A cross cut sled is an essential accessory for any woodworker using a table saw. But do you really need one? What are the main benefits of a cross cut sled and what types of cuts can you make with it? Here we’ll look at the pros and cons of cross cut sleds to help you decide if investing in one is worthwhile for your woodworking needs.
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What is a Cross Cut Sled?
A cross cut sled is a large sled that rides in the miter gauge slot on your table saw. The sled provides a sturdy, flat base on which you can make precise 90 degree cross cuts safely and accurately on large boards. The sled runs perpendicular to the blade, allowing you to make cross cuts without having to turn the workpiece sideways on the table.
The sled consists of a plywood or MDF base that sits in the miter gauge slot. A tall fence is attached to the back of the sled at a perfect 90 degree angle to the saw blade. The front of the sled has an adjustable fence for supporting the workpiece. The sled often also has hold down clamps to secure the workpiece during cutting.
Key Components of a Cross Cut Sled
Here are the key components that make up a cross cut sled:
- Sled base – Rides in miter slot and provides a sturdy foundation
- Rear fence – Fixed at 90 degrees for accurate cuts
- Front fence – Adjustable to support workpieces
- Hold down clamps – Secures workpiece during cut
- Runner – Mounted under sled to glide in miter slot
- Anti-slip pads – Prevent sled from moving during cuts
Advantages of Using a Cross Cut Sled
Here are some of the main benefits of using a cross cut sled for your table saw:
Safer Cutting
A cross cut sled provides a very safe way to cut boards on the table saw. Your hands stay well away from the blade as you make the cut by pushing the entire sled through. This gives you excellent control and minimizes chances of making contact with the spinning blade.
Precise 90 Degree Cuts
The fixed rear fence on the sled ensures your cuts are an exact 90 degrees every time. You can be confident you’ll get perfectly square cuts without having to check them with a square.
Support for Long Boards
Trying to cross cut a long board on a table saw without support can lead to awkward positioning and potential binding. The sled provides sturdy support along the full length of the workpiece for smooth, straight cuts.
Cut Large Pieces Safely
A cross cut sled allows you to cut large panels and sheets smoothly and accurately on the table saw. The large sled base offers full support as the blade cuts through the workpiece.
Tear-Out Reduction
The zero-clearance effect around the blade provided by the sled base minimizes tear-out on the bottom edge of the workpiece as you cut.
Consistent Angled Cuts
You can set the sled at an angle to cut bevels or miters with ease. The sled ensures the workpiece stays at a consistent angle throughout the cut.
What Cuts Can You Make?
Here are some of the common cuts that are made easy and safe with a cross cut sled:
90 Degree Cross Cuts
This is the most common use for a cross cut sled – precisely cutting boards at 90 degree angles squarely across the face grain.
Bevel Cuts
Angling the front fence allows you to make cuts at precise bevel angles for joints or decorative effects.
Miter Cuts
Angling the entire sled lets you cut precise miters on boards for frames and boxes.
Cutting Large Panels
The sled provides full support for cutting plywood, MDF or other sheet goods straight and smoothly.
Tenons
A sled makes it easy to size tenons on rails and stiles by setting the distance between the fences.
Dados
Using dado blades, you can cut centered grooves with a sled to create strong shelves, joints, etc.
rabbets
You can also cut rabbets with a dado blade installed using the same technique as cutting dados.
Types of Cross Cut Sled Designs
There are a few common cross cut sled designs that provide slightly different capabilities:
Basic Sled
A simple sled with a fixed rear fence and adjustable front fence. Allows for 90 degree and angled crosscuts.
Miter Sled
The entire sled rotates relative to the fence to cut precise miters for frames and boxes.
Dual-Fence Sled
Has two adjustable fences to cut dados, tenons, rabbets and other set-width cuts.
Sliding Sled
The fence slides from side-to-side to support extra long boards and make super-wide cuts.
Should You Buy or Build Your Own?
You have two options when getting a cross cut sled – buying a pre-made one or building your own. Here are some of the pros and cons of each approach:
Buying a Pre-Made Sled
Pros:
- No work required – comes ready to use
- Engineered for accuracy and usability
- Variety of designs and features available
Cons:
- More expensive than homemade version
- May not fit your exact table saw well
- Less customization options
Building Your Own Sled
Pros:
- Much cheaper to construct yourself
- Can customize to fit your saw perfectly
- Fun project to build
Cons:
- Requires careful construction for accuracy
- Takes time and skill to build well
- May lack clever features of commercial sled
Tips for Using a Cross Cut Sled
Once you have a cross cut sled, here are some tips to use it safely and effectively:
- Wax the sled runners periodically for smooth sliding
- Use hold downs and clamps to secure all workpieces
- Make sure your body is balanced while pushing the sled through
- Keep hands at least 6 inches from blade at all times
- Cut part way, then back sled up to avoid blade tilting
- Check for square periodically with an engineer’s square
- Use stop blocks for making a bunch of cuts to identical length
- Sweep and clean sled surface frequently for best results
Conclusion
A cross cut sled is an invaluable accessory that no table saw owner should be without. The ability to make safe, accurate cross cuts with ease makes many woodworking operations much simpler. Taking the time to properly build a sled or investing in a high-quality pre-made model is well worth the effort and will expand the capabilities of your table saw considerably. So if you don’t already have one, a cross cut sled should be high on your woodworking list of tools to acquire!