What material to use for various TS sleds and jigs?
I've watched the obligatory 1000 videos on various cross-cut sleds, tapering jigs, etc. Every American one is using baltic birch ply. Then Woodknight uses form ply a bit. However, I can't recall coming across any made from melamine or mdf.
Melamine seems like it could be good choice given it is flat, stable, and slidy. But perhaps there is a reason it's not used (on YouTube anyway).
Anyway, hoping to get some insights into what everyone here uses, recommends, doesn't recommend, etc.
Thanks
An unusual material suggestion
Hi everyone,
Now I know I'm late to this party, and this might not be practical for you. However, the maintenance team at my workplace (lead by a lovely old bloke named Ted) bought a number of commercial (HDPE?) plastic oversized cutting boards (maybe bench tops?) at a local auction for $50.
The boards were about 20mm thick and were well over 1m2 each. (some were wider, some were longer/thinner) They worked beautifully for their jigs. I found out about it when I was able to borrow their workshop to complete a larger project, (rebuilding dance club grade sub woofer vented enclosures capable of handling 4KW of amplification, housing multiple 18" drivers... so not a small box by any means) and I was impressed with the material. The plastic had just the right amount of slip/grip for an adjustable jig, was heavy and sturdy enough to have negligible warp on a table saw, and the flatness was as good as any board I'd ever find.
I asked Ted and his colleague Rob if they had any issues with melting, and they said that it was an issue when they installed a slightly thicker blade, but once they went back to a slightly thinner one, it wasn't an issue anymore.
Now after a little research, I wouldn't recommend buying the 3m x 1.5m sheets new (online quotes tell me it's about $1k), but if you can find some of these (or larger off cuts) in a local scrap yard, auction house, Gumtree, or whatever, they're practically thrown away.
Just a humble wacky alternative suggestion that few people would consider.
Good luck!
Hamish.