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Table Saw Sleds

A table saw sled is a contraption that fits into the saw’s miter slots and glides through the blade with the wood secured to the sled. Professional woodworkers say nothing beats a sled for fast and accurate cross-cutting and many multiple-saw shops keep a sled on one saw constantly, dedicating that saw for cross-cutting. Even the best miter gauge systems require calibration and adjustment from time to time to maintain accuracy and precision. But once a quality sled is installed, it gives consistent cuts every time, even with wide crosscuts. The best crosscut sleds are those that run through both miter slots which make them far more stable and safe than even the best miter gauge system. With this design, the table saw blade comes up through the sled as it glides towards the stock to be cut.

Few table saws come with a cross cut sled as an accessory so if you feel you could use one, you’ll have to buy one or build your own. Check the Internet woodworking discussion forums and you’ll find detailed descriptions of expert saw jig “do it yourselfers” who have designed and built their own table saw cross cut sled. First let’s look at the few commercially available crosscut sleds. Surprisingly, there aren’t very many.

Aftermarket Crosscut Sleds

First there’s the top of the line Incra Miter 5000. Although you’ll find this model listed as a miter gauge, the entire system is actually mounted on a true sled which rides on the left miter gauge slot while another panel is fixed on the right slot. A nagging problem with all miter cross cuts is drop off, where the scrap drops off the main stock as it is cut, frequently resulting in splintering. The right panel of this sled acts as a “cut off table” as it is perfectly flush with the left panel of the sled, allowing for zero tolerance cutting. You can get the Incra 5000 on Amazon for about $280.

Incra also offers a combo package, which basically adds a sled to their highly acclaimed 1000SE miter gauge system. Many reviewers feel this system is essential for precision woodworking, like fine furniture building, and it can be used with or without the included Miter Express crosscut sled. You can get the sled alone at Rockler for around $150 but the combo pack adds a lot of “bang for your buck” with the telescoping fence and other bells and whistles.

Rockler offers the lowest priced sled out there -- $139 at Amazon. To be fully functional, however, you really need to add their optional drop off platform for another $30. While this is a less expensive option, it may be a classic example of how you don’t always get what you pay for. Sometimes you actually get more! Reviewers give it high marks for precision and accuracy – which is somewhat surprising considering it costs about $100 less than the Incra.

Do-It-Yourself Crosscut Sleds

With so few manufacturers’ crosscut sleds to choose from it’s not surprising you find so many Internet sites with plans for building your own. You’ll find loving recreations of how woodworkers have designed and created their own masterpieces. Not all the plans you’ll find are created equal, however, with many being somewhat confusing and hard to follow. If you find it difficult to follow instructions make sure you study a plan long and hard before beginning.

A great source for advice is, as always, the Internet woodworking discussion forums. There you are sure to find woodworking enthusiasts who have built their own and can advise you on what plans they found the easiest to follow.