Rockytime Posted May 27, 2019 Report Share Posted May 27, 2019 I recently made a frame cutting sled for my table saw. While it is fairly accurate there are some things I wish to change. I made it with 1/2" plywood. I'm wondering if I would I would be better off using MDF. It is less prone to change in damp weather although Colorado is basically dry. Downside, MDF is heavier and does not hold screws as well. Anyone have an opinion? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted May 27, 2019 Report Share Posted May 27, 2019 6 minutes ago, Rockytime said: I recently made a frame cutting sled for my table saw. While it is fairly accurate there are some things I wish to change. I made it with 1/2" plywood. I'm wondering if I would I would be better off using MDF. It is less prone to change in damp weather although Colorado is basically dry. Downside, MDF is heavier and does not hold screws as well. Anyone have an opinion? I'm not a fan of MDF as you stated. I made a cutoff sled and the screws are beginning to get loose. I'm going to make a new one out of a good grade of birch plywood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted May 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2019 Will you have moisture problems near the ocean? I guess one could use marine plywood if it is available. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted May 27, 2019 Report Share Posted May 27, 2019 (edited) I have made sleds from both but prefer 3/4" plywood. I do not have the humidity problems you seem to have. But if you do then your tools need protection from rust. What is not keeping accuracy?? If it is the runners then switch to PVC. You can get this in any sizes. I use this for jigs. https://www.rockler.com/uhmw-plastic-jig-stock You can also buy plastic trim molding in Home Depot or Lowes and get it in sheets or strips. I like to screw the pieces to the plywood and if not movable I will also add some wood glue. If your jig is warping and lifting then make from 3/4" and add a fence to both the front and back. This will stabilize it. I make tons of jigs all the time for everything because of accuracy and repeatability and ease. Also helps keep the digits safe. Post the jig and tell us where you seem to have a problem. Edited May 27, 2019 by JTTHECLOCKMAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted May 27, 2019 Report Share Posted May 27, 2019 When I maake sleds and other jigs. use 3/4" birch ply. Holds up very well and never moves on me. get all 4 seasons here so I spend a little extra for things I want to be around for a good while. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted May 27, 2019 Report Share Posted May 27, 2019 1 hour ago, Rockytime said: Will you have moisture problems near the ocean? I guess one could use marine plywood if it is available. No, it's not that bad here. But, I'll finish it someway to seal it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachnlearn Posted May 27, 2019 Report Share Posted May 27, 2019 18 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said: I have made sleds from both but prefer 3/4" plywood. I do not have the humidity problems you seem to have. But if you do then your tools need protection from rust. What is not keeping accuracy?? If it is the runners then switch to PVC. You can get this in any sizes. I use this for jigs. https://www.rockler.com/uhmw-plastic-jig-stock You can also buy plastic trim molding in Home Depot or Lowes and get it in sheets or strips. I like to screw the pieces to the plywood and if not movable I will also add some wood glue. If your jig is warping and lifting then make from 3/4" and add a fence to both the front and back. This will stabilize it. I make tons of jigs all the time for everything because of accuracy and repeatability and ease. Also helps keep the digits safe. Post the jig and tell us where you seem to have a problem. I've seen suggestions of using kitchen cutting boards. RJF https://www.webstaurantstore.com/search/cutting-board-poly.html OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted May 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2019 Thank you for all the input. I don't have a moisture problem or a rust problem. I wanted to make a different sled because I wanted to make some changes and improvements. I was just wondering about opinions on plywood vs MDF. I perhaps did not make myself clear. I did make the new sled today. I used 1/2" plywood because the sled is only 18 X 18". My table saw is not large so this was the maximum I could use. The runners are like nylon or Delrin type material. The saw runners were ordered from Amazon. I would not do that again. The runners are specifically made for saw runners. However when I received the material it came in as a 6" piece. Unfortunately the material had a bow and it was difficult to keep it straight. I did use the material but the sled is not silky smooth but is usable. For all the frame making I'll do it is adequate. Since I can not create my own hard wood runners accurately I would go with commercial aluminum runners. