Crosscut sled position indicators

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 2:10 pm

I forget what the pin settings are for the crosscut sled pin positions. Does anyone know what they are? I'm going to put them on with a Sharpie since the decal is long gone.

BPR

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 2:51 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:I forget what the pin settings are for the crosscut sled pin positions. Does anyone know what they are? I'm going to put them on with a Sharpie since the decal is long gone.

BPR

If you are referring to the Shopsmith Cross-Cut Sliding Table (516524). the holes are drilled for 90&#176]This[/URL] is the current email special. Note that the part number is different than in my post. My cross cut table came with a miter bar so the P/N that I list must be in error. I pulled that info from my excel file (shop inventory).

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:59 am

Thanks Dusty. That is what I needed.
BPR

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:31 am

I put a second miter bar on my sled. The object was to reduce what I felt to be excessive movement of the sled due to slop in the miter track.

It was a chore to get the bars aligned so that they slid smoothly and at the same time reduced the slop but I feel that I finally got it done. I did the same for the sled I built.

bffulgham · Post by **bffulgham** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:36 am

dusty wrote:I put a second miter bar on my sled. The object was to reduce what I felt to be excessive movement of the sled due to slop in the miter track.

It was a chore to get the bars aligned so that they slid smoothly and at the same time reduced the slop but I feel that I finally got it done. I did the same for the sled I built.

Dusty,
Would you mind posting a pic of your 'second miter bar' on the sled set up? I fight with my sled every time I use it....constantly having to check and reset for square. I learned to keep pressure to the left as I push the sled thru, keeping the miter bar firmly on the side of the track to minimalize the slop. I'm ready to cannibalize the pieces/parts off of it and make my own dual miter bar sled.

Thanks,
Bud

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:02 am

bffulgham wrote:Dusty,
Would you mind posting a pic of your 'second miter bar' on the sled set up? I fight with my sled every time I use it....constantly having to check and reset for square. I learned to keep pressure to the left as I push the sled thru, keeping the miter bar firmly on the side of the track to minimalize the slop. I'm ready to cannibalize the pieces/parts off of it and make my own dual miter bar sled.

Thanks,
Bud

I cannot do that because I have loaned the Shopsmith sled but I will do so with the sled that I built. It also has the dual miter bars.

I think I understand your frustrations. What you are attempting is not a simple task unless you are not concerned about the resulting precision or lack thereof.

Start by making certain that the main table (miter tracks) are parallel to the planer of the saw blade. Remember that for all tasks we do with the table saw, the plane of the blade is the reference to which all other measurements are made.

I believe you can trust that they are but make certain that the miter tracks are parallel to one another which means they are also parallel to the plane of the saw blade.

Set the table tilt so that the table top is at 90&#176]14820[/ATTACH]
Shopsmith Miter Bars with extensions to reduce slop when sled is extended

[ATTACH]14821[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]14822[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]14823[/ATTACH]
My own custom square.

[ATTACH]14824[/ATTACH]

bffulgham · Post by **bffulgham** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:52 am

Thanks, Dusty. You're spot on for what I've planned for building my own sled. Thanks for the confirmation.

On your SS sled.....when you added the second bar.....I assume you bridged the front/leading edge (probably the trailing edge as well) the same way you did your custom sled, factory position for the miter bar to the left slot, and second bar to the right slot?

Sometimes my assumptions get me in a bit of trouble

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 2:58 pm

bffulgham wrote:Thanks, Dusty. You're spot on for what I've planned for building my own sled. Thanks for the confirmation.

On your SS sled.....when you added the second bar.....I assume you bridged the front/leading edge (probably the trailing edge as well) the same way you did your custom sled, factory position for the miter bar to the left slot, and second bar to the right slot?

Sometimes my assumptions get me in a bit of trouble

No that is not exactly how I did that. I had forgotten until you asked. I installed a Shopsmith miter track on one of my extension tables to facilitate the second miter bar.

When installed, the miter tracks are 22" apart. I'll look somemore for photos. I cannot imagine that I did not take pictures.

Hopefully, these will give you an idea of what I did.

[ATTACH]14828[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]14829[/ATTACH]

bffulgham · Post by **bffulgham** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:16 pm

Thanks again, Dusty....what you said makes sense, so don't worry about the pics. As soon as I get this set of bookcases done that I'm working on now, I plan to build a sled very similar to your custom sled. Will probably scavenge the threaded inserts, miter bar, and other hardware from the SS version to use on my new setup. There's a couple of 5x5 sheets of 1/2" Baltic birch ply on the side of my shop that need to be used anyway.

Appreciate your time and info!

Bud

aloibl · Post by **aloibl** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:46 pm

Dusty, thanks for the step-by-step. I purchased a couple of Shopsmith miter bars to make my own sled for 500 series top. (Can't use them until after Christmas!!) I need something to help me with my crosscuts on my little table until I get a chance to upgrade to the 520. Then I will be able to make a bigger cross-cut sled for the bigger table using the same miter bars.