Crosscut sled verse miter gauge

[miclee15]

I’ve never had anything better then a portable table saw and now I’m upgrading to a cabinet saw.  I’m trying to understand the pros and cons of a sled verse a miter gauge.  I purchased a Incra Miter gauge and now wondering if I need to make or buy a sled.

 

[ChuckM]

A cross-cut sled allows to you to make cross cuts on pieces that may be too small for a mitre gauge. In addition, better dust collection can be had using the cross-cut sled with a dust shroud like this:

 

[Klemm]

- add another vote for the Cross-cut Sled !
make one yourself - a great item to develop new shop skills especially with unfamiliar new-to-you tools.

You'll never look back  [smile]

Hans

 

[Peter_C]

A good miter gauge and a table saw sled are in order. Just as much so with a portable saw. Attaching something to the front of the miter gauge on a portable saw is a HUGE improvement. Small parts are almost always best cut on a sled.

 

[Bob D.]

For me I'd say you need both, as they both have advantages in certain situations. So for me it's not a choice of which do I need but when do I use one over the other.

Bill Ng has an excellent YT video showing how to build his sled. No doubt many here have viewed it, but for those who haven't here it is. He recently came out with a miter attachment for this sled so look for that video too.

 

[miclee15]

For me I'd say you need both, as they both have advantages in certain situations. So for me it's not a choice of which do I need but when do I use one over the other.

Bill Ng has an excellent YT video showing how to build his sled. No doubt many here have viewed it, but for those who haven't here it is. He recently came out with a miter attachment for this sled so look for that video too.

Bob D - thanks for the video.  Other than "small parts", I haven't seen/read any accepted practice or what advantages are provided with each. 

I'm taking delivery of the new saw on the 30th and once it's set up  I'll be moving forward to build a small one.

 

[ChiknNutz]

Another use I have for a sled is to accurately shave off minute amounts.  This can also be done on the miter saw provided it has enough capacity for the cut.  The sled I made is a one sided affair and by the nature of how it's made, is a zero clearance on the one side (in my case the sled rides to the left of the blade).  This allows you to place the item to cut right on the edge of the sled and know with certainty that the cut will be precisely where you want it.

 

[Dick Mahany]

I use an Incra miter gauge which I really like, however I prefer using a crosscut sled when ever I can.  I echo the earlier comments that you should have both if you can as well as the usefulness for small parts.

I built this one for my Unisaw from 3/4" MDO plywood.  It was super useful, but it weighed too much.

[attachimg=1]

I have since downsized and have a portable saw and built a much simpler sled from 1/2" plywood. I use it often for small or precision parts.

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

Even though the Incra miter gauge is excellent, the sled is just so stable due to the dual runners.

 

[B33tl3]

Having both are nice. I already had an Incra Miter gauge so I replaced my big heavy sled with the Incra Miter Express.  It works great and my miter gauge stays in there 97% of the time but I can take it out if I need to do something where I don't want the sled. The Incra Miter 5000 is a bigger version that still uses the Incra Miter gauge

Incra Miter Express
Incra Miter 5000

 

[miclee15]

Thank you to all.  Love this forum, even when Festool is not the topic.

Having both are nice. I already had an Incra Miter gauge so I replaced my big heavy sled with the Incra Miter Express.

I was looking that that given I purchased the Incra Miter gauge.

I built this one for my Unisaw from 3/4" MDO plywood.  It was super useful, but it weighed too much.
Even though the Incra miter gauge is excellent, the sled is just so stable due to the dual runners.

Thank you for the pictures.  Nice sled  [big grin]

 

[B33tl3]

miclee15
The Incra sleds are great given the precision of the miter gauge. It has always been dead on.
Lots of good videos out there about it.

Guys review
Infinity review

 

[miclee15]

B33tl3 - thanks for the videos.  My head is still spinning from Bill Ng's math class on angles, lol

I think I'm leaning towards the Incra Express, while building my own is a fun project, DIY sleds seem bulky and I have a small shop.  The Incra gets great reviews, and I guess we're all used to paying for expensive tools here, hahaha

 

[ben_r_]

Inrca sled fan here! Love em!

