Thread: Suggestions for clamp on crosscut sled

what are you clamping?
why do you need it clamped?

sounds like you answered your own question though... grab a toggle clamp

what am I clamping- any wood I want to crosscut on the sled- prefer to have clamp on front fence so again thinking a toggle or if anyone has a better idea.

The issue i find with applying clamping pressure at the front fence (im interpreting this as the fence facing you) is unless your board is dead flat, the clamp can lift the leading edge creating a potential kickback scenario.

I find its more beneficial to have a toggle clamp on a t track and you clamp the leading edge instead.

Before i had the t track ive also had reasonable success clamping a push block to the front fence to provide a wider clamping surface compared to just a toggle clamp.

i used the microjig system for my clamping on jigs - but didnt want to buy just their clamps so i ended up making my own hold down clamps to go with their router t-track style stuff.

used this:
https://www.timbecon.com.au/microjig...it-1-4in-shank
https://www.timbecon.com.au/micro-ji...it-1-4in-shank
to make the track
(i 2 have of these as well but wanted to make my own)
https://www.timbecon.com.au/micro-ji...etail-clamp-ap

then used this style of bench clamp (used bolts on the track which i ground to be the right shape to run in the track)
DIY T-Track Hold Down Clamps - Free Plans - YouTube

the plans are here - pretty basic (i had a moment where i worried about getting dowel to suit the plan, then realised i have a lathe and smashed them out and felt smug)
https://mazaydiy.com/plans/t-track-hold-down-clamps.pdf (i found a second set of plans and tried those as well, but realistically they were as close to the same in function as made no difference).

i now have 4 home made hold down clamps and stuff on my sleds clamps down very well indeed.... i am sure there are better systems, but this one cost me zero as i already had the router bits as i bought the microjig system last year.

Originally Posted by barrymenary

Hi all!

I want to put a clamp on the front fence of my crosscut sled. The only clamp that seems to make sense is a toggle clamp with a long leg- Really appreciate some suggestions- Thanks Barry

and / a toggle clamp used with a sacrificial spacer block. Have a look at the Bessey range of self-adjusting toggle clamps, pricey but good. I use sacrificial blocks quite a lot in my inlay banding work.

Originally Posted by tonzeyd

The issue i find with applying clamping pressure at the front fence (im interpreting this as the fence facing you) is unless your board is dead flat, the clamp can lift the leading edge creating a potential kickback scenario.

I typically regard the front of the sled as the leading edge - i.e. enters the saw blade first. Therefore, anything clamped or held against the rear face of the front fence MUST be held securely to eliminate potential kickback.

Originally Posted by tonzeyd

I find its more beneficial to have a toggle clamp on a t track and you clamp the leading edge instead.

Great advice and good solutions.

I'm not an advocate of slots in the base of a sled to take T tracks etc for two reasons,

1. you sacrifice the rigidity of the sled base to some degree, and some depth of cut IF you go to thicker base material
2. securing the T track may compromised due to the above.

Toggle clamps can exert considerable forces! DAHWKT.

Originally Posted by tonzeyd

Before i had the t track ive also had reasonable success clamping a push block to the front fence to provide a wider clamping surface compared to just a toggle clamp.

Using a combination of horizontal (push / piston style) and vertical toggle clamps is often a better solution.

I prefer to use T nuts recessed into the underside of the sled to secure supplementary fences that toggle clamps are mounted to.

My sleds are typically multi-functional so that I can perform at least two tasks with each. So, if its primarily a rip sled I have provision so that I can cross-cut the typical sizes that I use. I also have suplementary fences on cross-cut sleds to allow for short rips. Yes, at times it means that I'm not using the 'ideal' blade, but that is where self-discipline comes into the equation. If I require more than a quick cut I will change over or go grab a handsaw etc.

In closing, not all toggle clamps are manufactured equal - I've had a number fail in use where the pin passes through the body, due to insufficient material in the body between the hole and edge of the body.

Quickgrips, because they are quick and cheap.