Guide · Miter gauges, T-track and stops
Miter gauge vs coping sled on a router table
A miter gauge rides in the slot; the coping sleds in our sources ride the router fence instead. What Woodpeckers, WoodRiver and INCRA state about each.
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Short answer
A miter gauge rides in the table's miter slot. The coping sleds in our sources ride along the router fence instead, so your table needs no slot for them. Choose by what your table has and the stock you need to hold, using each maker's stated limits.
Two ways to guide narrow stock
When the end of a narrow board passes the bit, the board needs support square to the fence. Two accessories do that:
- A miter gauge: a head and fence on a bar that slides in the miter slot.
- A coping sled: a base plate with a clamp that holds the stock and slides along the router fence.
The key difference for fit is what each one rides on.
Coping sleds: they ride the fence
| Sled | Rides on | Stock width | Stock thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodpeckers COPESLED1 | Router table fence (acrylic fence adjusts to it) | Up to 5-1/2 in | Not given |
| WoodRiver AWR-BCS | Router table fence (17 in acrylic fence guide) | Up to 6 in | Up to 1-1/8 in |
Woodpeckers says the COPESLED1 does not use the miter slot. An acrylic fence adjusts to the router table fence, and the slotted top plate takes material up to 5-1/2 in wide.[1] The page gives no maximum thickness. Two clamps on an adjustable bar hold the stock.[1]
WoodRiver's Router Table Coping Sled (AWR-BCS) has a 17 in acrylic fence guide that tracks along the router table fence rather than the miter slot, and clamps stock up to 6 in wide and 1-1/8 in thick.[2] Woodcraft sells WoodRiver as its own brand.
Because both ride the fence, your fence face needs to be straight and long enough for the sled to travel past the bit. Check the sled maker's notes on fence height.
Miter gauges: they ride the slot
A miter gauge needs a slot its maker's range covers. INCRA says the Miter 1000SE is designed for square-sided slots 3/4 in wide and 3/8 in deep, with or without a 15/16 in T-slot, adjusting to actual widths of 0.740 to 0.765 in.[3] Bosch says the RA1181's slot works with most stationary table saw miter gauges that measure 3/4 in wide x 3/8 in deep, and supplies none.[4]
If your table has no slot, a miter gauge is not an option without adding one. Our miter slot guide explains how to measure a slot you have.
A sliding bar is not a jig lock
Some bars are built to slide, not to clamp in place. INCRA says its Miter Slider SE is not recommended for stationary jigs that must be locked in a miter slot, and recommends its standard aluminum Miter Slider for that use.[5] If you plan to build a jig that stays put in the slot, choose a bar whose maker says it locks.
How to choose
| Your situation | What the makers' facts point to |
|---|---|
| Table has no miter slot | A coping sled that rides the fence |
| Table has a 3/4 x 3/8 in slot within a gauge maker's range | Either; a miter gauge also handles angled cuts |
| Stock over 6 in wide | Neither sled above states that capacity |
| You need a fixed jig in the slot | A bar its maker says locks, not the Miter Slider SE |
We give no operating steps for either. Follow the sled or gauge maker's instructions and your router table's manual.
Miter gauges for a 3/4 x 3/8 in slot
No coping sled is in our approved catalog yet. These gauges fit a standard slot by their makers' listings.
Picks that fit2 products
Kreg KMS7102: miter gauge with a 24 in fence and swing stop, for 3/4 x 3/8 in slots. POWERTEC 71391: miter gauge kit with a 24 in fence and flip stop, for 3/4 x 3/8 in slots with or without a T-slot, not 5/8 in slots.
More on choosing
Measure your slot first. On Amazon, check that Ships from / Sold by is Amazon.com or the brand.
Gauge with a long fence and swing stop
Gauge for slots with or without a T-slot
POWERTEC 71391 precision miter gauge system with 24 in multi-track fence and flip stop
Next
Questions
Do I need a coping sled or a miter gauge?
It depends on your table and stock. The coping sleds in our sources ride along the router fence, so they work on a table without a miter slot; a miter gauge needs a slot its maker's range fits.[1][2]
Does a coping sled need a miter slot?
Not the two in our sources. Woodpeckers says the COPESLED1 does not use the miter slot, and WoodRiver says its AWR-BCS tracks along the router table fence rather than the slot.[1][2]
Can I lock a miter bar in the slot for a jig?
Not with INCRA's Miter Slider SE: INCRA says it is not recommended for stationary jigs that must be locked in a slot, and recommends its standard aluminum Miter Slider for that.[5]