My new sled with upgrades....

[Mark Marzluf]

Well.... I thought this previous sled was everything I ever needed..




Well...... it turns out there were some further options that I wanted / needed, so I made this newest version a couple weeks ago.

I'm still using a ZCI system that I incorporated in to the last one. Being able to use the sled for dado cuts has been very handy. I have inserts for 1/8", 1/2", and 3/4". The only problem I had was some tearout on the exit end of the piece. After making a dado cut - the fence no longer had a zero clearance. In this new sled, I made a split fence system that allows me to adjust for blade thickness as well. You can see in this pic, the 1/2" dado insert is installed and the fence is set acordingly.



I also began to cut through the safetyblock of my old sled. Those small bumps of the blade add up after time and finally penetrate the block. With it glued on, there was little to do except cut it off and apply a new one. Now, I've gone to an adjustable block. If I start to cut through it, I can slide it over to a fresh spot. Once it's all worn out, I can simply remove it and make a new one to slip on.




Also..... not wanting to make a HUGE sled that took up a bunch of room and weighed a ton, I usually keep the stop block at about 24" max cut. Finding myself wishing for wider cutting capabilities I also added a telescoping stop block system to this new one.. I now have standard 24" to the left of the blade or anywhere up to 36" with the stop block extended. A simple allen bolt through the top of the fence locks the telescoping fence in place.






The last upgrade I made was to add a removable miter fence. I have an incra 3000 so I'm not trying to add a precision miter or anything, but for irregular pieces or when I want to make sure the cutoff stays put - this attachment should come in handy. Simple enough to add, I burried a threaded insert under the formica for one end, and a T slot cutter with circle jig made a nice track for the other end.





Finally...... here's a couple over all shots. Thanks for taking a look.

[Bob Huddleston]

Dayum...that's a piece of furniture, not a jig! Nice work and thanks for showing it!

[Mark Singer]

That is an amazing sled! My 2 sleds are simple an accurate and I love them....you have the ultimate sled there!

[Matt Day]

Where's the T1 connection?

[Kyle Kraft]

WOW! I can only imagine the junk projects you can turn out with that rascal!!!

[Doug Lindley]

I see what you mean about your first sled, who would ever want to use that thing . Seriously, that new sled is a beautiful piece of equipment, certainly looks like a marketable item. Great work.

Doug

[Jim Dunn]

All right this looks more like a serving tray used to measure the length of steaks. Not any stinking cooking class's here

To pretty to use in anything closely resembling a shop. Real nice workmanship!

[Mark Marzluf]

Made this one for a friend.... Course, he didn't get the updated version. I had to make one for myslef first.

[Mike Weaver]

Very Nice!!

Definitely gets added to my jigs-to-build list!

Thanks for sharing,
-Mike

[Brad Noble]

Made this one for a friend.... Course, he didn't get the updated version. I had to make one for myslef first.

Dang gone it, I have one that looks exactly like this one! I even have the incra fence system on my saw. And, as much as I hate to admit this, I have a cabinet with those floral designs on the sliding doors.

WAIT!! Is that mine? Why, I believe it is! I'd better go check the shop to see if its still there!

Kiddin' aside, its a super sled. I love it. I told Mark the only way it comes out of my shop is in trade for one of his new ones or to pry it out of my cold dead hands.

Brad

[Mike Waddell]

Mark -

A very well thought out piece of shop furniture you have there! I'd be proud to use anything that nice, and even more proud if I could think up and make something like that!

Well done!

Mike

[John Gornall]

Mark, well done!

However jigs like this are never really finished - there's always another idea.

Here's one to keep you going:

You need another 90 degrees of miter to cut many frame mouldings.

You can cut a flat moulding that can be flipped but not a round top or other complicated-non-flat shape. For these you need another 90 degrees of miter on the other side of the blade to cut the other end. This way you keep the flat back of the moulding down against the sled table.

[Zahid Naqvi]

Made this one for a friend.... Course, he didn't get the updated version. I had to make one for myslef first.

Mark, I have this sudden urge to become your friend
nice job, the sled is better than some of my furniture projects.

[Ron Blaise]

to use! Best one I've seen yet Mark! Ah,, beings as were buds,, where's mine????

[Jim Becker]

What an incredibly well-thought through and executed sled system! VERY kewel! Thanks for posting that, Mark. I agree with Ron...the "best" I've seen yet, and that pretty much includes the expensive commercial ones, too.