For stability and strength, both the fence and stabilizer should be made of multiple boards glued together. Rip the fence and stabilizer boards to width. Note: The fence will hold your work perpendicular to the blade, while the stabilizer will simply keep the sled from falling apart.ģ.Cut them to that size (in my case, it was 36 inches). Because these are structural components, both sheets need to span the width of your crosscut sled. One sheet will be the base of your sled, while the other will be cut into pieces and used to build the fence and stabilizer board. This gave me 12 inches on one side of the blade and 24 inches on the other.Ģ. I wanted to cut 24-inch boards, so I made my sled 36 inches wide.

Similarly, the entire board you’re cutting should fit on the sled, with minimal overhang. The sled can hang a few inches over the edges of your table saw, but you don’t want it to sag. Its size depends on two things: how wide your table saw is and the dimensions of the largest wood you want to be able to cut. Decide how big your crosscut sled will be.

2 pieces of scrap wood the same width, depth, and length as your miter slotsġ.

2 (2-by-4-foot) pieces of ¾-inch plywood.

If you do not, or are otherwise uncomfortable with anything described here, don’t attempt this project. If you’re using power tools, you must know how to use them safely and correctly. At minimum, that may include safety glasses, a face mask, and/or ear protection. Before proceeding with this or any other project on our site, ensure you have all necessary safety gear and know how to use it properly. Warning: DIY projects can be dangerous, even for the most experienced makers. While you can add all kinds of upgrades, such as hold-down clamps, integrated stop blocks, and miter jigs, every woodworker should build a basic crosscut sled, and anyone can. I use my miter saw to cut wood to a rough length, then grab my crosscut sled to trim those boards down to their final size. Of course, you can do the same job with a miter saw, but I’ve found that the crosscut sled offers more control and gives a better cut. When I’m cutting wood for drawers, for example, I always use my crosscut sled to ensure all the pieces are the same size. What’s more, by adding a stop block, you can make quick, repeatable cuts-perfect for batching out a lot of same-sized pieces. Crosscut sleds allow you to accurately and safely cut wood down to a precise length.

Woodpeckers miter slot nuts