The Miter Sled is easy to build, but very accurate. Click image to enlarge

Miter Sled - NWW020

Difficulty: New Woodworker & Up

By Tom Hintz

   Cutting clean miter joints is a problem for just about everyone. Like so many other tasks in woodworking, a jig is a good solution.

   The Miter Sled works on most full-sized table saws and is both cheap and easy to build. It affords plenty of capacity for the vast majority of mitering needs and when used correctly, is as accurate as it is safe. A "No Hands" zone is defined by the fence supports to remind you to place delicate fingers far away from the blade path.

The fence supports define a "No Hands" zone to remind you to keep your hands and fingers away from the blade path. Click image to enlarge

   I built the prototype from 5/8"-thick particle board because it stays flat and has a substantial amount of weight, something I like in a jig. One 2X4-foot piece is more than enough to cut the necessary pieces. Add one common 2X4 and you have all the necessary lumber. Like I said, it's cheap to build.

   Along with the professionally written step-by-step instructions and three pages of detailed drawings, a special on-line photo page shows how to align the runners perfectly so the jig performs correctly on your saw.

The instructions also describe how to use a common framing square to position the fences right.

   The Miter Sled plan set costs $1.95.

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