If you have ever used workshop tools, then you are likely to have come across different varieties of these tools. The operations of workshop tools are as different as their names are. These tools make the work easier for both the homeowners and the craftsmen. If you handle them with necessary care, you will find them to be among the easiest tools to use. This includes using the right tool for the work at hand and using the skills you have. This improves their efficiency.

Sometimes it is impractical when you have to buy a workshop tool that you need or hire someone to build it for you, yet you can make one. Some tools are easier to build. You don’t need to rush to the stores that sell workshop tools every time the tool develops a problem and stops working. There are some tasks that are easier to take up. You can save money as well as get some skills while at it. This can make you an expert within no time.

 

Building a workshop tool may seem to be farfetched idea, until you try it. For example, you can build a table saw sled even without any skills. A table saw simplifies the work by reducing large pieces of wood to the desirable sizes. A table saw sled on the other hand, crosscuts the large pieces of wood easily and accurately.

 

You can make a table saw sled that will still perform efficiently. Therefore, you don’t have to worry on whether the sled will work like the rest. With simple instructions that guide on how to go about the project, you will be amazed with the outcome. You will also get a tool that you can use as often as possible.

 

You don’t have to worry about how long it will take especially when you are doing it for the first time. Rushing to finish building the job might lead to undesirable results. Your focus should only be on making it the best way you know how. The guidelines below will come in handy when building a table saw sled.

 

What Do You Need?

The material to be used should be cut from hardwood scrap. Hardwood performs better for workshop tools than other type of woods, therefore, it is preferred over others. In addition, it doesn’t shrink much as the rings grow. This does not have a negative effect on how tight the fit is. However, you can still use the hardest woods you have if you don’t have any exotic hardwood.

Other tools and materials include:

• Calipers
• Glue
• A flattened plywood that is at least ¼ thick
• Tri square
• Drill bits etc.

Calipers will provide you with the right measurements of the table saw mitre track required. On the other hand, a tri-square will come in handy. It will be used in aligning the fence of the sled to the table. In addition, your table saw should be calibrated.

Step by Step Guide

1.Take the measurement of the mitre track

 

You should know the track dimensions of your mitre before you make the cuts. The standard dimensions of most mitre tracks is 0.75 in width and 0.375 in depth.

 

2. Cut track

 

The table saw should be set in such a way that it is on the dimension of the track width. On the hardwood scrap, make a rip cut. On the mitre depth, set your fence. Run the hardwood you have cut on through a second time after fitting the fence to your mitre depth. Tidy up the surface of the table saw as well as the mitre track of any pieces of wood or debris. This will help you get accurate assessment.

 

3. Test fit

 

Take the hardwood you had previously cut and place it on the mitre track. Test the fit. Push the hardwood in line with the track. Check whether it will stick or not. Wiggle the hardwood in a contrary direction to the track. This tests the amount of play or slop that is there. Here, you should get a snug fit without a rough glide, so it should be very smooth. In addition, it should have no play.

 

If you get stuck while doing this, check whether there is debris and clear it off. You can get the correct fit if you use a sand paper on the hardwood sections.

4. Attaching together

 

Use the track you have cut to create a sled base. It doesn’t have to be square in shape. Attach the hardwood to your mitre track using the wood glue. After this, set the plywood on top of the hardwood track.  Let it dry.

5. Secure track

 

When the glue on these materials dries up, slide them from the mitre track. The plywood should be flipped over. Drill pilot the holes lengthwise on the hardwood. Countersink the holes. Ensure the hardwood is secured to the plywood by use of fasteners.

 

6. Partial kerf cut

 

Make a reference cut. This is done by ensuring the sled is placed on the mitre track while the plywood is set directly over the blade that has been lowered. Start the saw. Make the cut by ensuring the blade is slightly higher than the plywood’s base surface.

 

Prepare the sled back fence using the tri-square so that it is square and perpendicular to the saw’s blade. Through the plywood, extend the blade up, de-energize the saw, set you tri-square against the blade’s face. Glue the back fence and attach to the plywood.

 

Check whether the back fence is square. Let the glue dry. Flip the sled over. Create holes, countersink them and use screws to attach the back fence. With the blade raised higher than the plywood’s surface, pass the sled through the blade completely.

7. Accuracy

Use the 5-cut method to determine the deviation from the perpendicular. After using this method, you will determine how accurate your sled should be. Check the adjustments you want by using the 5-cut method.