 

[Michael Kellough]

The Dubby sled has been popular for years.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

I always have both a sled and mitre gauge/fence for use with a table, or cabinet saw, and router table.
As said, both have their uses and make what can be a tricky task, very easy.

The only time you probably wouldn’t need either, is if you own a CS-50, CS-70 or Mafell Erika, or any other push/pull saw. Even with those, a sliding table is a welcome addition.

 

[Hotwheels]

- add another vote for the Cross-cut Sled !
make one yourself - a great item to develop new shop skills especially with unfamiliar new-to-you tools.

You'll never look back  [smile]

Hans

I have been asking myself if I need a sled for my table saw..... here is the thought process.

Since moving I have rearranged my current 12x22 workshop a couple of times and recently did so again so that my table saw (Sawstop ICS) is more accessible.  I use it now mostly for longer rips that I previously did on my two 1080 MFTs connected side by side. It was just more convenient than( moving the table saw and dust collector away from the wall and getting everything connected for a few cuts.  But now the table saw is in the center of the shop and easier to access and I'm using it more.

I moved the MFT's so they are now end to end and the plan is to have that be my cross cut station for anything I cannot cut on the Kapex. With that setup I can deal with boards about 8" long and up to about 22" with my current setup for a fence (MFS parts).  If I use dogs to square the rail then I get about 25" of cross cut capacity or if I use a different fence(e.g., Dashboard F2) I think I can get that much. 

Although it takes some fiddling, I can get square crosscuts cuts on the MFT with enough capacity for most projects I have on the current list (end tables). With the availability of rail squares and the TSO MTR-X, my thinking is that a cross-cut sled is of little use since angles cuts and repeat cross-cuts are easily done on the MFT. 

So far the only reason I can see to use a cross cut sled on the table saw is for miter cuts.  For whatever reason I prefer to make miter cuts with the Kapex. But for wider stock the table saw with a sled might be useful?  I have cut very few miters with my track saw and unless I can get more comfortable with it for cutting miters on pieces wider than 12" then that is the only reason I can think of for a cross-cut sled that is going to take up storage room I just don's have.

What do you think?

[attachimg=1]

 

[Packard]

I have a shop-made sled.  I don’t use it too often because I have a radial arm saw.  But entirely serviceable. 

There are videos online on how to make your own.  I am big on making dedicated fixtures so I have made up a small lot of oak runners to fit the miter slots.  I tried making a slide with two runners figuring it would run more true than one runner.  It did not seem to make any difference.  I add some butchers wax to the oak runners, but make sure to wipe off any excess that is on your saw’s table.  The residue will screw up your efforts to apply a finish.

I have a contractor’s saw with a 48” fence.  The fence is what makes the table saw a real workhorse.  The smaller fences (24”) would mean that I would have to do some arithmetic.  I avoid that at all costs. [big grin]

 

[smorgasbord]

What do you think?

I think that photo of your setup is pretty scary:
1) The miter gauge spans the blade
2) The outfeed table will interfere with the miter gauge or sled runners

Between a Kapex and a track saw, you might not need a tablesaw sled. Depends on what you cut, what accuracy you need and can achieve with what methods you choose.

 

[Hotwheels]

What do you think?

I think that photo of your setup is pretty scary:
1) The miter gauge spans the blade
2) The outfeed table will interfere with the miter gauge or sled runners

Between a Kapex and a track saw, you might not need a tablesaw sled. Depends on what you cut, what accuracy you need and can achieve with what methods you choose.

The miter gauge is on the saw as is because there is currently no easy place to store it so it just sits where it is until I need to adjust it for a cut. The outfeed table is not yet shimmed to level with the saw table and I'm not sure I will ever put miter slots in an outfeed table.  I have had the miter gauge for a long time and maybe used it a couple of times, always aware that it can't touch the blade without costing me a new blade and cartridge.  And, Im not sure I need a sled either, the only issue is bevel cuts that I have never made with the track saw.

 

[smorgasbord]

Here's a good introductory video on tablesaw sleds, including some various kinds, with advice to help you decide what's best for you.