DON'T make these Router Sled Mistakes! | Evening Woodworker

[@AWIRELINK]

This guy is good, his videos are very educational, he explains things thoroughly and makes it easy to understand. Just subscribed with and a BIG 2 thumbs up..

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks I really appreciate that!

[@stevenholton438]

I totally agree! Extremely relatable! This guy will go far! I subscribe to every channel i ever watched though, regardless of anything other than energy, it makes me laugh to see how others treasure their gift of an almost unnoticeable subscription....I mean to say now!

[@andyjame1971]

I just finished building the handrail on my deck kzbin.infoUgkxfQ5_mgwq6PcudJvAH25t-I4D-3cTPz4z and used this great little router to clean up the top rail before the final sanding and stain. It was light weight but packed lots of power. Either size battery didn't seem to make it top heavy and I'm a 64 yr old women so I really appreciated how easy it was to use...................... CORDLESS only way to go !!

[@braytonbailey3782]

I have flattened a few slabs and this is a fantastic video, I guarantee I have made every mistake you call out. Thanks.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Haha sometimes we have to just learn from our own mistakes!

[@marshallatwood8529]

First video of yours I’ve watched - lots of great info and no bs filler - thanks a lot!

[@CTuna-uo3pq]

I love your consideration for your neighbors. Makes the world turn

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks, I'm trying!

[@josephseewald4687]

Thanks, you prevented me from making several errors in my sled before I had a chance to build it. Very helpful.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Great! That's why I made this video!

[@alexisherrera2048]

Very clear explanations. Kindness with the neighbors is important.

[@campfire254]

Wow!!!!! THANK you so much!!!! found this video as I'm trying to figure out how to build my own jig. Very informative!!!!! gave me lots to think about before I make some costly mistakes. thanks a bunch!!!

[@UnpimpYourAuto]

Great tips. You see a lot of people doing slab flattening, but they don't go into details like this. Thanks!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Glad it was helpful!

[@g-dog100]

Awesome!! So helpful!! I’m going to build mine now! Greetings from Granada, Spain!!

[@MalquiLans]

How did KZbin know what I was thinking? I was messing about with a frame today, my plan being to level some small glued logs tomorrow, with only a bit of a clue. Tonight, searching for Mr Ballen stuff that I haven't already seen, this pops up on the side. Brilliant!

[@EveningWoodworker]

I'm glad it worked! Good luck with your project!

[@flywrite]

Thank you for filling in the details that most channels skip. Details matter but you do an excellent job of highlighting the details that matter most. This keeps the information on point, and not pointless.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thank you! I try to focus on the stuff you really need to know. Glad you like it!

[@briannewton3535]

Awesome. I'm considering making a router sled. Your information has been noted, and will influence my sled build. Thanks for taking the time on this video.

[@larryfisher7056]

Good stuff there....the #1 item is something that I would never think of. Thanks.

[@bosatsu76]

Excellent catch on #1... One of those 'why didn't I think of that' items...

[@ToddDery]

Super helpful tips!! Thanks for making this video!

[@jefferyhaws7565]

I like the way you explained all of the potential problems and solutions. I'm going to make my rails out of a former queen size bed railing.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Nice! Good luck!

[@bigvegass]

Good timing. I'm gonna make my own butcher block countertops and have been.toying with flattening it with a router sled setup

[@EveningWoodworker]

Sounds fun!

[@wigg1yscott554]

What great tips for us beginners, i never would have thought of the screws creating bumps like that!

[@tiborlovasz812]

Thank you - great explanation, well organized, straight to the point, everything makes sense, no unnecessary speech!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks!

[@GrantOakes]

I've never milled a slab with a router before but now that I know how to do it properly I wanna build something using your tips!

[@EveningWoodworker]

You should give it a try!

[@nicholasfrei]

This is the best tutorial I've found on attributes of a router sled. Thank you for the excellent advice, and thank you for the concise explanations. Cheers!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Glad it helped!

[@darksun4523]

I just brought my first half inch router, The journey begins!! 😁

[@robertbankhead8661]

mystery solved on my last sled, thanks for taking the time to show me my errors.

[@EveningWoodworker]

I'm glad it helped!

