AndysToys Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 Anybody use Melamine for their TS crosscut sleds? I like the idea of the slick bottom, a little concerned about the 'working side'. Will it be too slick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 No reason you couldn't scuff up the working side.. I used ply and wax the bottom and the saw a couple times a year. Welcome to the forums. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 I'd use it. It would be nice and slick. You could use ply for the fence to add a little non-slip action...it might not make much difference but I'm not so sure it matters. Your table saw top and your miter gauge are slick, too. When it doubt, use clamps. Otherwise I don't think I'd worry about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 Welcome to the forums Andy. I'm south of you in san Jose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 Would you not want the fence on the sled to be non slippery? Something to hold it in place to keep it from shifting without the use of clamps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 Would you not want the fence on the sled to be non slippery? Something to hold it in place to keep it from shifting without the use of clamps? I would say yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 I skip particle board and MDF for sleds just due to weight. They can certainly work. I use BB ply with a coat of shellac and some paste wax. My larger sled has been riding on this surface for years without issue; I have re-waxed but, never re-finished. I have fences made from solid wood and also from laminated BB ply. I just jointed the solid wood. I flattened and trued up the ply like flattening a plane sole on some sandpaper stuck to a flat surface. Both have worked fine but, I would skip composite for the fence; they flex too easily for my taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 9 hours ago, K Cooper said: Would you not want the fence on the sled to be non slippery? Something to hold it in place to keep it from shifting without the use of clamps? That's why I suggested using ply for the fence instead of melamine, ideally unfinished ply. You could also use the sandpaper trick, but that would concern me a little bit because it could throw off the cut angle if it ever bubbled or got torn or boogers got kind of stuck to it...or anything. On the other hand, my sled is finished ply and it's probably as slick as melamine anyway...and I have no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vyrolan Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 Melamine seems like a poor choice for the fence too because of the core material... It doesn't have the greatest screw holding strength and if it gets at all loose or sloppy the sled is worthless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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