Using the Coping Sled
Adjusting the Guide.
Setting the guide only takes a minute, but is vital for proper
operation. First loosen the two star knobs which secure the
guide to the top track.
Next insert a ¾" scrap wood spacer between the base and
the router fence. The spacer may need to be thicker if the
router bit would otherwise contact the base.
Guide
Router Fence
¾"Spacer
Star Knob
Star Knob
Guide
Router Fence
¾"Spacer
Star Knob
Star Knob
While holding the sled up against the spacer and the fence,
position the guide up against the fence as well and tighten the
two star knobs.
The guide should be the only part of the coping sled that runs
against the fence during use. It needs to be adjusted to keep
the base from contacting the router bit. At no time should the
base come in contact with the fence or the router bit. For larger
cutters, it may be necessary to use a wider spacer.
Installing Your Work Piece.
The coping sled is designed to provide the support and control
necessary to rout across the end grain of a board. This is a
necessary procedure for making raised panel doors as well as
tenon cuts. In most cases, the board will be less than 5" wide.
With this small amount of surface area, it would be nearly im-
possible to guide the end along the router fence to safely make
a profile cut without a sled.
The majority of force exerted on the board is torque. In other
words as the router bit is spinning in one direction, it is trying to
spin your board the opposite direction. Controlling this torque
is the function of the fence and top plate.
Using the top plate is simple, insert your board between the
sled fence and the top plate. Slide the top plate back against
the board and tighten the two knobs.
Now hold the guide against the router fence and slide the
board in until it bottoms out against it. And finally, position the
clamp beam over the center of the board and tighten both hold
down clamps.
These should only be moderately tight. Excessive force is not
needed and could lead to warping of the base plate.
Base
