Building a Better Router Sled/Flattening Jig (Part 2)

Trying out the new router sled for the first time. Spoiler Alert... It's Awesome!! Flattening this slab was easy and the results were excellent.

Link to building this router sled

Link to part 3 of this build (Upgrades!)

Help support my channel by using the links below to purchase the rail. By using these links you get the same price as you would otherwise and I make a small commission.

Upper Rails

Lower Rails

Aluminum Angles

[louisevad]

Tip from router guy. Make sure your collets are clean and you bit shank are clean. Then when you insert the bit Do Not bottom it out. If you bottom the bit out it will vibrate loose. I always pull the bit up from the bottom a 1/4" to make sure there is no shoulder of the bit in the collet.

[laszlofabian]

The reference groove is a nice idea, i will use it for my next flattening jobs! Greeat tip to also first check to see if the tabletop itself is in one plane. The two intersecting lines(strings) define a plane, the only thing to consider to have the spacing blocks for the long rails the same height, otherwise you are not running parallel with the surface of the table, I used two simple boards screwed on the side of my table and there i noticed this.
And maybe use a non compressible piece to compensate for the strings width (drill bits are a good idea).

[melinsnorth]

something I discovered with my flattening mill . . .going with the grain reduces the lines from the bit . . once I switched to going long / with grain . . . with the router, that got rid of 80-90% of those lines caused from going across the grain

[lucatoni]

I guess this is one of the rare videos which someone can build by himself without dropping out of the job and leave the familiy for the sake of success of the project. I started as a carpenter but have never heard of your construction of an even plane with one line on any building site, thank you for that alone, as well as this reasonable application.

[dave]

That's the first time I've seen the string method for taking the twist out of the bench top. Nice!

[RILRIL]

That's the best flattening jig I've ever seen. Well done!

[qfudgedoggy]

Beware of this guys advice. Nowhere in his shop did I see a wall of Festool systainers nor a set of red Woodpecker
Lol....well done!

[Bibliotics]

I really like the setup you came up with. Might I suggest adding some something like a brush style weather stripping to the bottle of the sled. This will help contain the dust and chips and allow the dust collector to work more effectively.

[adrianheywood]

absolutely LOVE your attention to detail. a) the string/flat bench thing - that's what i shall be doing tonight! and b) the reference groove to make sure nothing is slipping. Thank you. new sub here. :)

[andrewford]

Best version of a flattening jig I've seen. Very good!

[jeffreyjbyron]

Have you discovered the best bit for flattening? There are so many types that it's overwhelming. Thanks!

[frankfearon]

Nice technique for getting your workbench perfectly flat. I've been trying to find a practical way of getting two rails parallel and I think I'll try it.

[CosmicKnight]

Really nice, and stop blocks to keep the router bit from hitting the rail! I gotta get me one like this. Thanks again for sharing!

[TWC]

I have all these parts in my cart. I’m thinking of getting shorter upper rails since I usually only cut up to 22” wide slabs because that’s the max I can cut with my chainsaw. I guess it should help it to be more rigid and not sag any either in the middle like some people report with longer upper rails. I’m getting excited to build this.

[neiljackson]

I'm going to build this sled once I'm done flattening my table top on workbench. Doing that this weedend. Built a sled and will attach rails to the side of the table with clamps. I bought a 2 1/2 router bit for this process. Next I want to add an end vice and bench dogs.

[homesformeremortals]

This is the best diy router sled I've seen
Also cutting the reference line, simple genious.

[maxjr]

Great Video, showing a clean simple build, of an actual useful tool, that will store in minimal space. My wifes a Quilter, and has a quiting machine on a carriage system much like you built, which got me to wondering about several modifications, that would allow the use of this carriage for different applications. Say for instance as a Panograph, for routing letters, shapes, either freehand or with templates. I bet without to much design and hardware it could be converted to a type of CNC machine. Or it can just simply be a Awesome Leveling Jig !
Anyway, it the best, cleanest, leveling jig I've seen !
Thanks for sharing it !

[Ferndalien]

When I had finished watching the first video I was left with questions about setup and making it flat. I almost left my questions in the comments. This video answers my questions about flatness, thanks!

[SaintFredrocks]

Well, I have to say that you win the best router sled flattening jig YT video contest. I have seen a lot of these, and came up with pretty much what you did, then I saw yours. Cheers! Great minds think alike😉😁 I will add the feathery material (I forget what it is called) around the bottom of the router sub-base to help contain the chips and some kind of skirt along the edge of the lower rails to keep the sawdust on the table. Thanks for another great video.

[sentianart]

So here in Sweden I just spent the afternoon building a router jig. Hard, tricky and nothing like as good as yours. I’ve just ordered all the parts you mentioned and next weekend I’m making one just like yours. You Sir are an inspiration.