I already know how to make a saw sled, so that isn't the question.
By the way, for those that recall my heavy-duty saw sled, I still use
it, andit works just fine, but it's heavy as Hell. That's not the
reason I'm replacing it tho.

I'm going to be making a lot of cutting pieces of 1X4'' plywood,
making pieces 3" wide - these cuts need to be consistentll in width.
The problem with the present sled, I have to get the cut pieces out of
the way, before I can slide the plywood over, and make the next cut.

So, I need another saw sled. I won't start working on it for a bit,
so figured I'd ask for some "useful input" (now that's n oxymoron) here
before I started work, after all, no sense in reinventing the wheel if
you don't have to. I want a sled that will "automatically" tip the cut
pieces away from the blade, so I can just slide the piece to be cut
over, against a stop block, and make the next cut. I figure the edge,
as it's being cut, should (hopefully) push the prior cut over enough to
allow the next to drop away. I don't mind if the cut pieces wind up
getting tipped over the side of the saw, I'll have a box to catch them.

What I've been mulling over is a 1/4" plywood base that the runners
will attach to, and will be the size as the total sled. Then use 3/4"
plywood, glued to the 1/4" plywood, and the same size. However, the
3/4" will have a rectanglar cutout on the right side. The rear of the
rectangular cut will be maybe 1/4=1/2" or so in front of the rear fence.
I figure about the same for the front fence. Then I'm thinking the cut
would be about 1/4" or so to the right of the blade - then when the cut
is finalized, the cut piece would tip right, and into the low section.
It ain't perfect, but I'm thinking it will work. So, unless I get some
inputd that's really remarkable, that's the way I'm going.

The question: Anyone got any better idess on how to do what I
want?

HANDY TIP: I keep my blood pressure medicine bottle on the back of
the stove. Apparently my blood pressure went up bcause of the dorky
trolls here. LMAO The dosage has been reduced by half, and should be
off it entirely soon. I digress. The pills are in a small plastic
bottle, and it sliped down over the back of the stove one day. Real
PITA retrieving the bottle. Easy solution - now store the pill bottle
in a considerably larger empty Vitamin C bottle. I don't just transfer
the pills because the prescription number is on the bottle label. I do
keep baby asperin in a larger bottle tho, labeled by printing the
contents on a strip of duct tape.



JOAT
If it ain't broke, don't lend it.
- Red Green

My question is "Why a sled at all?"
How about a sturdy fence attached to the miter gauge that extends to both sides
the blade, like the front fence of a sled - just without any bottom. Set up the
stop block like you mentioned, and as you cut, you end up pushing a train of cut
pieces off the back of the saw. I make sure I push the offcut past the blade
when I do this. You can put a "box" on the fence to cover the blade if desired,
again similar to a sled.

Just a clarification - this is 1/4" ply cut into 3" x 11" pieces?
--
JeffB
remove no.spam. to email

Thu, Nov 3, 2005, 6:50am (EST+5) (JeffB) doth
query:
My question is "Why a sled at all?" snip
Just a clarification - this is 1/4" ply cut into 3" x 11" pieces?

Interesting. However, my saw's miter gauge sucks, so I don't know
if I'll go that route. However, that concept does inspire one or two,
more viable, possibiities; don't know if easier to make then my original
concept, but definitely better. Thanks.

And, no, the pieces being cut will be 1/2" ply into 3" wide pieces
- around 11-12" long, trimmed to final length later. The pieces will be
cut from pieces 11-12" wide X 48" long.

Hmm, interesting. Looks like this time I'll have to make a couple
of sketches. That's OK too.



JOAT
If it ain't broke, don't lend it.
- Red Green

"J T" wrote in message
...
HANDY TIP: I keep my blood pressure medicine bottle on the back of
the stove. Apparently my blood pressure went up bcause of the dorky
trolls here. LMAO The dosage has been reduced by half, and should be
off it entirely soon. I digress. The pills are in a small plastic
bottle, and it sliped down over the back of the stove one day. Real
PITA retrieving the bottle. Easy solution - now store the pill bottle
in a considerably larger empty Vitamin C bottle. I don't just transfer
the pills because the prescription number is on the bottle label. I do
keep baby asperin in a larger bottle tho, labeled by printing the
contents on a strip of duct tape.


hint: a lot of medications break down due to heat. you may not be getting
what you think you're taking in those pills if you leave them next to the
stove.

Thu, Nov 3, 2005, 11:53am (EST-2)
(Charles*Spitzer) doth advise:
hint: a lot of medications break down due to heat. you may not be
getting
what you think you're taking in those pills if you leave them next to
the stove.

You cook? With a stove? LOL Yeah, forgot to mention, I don't
cook with the stove. Anything I need cooked, I nuke it (loads of
microwave recipes on the web, by the way). So no heat problem. Anyway,
the large bottle won't roll under anything if it drops.



JOAT
If it ain't broke, don't lend it.
- Red Green

JT:

How about a panel sled instead? Just a flat bottomed ply attached to
the
runner in either the left or right miter slot.

I'd use the left one, measure to the fence (with a cutoff block
attached,
so the piece doesn't bind) and saw away.

Perhaps I'm missing something in your problem.

My $.02.

