Time to make a sled?

[rjent]

I have some somewhat large solid wood panels (5/8"x40" with the grain x15 cross grain") that I need to very accurately and keeping the cut square take 5 inches off the top. I want the 5 inches for a continued panel that matches the lower part but be separate.

Now, that seems to be a bitch with just a miter gage. Would a sled be the method of choice? I am so green at this ....

Any advice would be appreciated!

[charlese]

I have some somewhat large solid wood panels (5/8"x40" with the grain x15 cross grain") that I need to very accurately and keeping the cut square take 5 inches off the top. I want the 5 inches for a continued panel that matches the lower part but be separate.

Now, that seems to be a bitch with just a miter gage. Would a sled be the method of choice? I am so green at this ....

Any advice would be appreciated!

So -- you are planning to make a 15" long cut that is perpendicular to the long edge.

Which resulting piece do you wish to become a little bit shorter than planned. Using a 1/8" blade, the 5" panel can be either 4 7/8" or the exact desired 5". If the latter is chosen, you will have a large panel that measures 34 7/8".

One sawing method to avoid building a large sled is to use a straight edge with hand power saw. (like a skill saw)

Another method, but a little less dependable, is to attach a long straight edge to your miter gauge

If it was me I'd choose the skill saw and a good straight edge.

Best Wishes

[masonsailor2]

I would have to agree with Chuck. A cut like that could be made on a sled on the Shopsmith But a cut off shoe and skil saw might give you better and quicker results. A cut off shoe for your skil saw is a nice thing to have around. Very useful tool for breaking down panels etc. I make mine out of a piece of 1/2" ply and 1/4" ply which works well.
Paul

[claimdude]

MFT table and a Festool TS55 saw with 75" rail.

Jack

[dusty]

I would deal with your issue by cutting the pieces over size (any method you want) and then accurately dimensioning them to finished size with a straight edge and router. The problem, as I see with my solution, is that you would be using the router on the cross grain. You have to guard against chipout as the router bit approaches the end of the work piece.

[dusty]

Duplicate Post that I am unable to delete.

[BuckeyeDennis]

I agree with all of the above, with the caveat that a nice big crosscut sled should also give good results. Jsburger built a beauty.

I got about half done building a large crosscut sled. But then I decided to shift gears and add a good radial arm saw (1958 Dewalt MBF) to my arsenal, so that I could crosscut dados without messing up my sled. Properly adjusted and aligned, a good RAS is dead accurate and repeatable. (But a lot of the ones built in the 60's and later are junk.) Crosscut capacity of the MBF is 15", so now I don't need that crosscut sled after all.

I'd also like to have a track saw, but only for sheet goods. I later picked up a 14" commercial Dewalt RAS with a 24" crosscut capacity (and over 4" depth of cut) that can handle most any lumber.

A hand-tool guy can get great results with a hand plane and a shooting board.

Lots of ways to skin that cat! The common theme here is that as the workpiece gets bigger, the best solution is likely to be one where the workpiece is held stationary, and the cutting tool is moved along a guide of some sort.

[rjent]

Thank guys! I had thought about using the skill saw, but told myself "surely we have to use all of this high tech equipment somehow".

So, I just clamp a good straight edge to the panel and whack it off? I have made allowance for the kerf plus some, the 5" is the final measurement after the saw blade width is accounted for (theoretically LOL)

I will go get a new blade for my skill saw and give it a try. I will let you know. I had used the straight edge on the miter before and although successful, don't want to do it again .... I had planed to square the 5 inch piece with the conical sander, but the 35 inch part gets kind of unwieldy. I need to mull some on this. Once successful, I am doing about 5 of these, so I need to figure an accurate way to do it. The RAS would be nice, but currently no room. Should be able to add one if wanted in a year or so as my shop takes it's final shape.

Again, Thanks!

[dusty]

If jsbburger has a sled that would handle this task, maybe we could talk him into showing it to us.

[BuckeyeDennis]

If jsbburger has a sled that would handle this task, maybe we could talk him into showing it to us. He has not been bashful in the past.

He gave us a peek a little while back. Check out this post.