Conclusion

The table saw sled is easier to make. The instructions provided here are very basic. You can customize your sled the way you want. Once you make the sled, you can use it just like you use other tools. Don’t keep it in fear that it will not function as you desire. You will enjoy making cross cuts using the tool you have made yourself.

As long as you intend to do some woodwork, it is paramount for you to know what a scroll saw is and how it works and  be conversant with its mechanism. Orienting yourself with it will definitely increase your production in making complex cuts and shapes of various work pieces.

Scroll saws are common tool among artisans and wood craftsmen. It is a small machine with a fine blade which is most suitable for working with thin wood. There have been mechanical scroll saws all the way from the 1860’s while there are more than 50 scroll saw models currently which vary in speed and throat capacity. There are mainly C-arm and parallel arm types of scroll saws which can be used to design clocks, name tags, curved edges and many other designs.

The scroll saw works in such a way that it is a compact machine which uses a fine saw blade that moves up and down in a quick motion. The up and down movement lets you cut through the wood rapidly while the small blade width allows you to make more complex cuts.  It is a machine made mainly for delicate pieces.

It is important to note that modern scroll saws do not just cut wood but metal and plastics as well. Due to the small blade on the scroll saw however means that it is delicate enough to easily break or bend. It is therefore recommended that proper safety measures are taken at all times when using the scroll saw.

In as much as the saw comes with all the equipment needed to start making cuts, there are some important materials that you will need to ensure that you will get it right the first time and that you are also assured of your safety. These materials besides the scroll saw include a template, piece of wood, finger protectors, eye protection and sandpaper. A template in this case is something that is placed on the wood so as to act as your guide when cutting. This is ideal when it comes to ensuring that you cut your material accurately.

In addition to that, finger protectors are also paramount when operating a scroll saw. These could be gloves which will ensure that the saw will not accidentally get into contact with your fingers and causing them any injuries. The eye protector will keep your eyes away from any particles from the wood or material you will be cutting. Take note of the fact that you shouldn’t place the wood against before you have switched it on. Push the wood in a gentle motion as the saw cuts it. You shouldn’t push it towards the blade because the blade will do so.

So, How does a scroll saw work?

There are different ways in which the scroll saw works. The parallel arm happens to be the most common mode of operation. In this design, the motor is connected on the back part of the arms of the saw while the arms are in parallel to each other. The C-arm on the other hand just like its name has a C-shaped arm where the blade is fixed in the middle of the C-arms.

• Place Your Wood on the table

The first step on how to operate a scroll saw is placing it on the table next to the saw. Ensure that it is in a position some inches away from the blade. Besides that, it is of great importance to ensure that both of your hands are on the wood during the whole process. A foot pedal comes with most scroll saws whose use is to turn it on or off thus do not forget to make use of it.

• Turn the saw on and adjust its speed

Secondly, after you have firmly placed the wood on the table near the blade, turn the scroll saw on. Take note of the fact that you should change the speed settings depending on the recommended speed before you start cutting your wood so as to avoid damaging the machine. Ensure that you have set slow speed for hard woods and high speed for soft woods.

• Start cutting your material.

The design you are cutting will be a great determinant on whether you will cut the wood using a single pass or you will need to pull out the blade and set it in a different angle. If the project you are working on requires straight lines and corners only, you will be in a position to cut it at once. On the other hand, curves and circular shapes will take more time and careful movements.

• Rotate the wood when need be.

The forth step to take note of when using the scroll saw is the fact that you will need to pull the wood to where the line you intend you cut if you are cutting a 90degree corner. So as to acquire a clean cut, you will need to go beyond the line. Round edges will require more cuts so as to form circular shapes. You will need to remove the blade and set it at a different angle. It may take you more time to master how to cut round shapes thus it is recommended that you start with squares and right angles for practise purposes.

• Finish cutting the outside lines

 There are some projects that require outside cuts only. As soon as you are done, this piece is supposed to come out with ease from the centre part of the wood. ensure that you have pulled the blade out before carrying out any other task.

• Smoothen your wood with sandpaper.

Finally, as soon as you have finished cutting all the material in project, you will need to smoothen it using sandpaper. Ensure that you use sandpaper that is ideal for the type of wood you are using in your project. For best results, smoothen out the corners of the wood first after which you can work on the sides.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several aspects to consider when working with a scroll saw and there are also procedures to follow so as to ensure that the saw does not wear out quickly or get mechanical issues as seen above.