Nice Table Saw Sleds...no Baltic Birch?

[Gore]

As the title implies, I want to make a few "nice" table saw sleds. One for cross cuts, and one for ripping/straightening.

Most of the builds that I see are centered around using Baltic birch, but the nearest store that stocks it is nearly 40 miles away.

Given the absence of easily finding BB, what other wood would you guys recommend? My head says MDF because I know it will be nice and flat, but it's definitely never my first choice for things.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[firecracker]

When I built my sled I traveled 30miles round trip for birch ply. Well worth the price and the trip. In fact I've still got a piece left. Go for it.

 

[Gore]

When I built my sled I traveled 30miles round trip for birch ply. Well worth the price and the trip. In fact I've still got a piece left. Go for it.

I think I knew that was going to be the answer.

I felt like I would be skimping by going the MDF route and not just making the drive.

I'll just **** it up and go...

I'll buy some extra for the next project while I'm there too.

 

[mike93lx]

I build mine with purebond plywood from Home Depot. Never had a problem and have built some furniture with it.

They have 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4, its a lot cheaper and easier to get.

 

[rsanter]

I think you can use the MDF if you change the design a little bit.
The BB plywood is stronger and will make a better joint. If you make that area better then you should be good

 

[theoldwizard1]

I build mine with Purebond plywood from Home Depot. Never had a problem and have built some furniture with it.

They have 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4, its a lot cheaper and easier to get.

I don't think ANY of the "Baltic Birch" plywood sold in the US really is made from birch from the region near the Baltic Sea in northern EU ! Baltic Birch is usually recommended for items that require 2 "good" sides (maybe not A/A), but that is just the start. The inner plys have NO VOIDS, which means screws hold better and any router operations (dado, round over, etc) will look much better and last longer.

Plywood glue is always a debate that I do not know much about (although I don't understand how Roseburg can sell marine plywood that only uses water-RESISTANT, not waterproof, glue).

 

[rlitman]

I think the "water resistant" thing is just a CYA. Wood isn't "waterproof" anyway.

As for what to make a sled out of, I have an Incra sled. It's made from melamine board, and I'm quite happy with it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

MDF should work fine. It's pretty stable, you'll just have to be a little more careful about how you fasten the pieces together.

 

[Voi]

I have made sleds and jigs out of Baltic Birch, MDF and high quality melamine. By high quality I mean the stuff you could buy by weight rating back in the 90's.

Baltic birch is my favorite, especially if you want to embed T-tracks or other accessories.

 

[lilredex]

Have made many out of any flat plywood that is on hand, over the years. Wax the bottom when done and it will do just fine. You can also add plastic laminate to the bottom.

 

[Voi]

I have another thought. Building sleds and jigs is addicting. I was constantly modifying things and making changes.

With that thought in mind it might not be a bad idea to make it out of whatever you can get as you zero in on your dream sled or sleds.

Maybe during that time you'll find a need to be in the area for something other than Baltic Birch.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I think the "water resistant" thing is just a CYA. Wood isn't "waterproof" anyway.

There is "water and boil proof" (WBP) glue and is used on "certified" BS1088 plywood. BS1088 plywood also uses "hardwood" that is "rot resistant".

 

[ratdoggy]

Any links to making one? I have some birch plywood kicking around

 

[acer66]

Any links to making one? I have some birch plywood kicking around

https://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/the-cross-cut-sled/

That is a rather simple one.

Next one is a bit more involved.

 

[ford33]

I would make the first one or two sled out of plywood and try it for a year or two. You will find the slide less than perfect and will learn what needs to change. Once you know, go and buy the baltic birch product and make your perfected slide. The first few I made were either too big or two complex. I found a simple well made straight sled works best for me.

 

[acer66]

I would make the first one or two sled out of plywood and try it for a year or two. You will find the slide less than perfect and will learn what needs to change. Once you know, go and buy the baltic birch product and make your perfected slide. The first few I made were either too big or two complex. I found a simple well made straight sled works best for me.

 

[Git]

Rockler sells decent size pieces of Baltic Birch. Punch in the numbers and see what it costs to ship to your house

https://www.rockler.com/3-4-baltic-birch-plywood

 

[Lynden]

I've used tempered hardboard (tempered, not standard hardboard) for sleds. Glue the layers together on a flat surface.

- Two layers of 1/4" hardboard

- Four layers of 1/8" hardboard

- 1/8" hardboard, 1/4" mdf, 1/8" hardboard

 

[dwall174]

I think I knew that was going to be the answer.

I'll just **** it up and go...

Do you happen to have a masonry supply store/outlet nearby?

In the masonry business they use B/BB grade birch plywood with a phenolic surface film applied to both sides as forms, One brand I know of is called "XtraPly Birch" it's also called (PSF) phenolic surface film plywood.

