Shopsmith Forums

I won't go into the full details here because it is all covered in this project post on Lumberjocks but what I will say is that I like my SS table saw a lot more since I built the sled. It was designed by a very clever LJ buddy of mine and has a few interesting features for the ShopSmith. The biggest innovation he makes is the double bottom which (on a normal table saw) allows you to use the same sled for miters, dados, and normal crosscuts .... all zero clearance.

Of course the SS throws a curve at his idea because unlike a tilting arbor saw the tilting table changes the place the blade hits the sled. To deal with that situation I made a separate miter ramp (for 45 degrees) to fit in the sled in either of two positions. It is covered in this post.
The main reason I'm posting this here is that that same double bottom feature that he designed to work with a tilting arbor saw has a hidden treasure for less than alert SS table saw users. How many times have you forgotten one of the five "tightens" before a cut. For me it's usually the quill lock after using the drill press but sometimes it can be the table or power head lock. Anyway the result is the same, a cut that wanders sideways and if you are using a sled, pretty much ruins it. ........ not this one. Just reset the double bottom, run the blade through and no harm no foul. ...... It's brilliant. I wish I had thought of it myself.

My project post on the sled has a link in it to his sled post which includes a video of how it works.

Great idea thanks for posting.

shipwright wrote: ...... It's brilliant. I wish I had thought of it myself.

Great job Paul.

Isn't it funny that so many good ideas are just so simple that they make us feel dumb for not thinking of them ourselves.

Gotta go now and build a new dado sled with double bottom for my 520.

Thank you Paul. My sled has only 3 pieces...bottom, fixed rear fence and runner. I made it years ago from scrap in 10 minutes. I love it and use it all the time on my trusty old craftsman table saw. I can't wait to check it with the 5 cut method. I'm sure it's not square and the source of some of my frustration during project assembly. Can't wait to make a new sled with adjustable fence.

Tom

It would seem to me that your wedge idea (great idea!) would be a much better/safer way of doing raised panels as well ... Yes?

rjent wrote:It would seem to me that your wedge idea (great idea!) would be a much better/safer way of doing raised panels as well ... Yes?

Yes, I think it would, either in conjunction with the sled or stand alone with a runner on its base for the mitre slot.
It is also possible to make it adjustable but it would be a lot more complex and all I need at the moment is 45 degrees.
..... and I'd have to change the marquetry of course. :-)

very nice