Taper sled

[Hophornbean0423]

Can anyone tell me how to make a sled for tapered lams

[macbow]

If your going to make your own the easiest way is to purchase a taper like .003 and use it to make the sled.
But what I did was have Kennym make one for me.
He made me a really nice double taper for my BBO and BBI longbows.

[Hophornbean0423]

I have a set of the tapers I want to copy I need to make the sled. Does Kenny ship to canada

[macbow]

Kenny is a sponsor.
If you have the lams I think it is a matter of putting the lam on about a 2 inch wide hardwood board. Maybe stick them down with hot melt to keep them in place.

Then put another hardwood board that will be your sled on top.
You might need to glue or tack a stop piece across the leading edge to keep everybody in alignment.
Then run them through your planer or sander.

[kennym]

What Mac said, if you have trouble, email me and I can help you with it...

[Bowjunkie]

Wouldn't you want to make it 4" wide so you can make matched pairs as well?

[kennym]

Certainly if you want to make 2 at a time, make it at least 4" wide.

My everyday ones are a-boo about 1/4" thick x 4.25" x 37"

The reason I make them 1/4" is if the sled develops a little bow, its flexible enough to let the feed rollers press it down, so the lams don't end up thin or thick in center.

Just what works for me....

[SportHunter]

Whats better for making lams, thickness sander or planer?

[kennym]

Thickness sander for me, better gluing surface, and you can do thinner lams.. JMO

[Hophornbean0423]

Thanks for the info guys cannot wait to give it a try. I have a drum sander I think I will use that.

[SportHunter]

Thanks Kenny, i was eyeing a 12" dewalt planer on CL but might wait for a thickness sander instead.

[JamesV]

If you already have a planer, give it a try. The taper is attached to the bottom  of the sled, making it easy to change the rate of taper. My lams are cut full lenth and tapered from both ends. Just a few little tricks and you can cut good tapers and save yourself some money.