sled. This single-runner sled is 32" deep x 26" wide and was easy to build. It will carry panels up to 30" wide, with a 24"-clamping capacity. The fence can slide to align with the saw-blade edge of the sled for maximum workpiece support, or it can be slid out of the path of my blade guard. The T-slots in the fence also allow for attaching adjustable stops.

The aluminum extrusion fence is straight and flat, and attaches to a wooden support with three T-bolts (sometimes called toilet bolts) through the support into a channel in the fence. Knobs on the end of the bolts allow side-to-side adjustment. I bought the lVz" x 3" aluminum extrusion from 80/20, through the company's e-Bay store (stores. ebay.com/8020-Inc-Garage-Sale).

To accommodate the hold-downs, I epox-ied two 24"-long T-tracks into grooves I routed in the ⁵/8"-thick Baltic birch sled panel. Setting the T-track 1" away from the fence allows clamping of 24" panels from the opposite end. Also, make sure to run the groove an inch or

so past the end of the track to allow insertion of the hold-down T-bolt into the track. The hold-downs, knobs and T-track are commonly available from various woodworking mailorder supply houses.

Steve McDaniel Humboldt, Tennessee

Run groove past T-track to allow for bolt insertion

-Aluminum fence T-bolt

Wooden fence support Knob

T-track

Wooden fence support

Baltic birch sled

Hold-down attaches to T-track

continued on page 22

CASH AND PRIZES

FOR YOUR TRICKS AND TIPS!

Each issue we publish useful woodworking tips from our readers. Next issue's winner receives a $250 gift certificate from Lee Valley Tools, good for any item in the catalog or on the web site (leevalley.com). (The tools pictured at right are for illustration only, and are not part of the prize.)

Runners-up each receive a check for $25 to $100. When submitting a trick (either by mail or e-mail) you must include your complete mailing address and a daytime phone number. If your trick is selected for publication, an editor will need to contact you. All entries become the property of PopularWoodworking. You can send your trick by e-mail to popwoodtricks@fwpubs. com, or mail it to Tricks of the Trade, PopularWoodworking, 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

20 Popular Woodworking April 2007