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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Full Draw Too on April 03, 2016, 06:48:00 PM

Title: taper sleds
Post by: Full Draw Too on April 03, 2016, 06:48:00 PM
Hi Guys
 Just wondering where a guy might get aluminum taper sleds? I haven't had luck with these bamboo sleds. they aren't PERFECTLY FLAT and when I run them through my drum sander the tapers that i'm making using these bamboo sleds are not consistently true all the way through. just wondering what you guys use and if anyone has info on how I can get them made out of aluminum and where?
Thanks ahead of time and God Bless
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: kennym on April 03, 2016, 06:55:00 PM
You might try Kirk at Bigfoot, I bought a set off him. That said, I use bamboo all the time. I like em about 1/4" thick so the pressure roller can push em against the conveyor easily.

One other thing, I sold a sander and bought another bigger one because I was getting .004 to .005 difference in random places on lams. Same results !

Finally figured out it was the splice in the conveyor belt. So I ran the conveyor and very carefully let the sander head down til it started brushing the belt all the way around. Fixed....

The first sander was prob good, just needed the belt dressed! LOL
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Bowjunkie on April 03, 2016, 07:11:00 PM
My aluminum sled is hinged so that parallels or any taper I may need is possible. Undoubtedly my best idea to date. I bought the stock, designed it, then had it made at a local machine shop. You could do the same. Call them and tell them what you have in mind.
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Bowjunkie on April 03, 2016, 07:14:00 PM
Btw, it's certainly heavier than a sled would be of wood or bamboo, but it doesn't flex and is dead nuts accurate... near as I can tell anyway.
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Roy from Pa on April 03, 2016, 08:51:00 PM
Bowjunkie, it didn't happen without pictures. I don't think ya even have a taper sled...
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Scott F on April 03, 2016, 09:09:00 PM
Roy, I have to hand it to you - THAT was funny!

(You think it will work?  I want to see it too.)
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Bowjunkie on April 04, 2016, 05:50:00 AM
Nah, the 'funny' part is, I've posted pictures before, someone copies it, and then claims it was their idea.
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Roy from Pa on April 04, 2016, 05:54:00 AM
Nice try, lol.
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Buemaker on April 04, 2016, 07:33:00 AM
We want the sled, we want the sled, let's see it Bowjunkie.   :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Full Draw Too on April 04, 2016, 08:21:00 AM
That would be great if I could see some pics of this hinged alum sled...And it will NEVER be my Idea..I just need help from you guys to conquer this problem.
God Bless
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: monterey on April 04, 2016, 12:27:00 PM
I cover the whole "idea" thin in one swell foop.  

None of them are my ideas!    :biglaugh:
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Bowjunkie on April 04, 2016, 03:26:00 PM
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Pago on April 04, 2016, 06:50:00 PM
I'm a believer in credit where credit is due and would like to have one made also.
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: goobersan on April 04, 2016, 09:01:00 PM
Sounds like a new sponsor's in the works !
 "No-junkie Taper Sleds"     :laughing:
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Roy from Pa on April 06, 2016, 07:04:00 AM
Well I stopped at Bowjunkies shop last night and snapped a picture of his taper sled. It is narrower at the back so I guess it is tapered. Not sure how well it works but here it is..    :)  

  (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/ROY-CHRIS/sled.jpg)
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Buemaker on April 06, 2016, 07:08:00 AM
So that's why he didn't want to show us.    :laughing:    :laughing:
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Scott F on April 06, 2016, 07:38:00 AM
Roy, in case no one has told you in a while -- you have some 'issues'...!
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: BenBow on April 06, 2016, 08:59:00 AM
Quote
Roy, in case no one has told you in a while -- you have some 'issues'...!
BOY THATS THE TRUTH!!!
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: fujimo on April 06, 2016, 10:19:00 AM
:laughing:     :laughing:
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Full Draw Too on April 06, 2016, 01:33:00 PM
Roy!!! That's what those sleds are used for! TAPPERS!! when we were kids we used them to go down snow covered hills! boy, little did I know that they were all little bowyers back then. LOL

God Bless
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Roy from Pa on April 06, 2016, 01:57:00 PM
Scott, I know..  :)
Benny Boy, nuff outta you. LOL
Full draw, I remember those days, I thunk...
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: goobersan on April 06, 2016, 03:24:00 PM
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Tim Finley on April 13, 2016, 10:41:00 AM
I had aluminum sleds made at a machine shop one inch thick both got warm and warped went back to wood used maple or black locust less crushing and stays straight....Tim
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Bowjunkie on April 13, 2016, 11:30:00 AM
Tim, what grit paper did you grind with, and what type of sander? Did you have any type of anti-skid surface on the top of the sleds? I'm just curious because I don't seem to get heat in mine and it's still straight.

Are you sure it was perfectly straight immediately after machining? The machinist who did mine said if it's not done just so, machining it can cause it to bow.
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Buemaker on April 14, 2016, 10:03:00 AM
Jokes aside, would it be possible to se that sled?
It is always interesting to se how others do things.
Bue
Title: Re: taper sleds
Post by: Bowjunkie on April 15, 2016, 06:06:00 AM
If I get time this weekend Bue, I'll take some pictures.