Dnorris1369 Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Hey guys. Trying to decide on crosscut sled for a dewalt Jobsite table saw. I've been looking at the incra and one from rockler. Any opinions on either of these two? Also pros and cons for each vs building one Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Build. Job sites eat things up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I've considered the Incra many times. It's just hard to justify when the one I built works so well.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I've built 2 of them and I'm no genius. So, it can't be that difficult. I'd say build your sled and spend your money on another tool that's more difficult to build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I prefer to go down the middle. I just use Phenolic plywood, Aluminum fence, L brackets and metal miter bars. I think you get the best of both worlds DIY and store bought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I misunderstood the original post...I saw "jobsite" and thought you'd be using it on a jobsite. My instinct was to say the Incra is a precision tool that might not be a good fit for the rigors of construction sites. But that's not what you meant, so apologies. I'd still probably build one because they're easy to make and much cheaper than buying a fancy one like the Incra. But you might have to make yours considerably smaller since you have a small saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I'd recommend making your own, because if you take your time, you can make a better sled than you can buy. My dad owns the Incra, but since I gave him my old saw and sled, he doesn't use it anymore. The one I made is bigger, more accurate, and easier to set up fixtures with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I'm on the third shop made version sitting on the same Incra metal sliders. I think the first was in the late '80s. The sliders are no where near worn out, or even worn at all. I don't even think I ever adjusted them after the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewitteridder Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I agree that making your own sled isn't really too bad. Both Marc and William Ng have great in depth videos on how to make and dial in your cross cut sled. I have 3 sleds right now. I started with a super huge one that worked well but it was a bit of a pain to use for most applications but I keep it around for those times when I have over sized boards I need to cross cut. I made a smaller one for general purpose and I also made a separate one just for my dado stack so I wouldn't mess up the kerf on my other sleds. I haven't gotten around to it but a miter sled would be extremely handy as well. Wood working for Mere Mortals has a great tutorial on how to make a miter sled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnorris1369 Posted February 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 Seems like everyone goes for make one. Should I make the sliders or buy those ya think. And again I'm a newbie Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I made mine out of hardwood and it's holding up fine. Just some scraps left over from another project. Nothing wrong with buying them either. Might be better for you to make them on your first sled.. Work out the kinks and bugs and then determine what you want to do with the sliders later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I use one patterned after Matthias Wandel's 'small crosscut sled' design. A single hardwood runner on a plywood bed. Most usefull accessory I own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick A McQuay Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I have 2 shop made sleds, one has a wood runner, the other has a plastic runner, both held up fine. I use the smaller sled far more often.Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_in_SD Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 I too have two sleds. One large and one smaller. Use the smaller most of the time. Use William Ng's design and fence alignment steps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 ==> One large and one smaller. Use the smaller most of the time. Same here... My 'small' sled can handle about 9" cross-cut width and the 'large' about 20"... After about a year of non-use, I cannibalized the large sled for parts to make a box-joint sled (which I use a lot). After a few years, I've still never felt the need to replace the large sled... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnorris1369 Posted February 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Ok guys fixing to start my sled. Have couple questions should my sled be exact size as top of saw or bigger or smaller and is oak ok to use for runners. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Oak runners work for me. Size should be dictated by what you do with it. If you expect to cross cut large panels or long boards, make it big. Mine is about 22" wide, and if I trim a board that hangs off by a couple of feet it can take some effort or a clamp to keep the board flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Ok guys fixing to start my sled. Have couple questions should my sled be exact size as top of saw or bigger or smaller and is oak ok to use for runners. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Keep the distance in front of your blade in mind. With your job site saw its going to be tight so I'd probably just go as big as you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Oak is okay for runners...I'd use white if you have it and more importantly, which ever species you use, make sure you pick straight grained wood and orient that grain to where any expansion and contraction occurs up and down in the miter slot, not side to side. In the summer your runners will swell and you'll have to scrape them down a bit so that they slide smoothly, then by the next winter when they shrink again, you'll have some slop. Selecting and orienting your grain correctly will help reduce this problem, though it won't eliminate it altogether. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 What about using plywood or MDF for runners? I have a lot of scraps around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 I might consider using ply, but MDF is too soft...you'll have slop in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnorris1369 Posted February 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Ok I have red oak. I'm not exactly sure what ure telling me about the grain though. Sorry wood dummy here lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lighthearted Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Agreed. Build your own. I guilt a super sled a few years back and just modified it last weekend to accommodate my new table saw. While it is fantastic. i want to build two smaller, lighter ones--one for bevel cuts as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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