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted May 28, 2019 Report Share Posted May 28, 2019 Les, get hold of one of those cheap plastic cutting boards. It's like Teflon. You can machine it very easily and it slides like it's been greased. JimErn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted May 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2019 13 minutes ago, octoolguy said: Les, get hold of one of those cheap plastic cutting boards. It's like Teflon. You can machine it very easily and it slides like it's been greased. Cutting boards are not 18" long. That is exactly what my runners are made of, a very similar material. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachnlearn Posted May 28, 2019 Report Share Posted May 28, 2019 (edited) 18 hours ago, Rockytime said: Cutting boards are not 18" long. That is exactly what my runners are made of, a very similar material. I think you should click my link I posted for cutting boards. I specifically posted a restaurant supplier, which has a whole variety of sizes and thicknesses. If you have a local restaurant supplier you can cut the shipping and have it tomorrow. RJF Something I will add is having learning cooking, cause we couldn't afford restaurants, I quickly found restaurant suppliers have sturdy inexpensive cooking equipment. They price low cause restaurants have to buy bulk to keep cooking and washing, so its really rare any restaurant owns one pot or one pan, rather 10 pans so when an order is cooked it goes to the dishwasher while another pan hits the stove for another order. Haven't needed a 180 dollar pan. RJF Edited May 28, 2019 by teachnlearn OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted May 28, 2019 Report Share Posted May 28, 2019 If you have a tablesaw as you do you can make hardwood runners or cut any material for runners. The correct width is more the situation than the height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sycamore67 Posted May 28, 2019 Report Share Posted May 28, 2019 Amazon has a lot of cutting boards of all kinds of materials. I get almost everything from Amazon in one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldhudson Posted May 28, 2019 Report Share Posted May 28, 2019 I have two cross cut sleds, one for larger stock and one for small parts/pieces. The guides, 2 on each of the sleds are maple. Here are a couple of pics of an adjustable ripping jig for thin slices of stock. The spring has too much pressure, it needs to be smaller. The plans were from Woodsmith. I'm not sure it was worth the effort, however it's always fun to make anything in the shop. OCtoolguy, Rockytime and JimErn 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted May 28, 2019 Report Share Posted May 28, 2019 18 hours ago, Rockytime said: Cutting boards are not 18" long. That is exactly what my runners are made of, a very similar material. The one my wife gave me is. If you get the chance, try visiting a Goodwill store or Salvation Army. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2woodwrk Posted May 28, 2019 Report Share Posted May 28, 2019 I live in florida and made one with mdf and ply works great OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimErn Posted May 28, 2019 Report Share Posted May 28, 2019 @oldhudson you do nice work, seeing it just reinforces to me that I need to keep pics of my knocked together, temporary, it'll do, jigs to myself. some of my temporary work is still working fine decades later, honest I am going to redo them all pretty like ROFL OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted May 29, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2019 It would be nice to have room for a high end table saw plus room to finish and assemble. Since I don't I usually take whatever short cut works. I did finish my sled and it is quite accurate. Messing around making slot rails is time consuming and unproductive for me. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted May 29, 2019 Report Share Posted May 29, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Rockytime said: It would be nice to have room for a high end table saw plus room to finish and assemble. Since I don't I usually take whatever short cut works. I did finish my sled and it is quite accurate. Messing around making slot rails is time consuming and unproductive for me. Wow. How about these for easehttps://store.microjig.com/collections/zeroplay/products/zeroplay-miter-bars-double-pack?fbclid=IwAR0lbHRG-NQIlh_xQJsPe6wQmLesBE7W0e7agZUdOYw1KuD4aeyARsE0e3A Edited May 29, 2019 by JTTHECLOCKMAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted May 29, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2019 Thanks John. I just ordered them. Wish I had known before. Would have saved me some time and aggravation. The price is only good until the 31st. You notified me just in time! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted May 30, 2019 Report Share Posted May 30, 2019 They make a couple other cool tools including the Grrr ripper that got alot of play here recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted May 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2019 Thanks John. I've been looking at their web site. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.95d348aa76923344a5cab534cc1b3bc1.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.