Shop-made Natural-edge Slab-flattening Sled | WOOD Magazine

Natural-edge slabs are more popular than ever in woodworking. Tools Editor Bob Hunter shows you how to build a flattening sled that you can customize for both your slab and your router. Then, he walks you through the slab-flattening process.

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00:00 Introduction
00:30 Measure
01:10 Cut to Size
02:33 Carriage for Sled
06:46 Base Plate
09:00 Slab-flattening

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Shop-made Natural-edge Slab-flattening Sled | WOOD Magazine

[pds]

I hope everyone would follow the way you explained on how to do things, COMPLETE DETAILS and EASY TO UNDERSTAND. Thank you

[Murf_Workshop]

I made one of these out of this same idea and I was trying to think of this brush material you used. At the time I didn't know the name, so Instead I used a door sweep from Home Depot and its bristles were too stiff, the idea works well especially with keeping 90% of the material from flying everywhere, but I'll switch out the dust sweep and trying conveyor brush like you have here, these look more flexible and movement friendly. Very nice video.

[gameenders]

Very nice, that dust collection looked pretty effective.

[jackmatranga]

Very comprehensive. Lots for me to think about for my next sled build. Looking forward to your other videos.

[lafamillecarrington]

I like your dust collection ideas. And I didn't know that you could buy extenders - really useful information. I was just about to make one; now I'll make it slightly better. Thanks.

[davidmercer]

Being knee deep in shavings seems more organic, but I like this arrangement much better.

[andrewh]

Thank you! Very informative and simply explained. I also like that it’s a smaller router sled. I’ll be making one soon, hopefully.

[katherynlamarche]

That was very informative. Thank you Julien

[DaraHijazi]

Thanks for the video! Very professional and easy

[RAPTORASDF]

Nice Job! I like your use of two separate sides for the sled and tying them together with the blocking at the ends, instead of how most router sleds on youtube show a large plywood or MDF base and cutting a slot in the base to fit the large router bit. Much easier to build the sled your way and no need to buy plywood or MDF for the sled base. Very well done video!

[jerryjohnsonii]

Thanks for the knowledge. Also have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Wood Magazine

[blackhorse]

Outstanding video and information…………👏

[mimibecks]

Hello,
Thank you for posting this video. However, you forget to mention the most difficult part which is making sure that the sled frame is flat and in your case you are using the bench to get sled frame flat. Otherwise, getting the 2 rails to be parallel and in the same plane is a challenge by itself.

[irenemiu]

Thank you kindly for your video. It helps with all the details on dimensions etc. I just bought an electric planar. I am debating if I need to keep this planar if I use the router and the sled to flatten a slab. What would you suggest?

[wardoyobagus]

Terimakasih tuan
Mata pisau router bit merek apa ya..
Terimakasih

[nagamendo]

I like the idea, especially the dust collection. But how do you make sure that the hight of the rails stays parallel to the bottom? You are using massive wood for them which will expand/contract according to the humidity of the air. Wouldn‘t making the rails out of plywood have been a better idea?
In my opinion, for a one-time-use it is wasting too much material and for a multi-time-use there should be more possibilities to do some calibration.
Anyway, I like the video. Thx 4 sharing.
Greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭

[contessa.adella]

A workable jig, but very resource hungry. You should really emphasis the importance of ensuring the bed is flat and twist free and the router sled is perfectly flat. You don’t just rip off some strips and bolt it all together if you expect it to produce a flat and true result.

[everettneil]

Did your add for sag in the carriage, such as dips or hollow

[RazorStrap]

Grained lumber will warp over time. Even inside. MDF or plywood is much more stable.

[itsjustmetomc]

It would seem easier to use your work bench and add sides to that and then make only 1 sled instead of always making a new setup each time you want to flatten a new slab.