Doug

 

[rharman]

One of these days, I'll get around to building my crosscut sled. I have some phenolic coated plywood just waiting to be used for it.

 

[LeeG]

I use 3/4" MDF for most of my sleds. I use solid maple for the front and back supports. Never had a problem.

 

[mechanic217]

Baltic birch for the win, the shops I have worked in have all used that and it stands up well, buy once cry once,YMMV

 

[MoonRise]

Gee, if only there were a way to look at things you might want to buy and then order them and have them delivered to your house.

A bunch of google-fu results when searching for "baltic birch plywood" :

http://www.walllumber.com/fur.asp

https://www.woodworkerssource.com/b...-birch-plywood-why-its-better-when-to-use-it/

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbi...-8-ft-PureBond-Birch-Plywood-165921/100077837 (not quite 'baltic birch ply', but rather a birch plywood)

https://www.rockler.com/3-4-baltic-birch-plywood

http://totalwoodstore.com/baltic-birch-plywood/

https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...tic-birch-plywood/1253102/p-1444441907409.htm

https://www.andersonplywood.com/baltic-birch/

https://www.cherokeewood.com/baltic-birch-plywood/

https://www.bairdbrothers.com/b34-Baltic-Birchb-Plywood-13-ply-b60-x-60b-sheet-size-P17807.aspx

https://forestplywood.com/blog/all-about-baltic-birch/

MDF is not even close to baltic birch ply.

Use the 'good' plywood (whether it actually came from the Baltic region or not).

 

[Gore]

Gee, if only there were a way to look at things you might want to buy and then order them and have them delivered to your house.

A bunch of google-fu results when searching for "baltic birch plywood" :

http://www.walllumber.com/fur.asp

https://www.woodworkerssource.com/b...-birch-plywood-why-its-better-when-to-use-it/

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbi...-8-ft-PureBond-Birch-Plywood-165921/100077837 (not quite 'baltic birch ply', but rather a birch plywood)

https://www.rockler.com/3-4-baltic-birch-plywood

http://totalwoodstore.com/baltic-birch-plywood/

https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...tic-birch-plywood/1253102/p-1444441907409.htm

https://www.andersonplywood.com/baltic-birch/

https://www.cherokeewood.com/baltic-birch-plywood/

https://www.bairdbrothers.com/b34-Baltic-Birchb-Plywood-13-ply-b60-x-60b-sheet-size-P17807.aspx

https://forestplywood.com/blog/all-about-baltic-birch/

MDF is not even close to baltic birch ply.

Use the 'good' plywood (whether it actually came from the Baltic region or not).

I appreciate a sarcastic comment as much as the next guy...and yes, I am aware of the internet. I have an issue with buying wood sight unseen. Perhaps I am jaded by shopping at box stores, and they constantly mislabel their hockey sticks as actual wood...but I would hate to wait around for days to get a sheet of bent ply, or a piece that is beaten to hell during shipping. But that's just me

 

[rlitman]

I appreciate a sarcastic comment as much as the next guy...and yes, I am aware of the internet. I have an issue with buying wood sight unseen. Perhaps I am jaded by shopping at box stores, and they constantly mislabel their hockey sticks as actual wood...but I would hate to wait around for days to get a sheet of bent ply, or a piece that is beaten to hell during shipping. But that's just me

Yeah, I don't blame you. When it comes to buying wood, I wouldn't order much more than pen blanks over the internet.

But I will say that I've seen local ads for baltic birch ply on CL over the years, and have found out about lumber yards within a reasonable driving distance from me that stocked particular items I needed through internet searches.

 

[MoonRise]

Twasn't so much a sarcastic comment, as a wise-*** one.

I've ordered some 'baltic birch' over the net in the past. Don't remember who I ordered it from, might have been Rockler or similar.

Night and day compared to spending an hour picking through the stacks of plywood trying to find a straight and flat piece of plywood from a local big-box 'lumber' store. Or one that the corners aren't bashed from someone dropping the entire pallet of lumber off of the delivery truck to the store. Or the edges no being bashed from the idiot with the forklift smashing the entire bundle with the forks or the mast or into the steel rack.

I get it. I HATE having to go through the hassle of trying to get even just one or two undamaged sheets or unwarped sheets of plywood.

I had absolutely NO problems with the baltic birch ply I ordered. Granted, it wasn't full sheets, but it was ALL flat and packed well and completely undamaged.

And the BB ply itself is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much nicer than the 'usual' plywood. Flat, even plys, smooth, no voids in the inner plys, stays straight and flat. Did I mention that the inner plys are evenly sized and nice and consistent and the face plys are not paper-thin either?