MJ Wallace

Thu, Nov 3, 2005, 3:06pm (EST-3) who did say:
JT:
How about a panel sled instead? snip
Perhaps I'm missing something in your problem.
My $.02

You're probably not missing anything. But, who am I to know? LOL

Nope, but sorta. It's getting clearer in my mind. Now I'm
thiniking a sled with a piece in the right side cut out. Then a gap
under the rear fence for the cut pieces to slide out and unde - the
pieces will be 1/2" and the sled 3/4". Of course, you realize the
advise I'm geting may turn out to be really lousyl, and I'll have to
make another sled, after the first one. LOL



JOAT
If it ain't broke, don't lend it.
- Red Green

On Fri, 4 Nov 2005 00:08:39 -0500, (J T)
wrote:

Thu, Nov 3, 2005, 3:06pm (EST-3) who did say:
JT:
How about a panel sled instead? snip
Perhaps I'm missing something in your problem.
My $.02

You're probably not missing anything. But, who am I to know? LOL

Nope, but sorta. It's getting clearer in my mind. Now I'm
thiniking a sled with a piece in the right side cut out. Then a gap
under the rear fence for the cut pieces to slide out and unde - the
pieces will be 1/2" and the sled 3/4". Of course, you realize the
advise I'm geting may turn out to be really lousyl, and I'll have to
make another sled, after the first one. LOL



JOAT
If it ain't broke, don't lend it.
- Red Green


make sure that when the cutoff releases, it goes away from the blade.

I'm pretty sure you were planning for that, but I couldn't quite tell
from your description. kickbacks suck, and I'd hate for the wreck to
lose it's official resident 'ol fart...

Thu, Nov 3, 2005, 11:28pm (EST-2) s did spaketh thusly:
make sure that when the cutoff releases, it goes away from the blade.
I'm pretty sure you were planning for that, but I couldn't quite tell
from your description. kickbacks suck, and I'd hate for the wreck to
lose it's official resident 'ol fart...

Already planned for. There'll be a small "ledge" about 1/4=1/2" or
so, on the right side of the blade. The cut piece should tip right off
of that, as soon as the cut is complete, into the cutout part - the
ledge will hold it place until the cut is finished, then it tips. I
think. I only want to do this once, so been doing a lot of thinking on
it. The back of the cutout part will b closed under the one fence, open
under the other, so the piece will be "automatically" pushed out - not
sure under which fence - each has merits. The right side of the cutout
will be closed - I think the cutout will only need to be an inch or 2
wider than the cut piece, but be easy enough to enlarge it a bit if need
be. Any suggestions for color(s) if I decide to paint it?

And, you obviously have me confused with someone else..



JOAT
If it ain't broke, don't lend it.
- Red Green

Thu, Nov 3, 2005, 11:28pm (EST-2) s also dis saidith:
snip kickbacks suck, snip

I'm sure they do, but I've never had one. True. Anyway, the
present sled is topped by two 2X4 chunks, so even if there was a
kickback with that one, It'd pretty well have to destroy the sled before
it could ever get to me - and I doubt that would happen. I purposly
made it that way. I'm not totally sure what the bridge (or whatever
it's called) on the next sled will be like, but it's gong to be as
strong for sure. The first one also has some blocking pieces on the
user fence, so the only way to grab it and push will not allow fingers
anywhere near the blade. I'm a great believer in keeping away from the
whirly parts while they're whirling. You'd have to work at it to get
cut with the blade while it's turning. I do NOT want to get hurt
because I get distracted by something, or star thinging of something
else while cutting,; this way if I lose concentration, I should be safe
anyway..



JOAT
If it ain't broke, don't lend it.
- Red Green

On Thu, 3 Nov 2005 00:13:13 -0500, (J T) wrote:


HANDY TIP: I keep my blood pressure medicine bottle on the back of
the stove. Apparently my blood pressure went up bcause of the dorky
trolls here. LMAO The dosage has been reduced by half, and should be
off it entirely soon. I digress. The pills are in a small plastic
bottle, and it sliped down over the back of the stove one day. Real
PITA retrieving the bottle. Easy solution - now store the pill bottle
in a considerably larger empty Vitamin C bottle. I don't just transfer
the pills because the prescription number is on the bottle label. I do
keep baby asperin in a larger bottle tho, labeled by printing the
contents on a strip of duct tape.

I don't know why reading this triggered an old memory, but it did. 15-20 years or so ago I was
newly and heavily involved in Scouting. Many of the other volunteer dads would come by the campfire
after a hard day at camp to sip coffee and swap lies while our cherubs were out creating various
acts of mayhem in the dark.

After a particularly rugged day, one of the old Scouters announced he needed something for his
aching bones, and shortly wandered back to the fire with his bottle of prune juice. We all looked
at him kinda strange until he offered a splash in each cup. The light went on as a healthy slug of
a totally forbidden, 80 proof, rheumatiz medication went into a half dozen eagerly offered coffee
mugs. He pointed out that NOBODY ever bothers to open a bottle of prune juice in someones camp
gear.

We all had a laugh when at the next campout. Just about every one of us now had a prune juice
bottle in our cook box.

Fri, Nov 4, 2005, 3:48am (EST+5) (Roy) finallly
admitted:
snip We all had a laugh when at the next campout. Just about every one
of us now had a prune juice bottle in our cook box.

Damn good thing you didn't have any Klingon scouts.



JOAT
If it ain't broke, don't lend it.
- Red Green