Issue Keeping Cross Cut Fence Square After 5 Cut Method

PBerube said:

Good Morning,

Newbie here to both this group and to woodworking.

Does anyone have any tips on keeping the fence square on a cross cut sled while putting in the remaining screws once you've confirmed it square using the 5 cut method?

I built my first cross cut sled and squared the fence using the 5 cut method. I'll get it to .001 or even a few times at .000 and as soon as I install a few more screws to secure the fence to the bottom, I lose my accuracy. I do predrill the holes.

Needless to say, I'm extremely frustrated...though my husband's ecstatic that he hasn't had to split kindling for the woodstove lately. lol

I've watched countless videos on woodworkers building a cross cut sled and using the 5 cut method and at the end, when they've finished squaring, they just flip the sled over and finish screwing it down. I'm curious if they do a retest after to confirm it's still accurate like I do...and if so...what's their secret?

Thanks

Pam

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PBerube said:

Good Morning,

Newbie here to both this group and to woodworking.

Does anyone have any tips on keeping the fence square on a cross cut sled while putting in the remaining screws once you've confirmed it square using the 5 cut method?

I built my first cross cut sled and squared the fence using the 5 cut method. I'll get it to .001 or even a few times at .000 and as soon as I install a few more screws to secure the fence to the bottom, I lose my accuracy. I do predrill the holes.

Needless to say, I'm extremely frustrated...though my husband's ecstatic that he hasn't had to split kindling for the woodstove lately. lol

I've watched countless videos on woodworkers building a cross cut sled and using the 5 cut method and at the end, when they've finished squaring, they just flip the sled over and finish screwing it down. I'm curious if they do a retest after to confirm it's still accurate like I do...and if so...what's their secret?

Thanks

Pam

Click to expand...

Rev. A said:

How square do you really need to be? You're working with wood, metal working tolerances can not apply. If you're off by +.001, wait until the temperature and humidity change. Rest assured, that will be off. Also, what is the margin of variability of your measuring tool? If you're that fussy it would need to be less than10x your tolerance.
Another important variable is how flat and square is the fence you're locating against?
Troubleshoot problems with a handy 6Sigma tool, ask WHY at least 5 times.

Remember, woodworking should be fun and challenging. Coming from a metal cutting engineering background into woodworking I soon realized the paradigm is different.

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