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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: bornofmud on August 09, 2014, 08:58:00 PM

Title: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: bornofmud on August 09, 2014, 08:58:00 PM
Anyone got any they don't get any use out of?  Approx. cost from a machinist?  Thanks!
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: Pheonixarcher on August 10, 2014, 01:55:00 PM
X2!
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: fujimo on August 10, 2014, 02:19:00 PM
x3
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: 2treks on August 10, 2014, 02:34:00 PM
I have had a couple made from different machine shops. about $110/ea. None available now but maybe.
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: BigJim on August 11, 2014, 06:58:00 AM
I sell taper sleds made from Jatoba. Very stable and resistant to moving.

BigJim
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: LESKEN2011 on August 11, 2014, 07:17:00 AM
Are they listed on your web site, Jim?
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: Tim Finley on August 11, 2014, 10:56:00 AM
I tried aluminum about an inch thick but they warped .They bowed when the lams got alittle warm.
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: Bowjunkie on August 11, 2014, 05:09:00 PM
I have one sled, aluminum, and it's fully adjustable. It has never warped due to heat. I wouldn't think wood could get hot enough to warp aluminum... unless it was on fire  :)

With the proper grit paper, feed rate, and thickness settings, there should be virtually no heat present anyway.
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: Crooked Stic on August 11, 2014, 07:20:00 PM
Here is what I got for taper sleds. My .002 is alum. about 1/2 in thick. Cant see it wrapping either. My parll. and 001 sled is corian countertop material. For the .001 I used two .001 lams double sided taped them on the bottom and ran it thru my drum sander to get the taper.
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: fujimo on August 11, 2014, 08:18:00 PM
not sure i get the math,Mike. Or am i missing something    :knothead:
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: snapper1d on August 11, 2014, 08:52:00 PM
I use wooden sleds because I can run it through the sander and then it will be as true as it can get.
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: BigJim on August 12, 2014, 07:11:00 AM
our sleds are not on our site as of yet...not enough computer people here to keep up with our progress or my ideas!

Jatoba sleds 4"s wide for $45 each.

thanks, bigjim
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: kennym on August 15, 2014, 08:51:00 PM
I like a wood or aboo sled for everyday use, and also only about .250 thick. It can flex with holddown rollers to not screw up your lams if the sled develops a bow in it.....
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: BigJim on August 16, 2014, 07:36:00 AM
I have relatively thin aluminum sleds and like them ok...never have had the first problem with them.

But if I were to do it over for myself or had a non conditioned shop, It would definitely be jatoba (as I make now) or Ipe. Both of these woods are incredibly stable an unlikely to move due to moisture exchange.
Unfortunately action boo is very susceptible to warping and moving and left in an non conditioned enviroment is likely to change.

Bigjim
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: kennym on August 17, 2014, 07:32:00 PM
I tried to keep my shop pretty dry and even . Never had any trouble with aboo but maybe others do. I didn't like the aluminum sleds I have except to make thin aboo ones. They leave black from the aluminum on light colored lams for me.
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: bornofmud on August 17, 2014, 08:33:00 PM
yeah, I wanted them as originals for making new sleds, maybe I'll just order a couple from jim and keep them sealed up somewhere for when I need them.
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: 2treks on August 19, 2014, 06:28:00 PM
I should add that I use my aluminum sleds as Master copies. When needed I make thin wood sleds off the aluminum. This lets me make perfect lams each and everytime.
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: Robertfishes on August 19, 2014, 08:28:00 PM
Kenny,I don't know anything about sleds..but could you have the aluminum sleds powder coated?
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: kennym on August 19, 2014, 09:03:00 PM
Maybe but they are heavier than you might think.I bet after handling for a few hours, you would be sick of em!

 I just make thin ones and use for everyday and run em again on the alum. ones if things start seeming to get off a little.
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: rockkiller on August 21, 2014, 09:16:00 AM
How thin are you guys making your sleds ?
Title: Re: Machined taper sleds?
Post by: BigJim on August 21, 2014, 10:25:00 AM
The aluminum sleds must all be different as I have never had marking come off of mine. I would say I have done maybe a few thousand pairs with the aluminum sled, but I don't think they are any better than sleds made of jatoba or ipe.
The ones I make vary slightly, but around 3/8"-1/2" on the thin end.
BigJIm