bushwacked Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 I went to the.lumber yard and picked up a 4x8 3/4 sheet of shop grade maple. It was mdf core to save money over the veneer $55 and $70 I was curious about the runners ... Can I use this plywood on the runners too? I just didn't want to spend $20+ on the plastic ones. I watched Marks video on making one and I am going to follow those steps. I will take some pics along the way to show my progress and get thoughts and help. I am sure I will need lots of that haha. Any tips starting out I should think about before I start making cuts? Sent from my old phone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Marc's video is pretty good and should guide you well. If it were mine, I would use hardwood for the runners as they won't wear down as quickly. One of the reasons I save a fair share of off cuts from projects. Good luck on the sled, I look forward to seeing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Hmmm good idea with the hardwood ... I will have to look and see what I got. I think I have some mahogany around or something. Got lots of soft maple but no hard.maple. Sent from my old phone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick A McQuay Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 I've used pine, plywood, hardwood, and plastic over the years and prefer them in that order (plastic the most). I never bought plastic runners, just cut them from plastic strips from hydraulic cutters but most people wouldn't have access to those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Bushwhacked, soft maple is soft by comparison to hard maple. It is still a dense hardwood. It should perform nicely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Agree with C, the "soft" maple should be fine.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 I'm gonna be a troublemaker and disagree with Carus and Kev. I think soft maple is too soft. I'd probably use the ply before I used soft maple or the mahogany...at least the ply will be half end grain and won't "squish" as easily. I think soft maple will start to show some slop after moderate use. Use hard maple or purpleheart or bubinga or any other very hard hardwood. Mahogany is too soft, too. Pine is way too soft. If you do use solid wood, be sure to orient the grain the correct direction so the movement is up and down in the t-track and not side-to-side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Thanks for the suggestions guys I will look into the woods ... Haha Kiki causing trouble ... I do see your point though I saw Marc use purpleheart so I will check on that for pricing. Hopefully not too bad. Just not sure what I will use.extra purpleheart for ... Sent from my old phone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Where are you? I have spare bullet wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Using MDF, the soft maple will be fine. Kiki is also correct that the ply will work. When it comes to shop jigs, I always use what's on hand. If they wear out, I build another with what's on hand. Cost is always the same, nothing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vyrolan Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Just not sure what I will use.extra purpleheart for ... Purpleheart looks great...maybe do some inlays or use it for splines or accents or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Purpleheart looks great...maybe do some inlays or use it for splines or accents or whatever. Hmmm that could work ... I do like the look of inlays in a lot of things Sent from my old phone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridnharley Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 I used Marc's video for making my sled. I also used an expensive piece of 3/4" ply. I used double thickness ply for the front and back fences. I used purple heart for my runners 'cause I had some left over from making cutting boards. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 This is my setup so far ... Took awhile to get the brown outfeed table to the right height. Although trying to.cut the 4x8 is a pain in the ass in this small garage. Any ideas how to make this easier? I do not have a circular saw to cut it down to a manageable size. Also ... How dangerous is it cutting like that? Sent from my old phone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Some leveling feet for the outfeed will make that a little easier. Nothing wrong with the circular saw for breaking down sheet goods. Just have a good straight edge. In the future, you could look into a track saw, they make life a bit easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firehawk Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Hand saw or jig saw can work as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Hand saw or jig saw can work as well. To break it down smaller so I can straighten on the table saw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Where are you? I have spare bullet wood. North Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Not sad I offered, but you can likely find something closer for the twelve bucks it would take to ship it. Let me know if not. In North Texas I would look for Osage Orange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisphr Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 I used both Marc's and William Ng's video when I built my crosscut sled, they compliment each other nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridnharley Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 I used both Marc's and William Ng's video when I built my crosscut sled, they compliment each other nicely. http://youtu.be/UbG-n--LFgQ I love the William Ng video. Then again, I love math. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 I would highly recommend getting at least a cheap circular saw and a chalk line for breaking down plywood. Cut oversized and finish on the tablesaw. Full sheets on the tablesaw are a killer in a one-man shop. If you have the space, infeed and outfeed tables help, but you will still struggle to feed a full sheet through cleanly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 ya I may look into a cheap one ... was hoping to avoid that for now since I am not sure how much plywood I am going to be breaking down for the near future. Just trying not to buy something I use once or twice a month and put that money to something I can use weekly or daily. Although it may come to that and I breakdown and get one if this just becomes a nightmare trying to do on the table saw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 A jigsaw will do, since you will clean up the edge on the table saw. They are usually a bit less than a circular saw, and are handy for a lot of jobs. Especially if you don't have a band saw. Slow, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Every shop needs a circular saw or a track saw, even if it's only used occasionally. I use mine pretty rarely, but for every task I do use it, there's usually not a very good alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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