Thread: thumbs up for a sled - thumbs down for lazy thinking

Originally Posted by Evanism

Makes you always think safety first. Perhaps its good to have the odd scare. It reduces complacency.

Ev.

Very lucky Ev.

I've had the odd small off-cut ping off the saw blade when it parts company with the main work piece, it certainly wakes you up. But never a large chunk like that.

The odd scare is good, as long as it is just a scare that knocks that complacency from you. Sometimes we are not so lucky, and thats the scary part.

Steven.

Now that is quite a split.

Sounds scary! Thanks for letting us know Steve, a good reminder to keep working carefully.

Lucky it was only a splinter!!

We do get complacent and that is what caused me to nearly lose a thumb.

With wonderful hindsight I have now built a sled. Still need to be careful!!

HI Ev I know you are using a sled but is it possible to have a riving knife and guard in place that would have helped? please educate me as I don't use sled so don't know.
Cheers

For nrb: depending on the type of riving knife on your table saw it is possible to use one with a sled.

The guard is a different matter as most guards on the saws we use have an anti kickback set up.
This effectively prevents their use with a sled. The over head type guards could be used but you would
have to check out how to set it up so as not to interfere with the sled and the sled not to interfere
with the guard.

Thanks for that I understand what you say.
Cheers

Maybe a bandsaw is the go for ripping thicker pieces.

I have been using a sled with my sawbenches for over a decade.....but I do not like the design as pictured above and promoted in the american magazines.

Because like so many american practices it requires removal of the guard, splitter and or riving knife.

The american style sled also requires the work to be placed on the oposite side of the fence to the operator.....this has certain limitations and safety issues.

I have always used single sided sleds.
the sled is entirely to the left of the blade.

the right of the blade the table is open.

This arrangement all the guards can be left in place.

On my early jet contractor saw, I pinned up the anti-kickback finder on the left hand side to allow passage of the sled.

On my current saw I run an over head guard and the riving knife and neither interfeer with the sled.....ANd I can easily run a 600 x 1200 board on my sled.

cheers