[@monkeyboysworkshop]

Nice one dude! Great video, I need to upgrade my router sled so I’m glad I randomly came across your video, I wasn’t even searching for it 😂🤙🏻

[@lucyscottwalker2203]

That was so very helpful. Someone cut a large cedar and gave it to me. With an Alaskan sawmill you can get slabs but not really great slabs so I've been curious about a router sled. This is actually the first video I've seen on how to construct and use one. Thank you very, very much.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Great! I'm glad you liked it!

[@paulquinn5260]

Great tips for building my router sled. Thanks from Paul in the uk 🇬🇧

[@craigoram]

This is great! I've been wanting to build a routing sled and this gives me all the details I need. Thanks!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Awesome! Glad it helped!

[@adgieem1]

Well done. Your video presents beautifuly . I understood everything and learned some great tips. I am a retired carpenter and about to build a router sled. Thanks to you I am now sure of how to go about it. !! Your use of the terms “ indexing surfaces “ was perfection . Once I heard that I started looking at this project differently. Great job !

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! I'm glad it was helpful!

[@BearWoodWorkshop]

Found this just in time! I am just about ready to kill down some red maple🍁 and hickory slabs for Christmas gifts! Thanks for the content!!!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Sounds fun! Good luck!

[@rolandorivas9119]

Very nice personality straight forward explanation; thanks so much for explaining the different of router's sleds.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Glad you liked it!

[@ohmsanti7914]

Concise and well explained, no crazy music, Thanks for your straightforward informative video.

[@jplieurance]

Great tutorial. Your explanations of why you do what you do are really helpful.

[@inspiringbuilds]

Great tips and thumbnail! Clear, concise, and helpful video that will help any level wood worker be successful. 👍

[@FlyDrowner]

I like a vid that makes me go "DOH! Of course!" Sensible actions explained very clearly. Greatly appreciated, thanks. Also ... a YT vid with no dislikes? Amazingly rare.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

[@ericawilliams18]

Thank you the first video that’s simple ! Simple jig simple explanation!

[@toddmitchell1026]

Thanks for the tips and a couple of "OF COURSE!" moments

[@EveningWoodworker]

Ha you're welcome!

[@johnpratt7599]

Going through previous comments I found where you recommended a bit from Amazon I just ordered it and will be building my sled tomorrow thanks again.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Glad you found it! Good luck

[@scottbyrd2157]

Awesome advice! You gained a subscriber from just this video as I researched router sleds!!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks!

[@collin_builds]

Well, I’ll be inspecting my sled tonight and sanding any high spots. Good recommendations!

[@capermache]

Sounds super helpful, thank you!

[@jreniers59]

Hello, very good info in the video. I have been cleaning my workshop also multiple times for hours after using the router to flatten slabs. Today , I found a simple, cheap method to reduce the saw dust. Lay a sheet of MDF or whatever wood on the right of your sled and also a vertical piece of wood. It will reduce the cleaning work afterwards a lot.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Great idea!

[@watermain48]

First video of yours that I have watched. You got a new subscriber. Thanks.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Welcome aboard!

[@Mandinga_Pro]

Very good advice you gave my friend. I will follow the step by step for my Sled Router. Thank you very much Greetings from Chile

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! I want to go to Chile some day.

[@Mandinga_Pro]

@@EveningWoodworker welcome then...

[@Jeankavanaghdop]

one of the best educationnal vidio i've seen! Everything is clear and well explained

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! I'm glad it was helpful!

[@timsenger470]

Well this was phenomenal timing. I've seen other videos on this topic but didn't need to make one. Now I have a 24" wide by 3" deep slab of maple for my River epoxy coffee table. These tips are going to come in super handy. I might use my long levels as my rails. Thanks.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Sweet! As long as you have a way to secure your levels, those would work fine.

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

Me too.... just gained access to a couple huge old trees that are now horizontal.....

[@KorraTheFrenchie]

Thanks for the info! I’m about to build a router sled myself and this info helps!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Great to hear!

