This is the first time I’ve tried to use my crosscut sled in the summer. The humidity and heat has made my crosscut sled inoperable and this is due to the fact that my runners have swelled and will not even fit into the slots on my table saw anymore. I have to purchase some plastic runners and I forgot where I can get them but have read a number of posts about them. A search on ‘runners’ didn’t help me. Any help would be appreciated.
Regards,
Buzzsaw
Replies
I thought that Rockler or Woodcraft would carry them.
Michael
Doesn't Incra make something that will work for this purpose -- aluminum slats with with explansion slots so you can adjust the fit?
Thank You. I actually did another search and found what I needed. Woodcraft has them in stock at a local store and I'm going to pick some up. I had heard that there were also plastic runners that you could buy. I wonder which are better?Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz, Look for Phenolic
It is the best material for making your own runners.
It can be cut on your saw table or saber saw and it remains straight (Not like other plastics)
It can be milled/drilled/tapped/ bored. Also heat resistant
Even can be hobbed (Made into gears.)
It comes inSheets/ Rods/rounds and square and rectangular stock. I get mine from an industrial supplier as 'Cut offs'
Will outlast any plastic out doors and is waterproof and non conductive (Insulated)
Makes fine non marring jaws for vises Can be turned on a lathe
Your sled's base,( Being of wood) also swells and distorts with humidity.
1/4" sheet Phenolic will do the job ED.
Makes nice mallets etc,etc Steinmetz
Edited 7/26/2004 11:04 am ET by steinmetz
Edited 7/26/2004 11:06 am ET by steinmetz
Thanks Steinmetz. I will look into it...Regards,
Buzzsaw
Phenolic is dimensionally very stable over temp extremes (10K to over 300K), is a damn good insulator (thermal and electric), is easy to machine, but it is affected, some, by humidity (DAMHIKT). It is, however, likely sufficiently stable for this task.
I used strips of oak for my sled and, with some wax on them, they have served me well.
These Incra things are specifically made for sliding in mitre slots. I like them because the expansion slots allow you to fine tune the fit, which you would not be able to do with phenolic, or any other kind of plastic.
If you can't find them easily to have a look, repost here; I have one that is still packaged in the shop, and I will post the particulars.
Buzzsaw,
Just want to second the Incra runners.....the plastic can be a pain with the screws causing them to spread unevenly....I also tried to glue the plastic in a shallow grove on the underside of my sled...no go.
The Incra runners give me the accuracy and reliabilty I need. I also own the Incra 1000se....I figured, why would I spend all that money for miter cuts and then have a sled that is less accurate...
Woodcraft has them (24")....but I have been looking for longer ones
BG,
Help me out here. I just picked up the Incra Runners at Woodcraft during my lunch hour. I didn't get to read the directions yet but looking at the runners it appears that the screw holes are threaded for the screws to enter from the top of the sled, not from the bottom up through the sled. If this is so, did you just countersink the holes so that the screws would not interfere with the wood you are cutting? I screwed my existing maple runners up from the bottom into the sled. Thanks.Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz,
Yes, they screw in from the top..countersunk. Drill the first hole (one hole only) and attach the runner. Put your cross cut sled on the TS, retract the sawblade and bring the fense up flush to the sled...clamp the end of the runner to the crosscut sled and drill from the underside....counterbore from the top side...done.
BG,
Did you also drill holes to expose the expansion slots so that you can tune the runners? Also, have you ever adjusted them? Thanks...Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz,
Yes, I drilled holes for the allen wrench to adjust the whatchamacallits...forgot to add that to the how-to post. After initial setup, I have not had to adjust them.
Cool, thanks. I am going to attempt to replace my existing maple runners tonight. It looks like it should be pretty straightforward. I had a feeling that the 'whatchamacallits' was a feature that is keenly advertised but rarely used. Thanks for your posts. Regards,
Buzzsaw
One other thing, did you use the supplied screws or did you end up using longer ones? My birch plywood is 3/4" thick so I may have to countersink fairly deep or purchase other screws.Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz,
I really can't remember if I used the screws or not. My sled is 1/2" MDF with a 2" square piece of oak attached to some angle iron so it can be adjusted to square. If the come with screws would work in 1/2" MDF, then I used them....good luck
Thanks. I'll probably use what they came with and just countersink them a bit lower. I can't wait to use my crosscut sled again. You don't realize how much you need it until it is out of commission.Regards,
Buzzsaw
Re: holes (in the sled) for the expansion slot adjustments.
You certainly can, but I didn't. It was easy enough to tinker with the adjustments by turning the sled over a few times. And as BG indicated, once the adjustments are set, you most likely won't have to mess with them again.
This link should bring you exactly where you want to go.
http://shop.woodcraft.com/Woodcraft/product_family.asp?family%5Fid=3178&gift=False&mscssid=0B60B586986A4499963A4B10D36D3134
There are more old drunkards than old doctors. Ben Franklin
I replied to your original post without reading ahead. DOH!
There are more old drunkards than old doctors. Ben Franklin
Sounds like this is a litle too late, but others may want to purchase some. You can buy phenolic stips from
mcmaster.com
Just type in phenolic in their search bar. I belive it's page 3342
a 1/4"x2"x48" strip runs around $6.00
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