 

[RKA]

Rockler isn't bad if the precut sheets meet your needs. I ordered a few pieces when they were on sale a few weeks ago. I think they packaged (2) 24x30" sheets in a single cardboard box for about $25 shipped. Not much in the way of padding on the corners, but they arrived with minimal damage. They would need to be trimmed back 5mm to clean up the edges and the corners, but that's it. If it was more extensive than that, I'm sure Rockler would send out another batch.

 

[Gore]

Rockler is actually the store that I was referring to as being 30-40 minutes away...and where I will probably be heading.

It wouldn't be such a big deal but out here in the Bay Area of CA traffic can make this a couple hours of driving...and $6 toll...YAY

 

[Gore]

Twasn't so much a sarcastic comment, as a wise-*** one.

I've ordered some 'baltic birch' over the net in the past. Don't remember who I ordered it from, might have been Rockler or similar.

Night and day compared to spending an hour picking through the stacks of plywood trying to find a straight and flat piece of plywood from a local big-box 'lumber' store. Or one that the corners aren't bashed from someone dropping the entire pallet of lumber off of the delivery truck to the store. Or the edges no being bashed from the idiot with the forklift smashing the entire bundle with the forks or the mast or into the steel rack.

I get it. I HATE having to go through the hassle of trying to get even just one or two undamaged sheets or unwarped sheets of plywood.

I had absolutely NO problems with the baltic birch ply I ordered. Granted, it wasn't full sheets, but it was ALL flat and packed well and completely undamaged.

And the BB ply itself is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much nicer than the 'usual' plywood. Flat, even plys, smooth, no voids in the inner plys, stays straight and flat. Did I mention that the inner plys are evenly sized and nice and consistent and the face plys are not paper-thin either?

No worries...I teach public middle school...I'm used to all sorts of comments

 

[lbhsbz]

I can't bring myself to pay rockler prices for BB ply. I just picked up 4 sheets (5'x5') at a local lumber yard for $33 each on Saturday. Not sure what to do with 'em, but good to have on hand for when an idea pops in my head.

 

[RKA]

Rockler is actually the store that I was referring to as being 30-40 minutes away...and where I will probably be heading.

It wouldn't be such a big deal but out here in the Bay Area of CA traffic can make this a couple hours of driving...and $6 toll...YAY

I get ya about the drive. Nearest Woodcraft for me is nearly 4 hours of driving (round trip). In 4 hours of driving I can get to 8 states and and DC from where I'm at! But the $6 toll, pfft. $15 to get to my local Woodcraft and over $30 to get my wife to JFK (even after I tell her not to book flights there!).

I can't bring myself to pay rockler prices for BB ply. I just picked up 4 sheets (5'x5') at a local lumber yard for $33 each on Saturday. Not sure what to do with 'em, but good to have on hand for when an idea pops in my head.

Jeez, even when I had a lumberyard nearby that stocked it, it was $75/sheet for 18mm!

 

[BlindViper]

As the title implies, I want to make a few "nice" table saw sleds. One for cross cuts, and one for ripping/straightening.

Most of the builds that I see are centered around using Baltic birch, but the nearest store that stocks it is nearly 40 miles away.

Given the absence of easily finding BB, what other wood would you guys recommend? My head says MDF because I know it will be nice and flat, but it's definitely never my first choice for things.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

check for a local millwork or cabinet shop. They may sell you a sheet or have some scraps.

 

[Mandres]

I would just use whatever decent "cabinet grade" ply you can find locally. For making a jig it really doesn't make any difference as long as it's flat. I stay away from MDF completely because the dust is such a pain to deal with.

 

[ez-duzit]

Use MDO.

 

[ishiboo]

Just bought some BB to use for drawer organizers. Make sure you don't have a Woodcraft or similar store nearby that sells it in smaller sheets that would work fine for a sled.

I found a plywood store 40 minutes away that has it in full-size (5x5) sheets for much cheaper and made the trip. It's so much superior to anything you'd find at HD/Lowes/etc. I once bought some AC plywood at Menards for a similar project, cut it into strips, and the veneers all came apart it was so poorly glued.

 

[rharman]

I've bought the small sheets in various thickness from Rockler when they were on sale. Handy to have for small projects or jigs.

For full sheets, I'm lucky to have a good place nearby for anything plywood/melamine/molding related.

 

[drmarkr]

One of these days, I'll get around to building my crosscut sled. I have some phenolic coated plywood just waiting to be used for it.

Do it. I built two, one smaller and one larger....build them at the same time and it will be less hassle.

Love the things. Use them regularly....

 

[teamextreme]

Perhaps I am jaded by shopping at box stores, and they constantly mislabel their hockey sticks as actual wood...

This made me LOL.