Insider Tips For Slab Flattening Mill PRO | Deep Dive | Woodpeckers Tools

Live edge slabs continue to dominate contemporary furniture designs. Woodpeckers Slab Flattening Mill Pro simplifies the task of making your slabs flat and uniform in thickness. In this 19-minute video, Jeff Farris takes you into his shop and shows you step-by-step how to set up and use the SFM-Pro. He shares some tips and tricks we've learned over the years to help you get more done in less time.

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Contents of video:
0:00-0:46 Intro
0:46-3:02 Base Setup
3:03-5:44 Secure Slab
5:45- 6:36 Rail Setup
6:37-7:35 Router Bits
7:36-10:03 Carriage Setup
10:04-10:48 Variable Speed
10:49-11:24 Dust Collection
11:25-13:24 Cutting Prep
13:25-15:22 Rough Cut
15:23-17:21 Finishing Cut
17:22-19:26 Flattening Top

[OldGloryLumberandMilling]

I've just started using mine a little in the evenings after I shut down the sawmill. Using a 2" Amana with a 2.25hp Bosch, and it takes FOREVER, though obviously that's not a flaw with the Slab Flattening Mill Pro. I will soon get the 3.5hp Milwaukee, so that should help. I have built mine with BIG slabs and glue-ups in mind, so I bought a 2' extension and used the 76" rails for the carriage, so it's very wide. Building a second table to butt up to it when doing the full 11' length capacity. I will say that I was really impressed with the packaging and instructions from Woodpeckers, though I did take off the skirts since I don't have dust collection and they are really stiff when they're cold (the flattener is in one of the non-heated rooms in the building).

[hardnox]

Nicely explained. Instead of using the dogs and drilling holes in my bench I use shims and hot glue. It works great.

[tomreese]

I've been using the original mill for a few years now and love it. Since I have bench dog holes all over my bench (Cut using your template jig), rather than using your clamping dogs, I use my holes and dogs with a couple Festool clamps that fit the holes to lock the work down. Shimming under a couple spots and using duct tape to secure the shims works. Rather than creating a plywood base, I have been using a couple 2x6 boards clamped to my bench which the rails are attached to via the end cap screw holes. That has made setup fast and it stores easy too. The multi-knob trick is definitely in my next order though and the upgrade to the new router base has been tempting for easier major height adjustment as well as better dust collection. Thanks for the video!

[jamesboggs]

I just ordered this, can’t wait to try it out! These tips will be extremely helpful.

[jmarcant]

Is there a video for making the table and lock down knobs?

[UncleLouigisfamousyt]

☆Hey Jeff.
Excellent demonstration!
That 3rd bit, the 3 tip from armana, would that clean cut an epoxy river?
Thanks much!

[ronniekotler]

Great video, I have been thinking about buying one of these mills, your video makes my decision a little closer.

[davidcole]

Great video. Thank you. I get the same run marks can't feel them but I use 40 or 80 grit and it takes forever!! Should I be using a higher grit??? TiA

[ericnatel]

You are the masters of unique tools and jigs! That being said, the home woodworkers need something new: A modification of this system to mount a portable planer, (like DeWalt D26676) for slab flattening. This would be so much more productive than flattening with a router. Most of these portable planers already have easy mounting at the front, (edging fence mount), and would only require minor accommodation for mounting the rear of the tool. Had already reached-out to your website contact, and they recommended bringing it up here for further discussion.

[cindilockhart]

What exactly and where to buy the 1/4 20 bolt with red knob to secure the v track, please? I love this idea!

[abkse]

Why not walk the carriage and bit the length of the slab vs working back and forth bending over the slab? Does the router need the downward hand force?

[wallystoolshed]

I love my woodpeckers pro slab mill. I don't use it very often, but when I do, it is a pleasure to use. Little hard on the back though. Much cheaper than a large CNC Machine.

[JeffRL]

I wonder if there's a way to add an extension handle of some sort to make it easier to push across a wide slab and then pull it back? Perhaps something easily removable because it wouldn't be needed for narrower slabs.

[bobd.]

thanks for the deep dive Jeff. Great explanation on setting up and operating. Seems that carriage is crying out for an extension handle of some sort to eliminate reaching so far over the table. That looks like it could be tough on the back after a while. Maybe modify the cross brace or make something that attaches to extend your reach by six or eight inches.

[jamesconnors]

Thank you. Please do one on the ODDJOB XL. The tool is a phenomenal shop assist. Has replaced a number of hand tools in shop, easing job flow. Would guess that careful research would reveal broad utility for the tool.

[komitadjie]

That's really darn neat, I don't have any particular reason for slab flattening (I don't do slab tables or anything) but darn if I don't want one anyway after watching this video. I think that Festool router would blow my entire shop budget for a year, though! XD

Great explanation of the tool, and fun to watch. :)

[MegaWingman]

I have the base model and wondered if I can buy the pro router carriage to use on the base system?

[JordanHaisley]

Do you sell the extrusion on its own? It would be handy to make jigs that I could reuse my carriage with.

[catherinenapoli]

Excellent tutorial, the best ! Agustino J. Napoli, Master Violinmaker.

[billfleming.flemingwoodcraft]

Where did you get those nice red locking grips you used to lock down the main rails onto the table surface?