This jig changed my woodworker’s life. It improved considerably my accuracy, it is mandatory when making a series of identical parts, and it increases both ease of use and security.
The sled runs on two parallel guides, which run in the two slots of the table saw. I used a square of Quickstep laminate floor covering about 25 x25 in, because its bottom face is very smooth and glides easily, as well as very hard.
[likebtn]
In the two vertical fences at the front and the back of the sled, I embedded a curtain rail in aluminum, so that it would not protrude. It is located sufficiently high, about 4 in above the sled bottom, so that the saw blade will not reach it.
At the front side of the sled, towards the operator, i fixed two pieces of MDF, left and right from the sawblade with a distance in between them of approx. 1/4 in. They protect hands from the sawblade once it cuts through the vertical front fence. In addition, I attached a handle of a discarded handsaw to the sled, this facilitates an easy grip.
I have a number of fences and stopblocks that attach to the aluminum U-rails of the vertical fences. These allow me to cut to length, but also to cut dadoes or joints. See the pics for some examples. I also use jigs to cut 45° angles, e.g. for frames or miter boxes.
Finally, for safety, I mounted the blade guard of the table saw on the sled. Wish I had done it before, it would have saved me 2 mm of my index finger…. A painful lesson I won’t forget.