[@terryt2910]

Best and most thorough router sled video I've seen. Thank you! There is one exception, however. You did not cover getting the rails in the same plane. This was, for me, the most uncertain part and one one of, if not the most, the more critical parts. That said, I'll be incorporating your design in my next flattening adventure.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Yeah I should've talked more about that. Oh well, that's for the next one!

[@camofpv]

Loads of good obvious-not-so-obvious info. Thanks

[@wolverine1694]

Thanks for showing the wrong and right way.... keep on keeping on.... God bless

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thank you!

[@ilijagacesa7995]

Love that attention to detail

[@rectimm]

I did this for the first time and big piece of redwood a couple days ago. I accounted for some of these mistakes but others I learned as I went. Wish I had seen this first.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Your next one will be even better!

[@timalban1433]

@@EveningWoodworker Yes! I just got a bigger bit so I need a different sled

[@rctayas]

I’m about to get my first router….thank you for these tips!

[@julianbatcheler9970]

This is really useful. Never done this. But need to and will follow your film and see how it goes. Working a similar sized piece of Oak

[@stevegronsky8904]

Nicely done video with good explanations of "why" things should be done.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Glad it was helpful! I'm the kind of person that wants to know the why for everything so I assume other people want to know it too.

[@Coyote48]

Nicely done and very informative

[@joedibble4199]

First time seeing your videos - earned an immediate subscribe! Great content!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Awesome, thank you!

[@karledman4625]

Nice job explaining the issues, resolutions and the whys. Thanks for sharing.

[@claudeuzelman]

well done. totally enjoyed it. common sense stuff that i would have missed

[@RobertJones-pr9rh]

Absolutely brilliant, I never thought of using a router like that. Many thanks.

[@GaryOwen-p6c]

After looking at videos of router sleds. It seems that most use a plunge router. My router is not a plu8nge unit so can I flatten a slab With it. I enjoyed your video because your explanation was brief, clear and informative.

[@EveningWoodworker]

You can, but you have to adjust the depth by raising and lowering the bit using the normal height adjustment method. A plunge router gives you more adjustment and is a bit faster. Both can work though.

[@alansimpson596]

Very helpful as I haven't yet used a router sled but will be doing so shortly.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Good luck! They're pretty handy

[@b3arwithm3]

Really well explained and very comprehensive list of issues covered in this video 👍

[@kensokdesigns5502]

Video was well done with a lot of good info.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks!

[@robertpetritrsch6513]

Wow great vid have two slabs , been watching a ton if vids your info makes the most sense . Can’t wait to get started thank you for your time and information.

[@EveningWoodworker]

I'm glad it helped!

[@patrickkem689]

Enjoyed your information! I am trying to get this router sled business solved. But man wax inside of the sled,,,minimizing any jerking or hesitation with the router. That’s where the minwax really works well.

[@jackdotzman2908]

Great advice. Excellent vid, thank you. From Missouri

[@davedubanoski2981]

I learned more from you about this thank you.

[@jeaniemalone5304]

Thanks!😁 That makes sense to do pocket holes instead of screwing straight into the sides of the wood. Also, we have some live edge pine planks that we need to level off with a router. We didn’t know that we could do this step before hand planing. This will save us a lot of time and errors. Thank you!!

[@EveningWoodworker]

I'm glad it helped!

[@torinhalsey6313]

Good information. I've never seen these details covered in other videos. Well done.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! Glad it's helpful!

[@Kasper623]

I didn’t know Patton Oswalt was also into woodworking. That’s neat!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Haha! that's a new one

[@jackmatranga2539]

I'm doing my first sled and your video saved me a bunch of time. Thank you!

[@bozotheclown935]

Hey buddy, Great tips. I have not been woodworking for bout 40 years but plan to get back to it in my retirement. All you guys sharing your info... WOW... really helpful specially in terms of knowledge as to what is available in the modern world. Thanks a lot and hello from Australia..

[@EveningWoodworker]

I'm glad it's helping! And welcome back to the hobby... we've missed you!

[@donaldbrewster5705]

you gave me a lot of good tips on the router sled.

[@bobbbobby7635]

Would you consider making a video about how to set up the rails properly?

[@darrellreed7044]

Absolutely great tips! I have one suggestion that you might find interesting… try holding or fixing the router to the sled temporarily, and move the sled length wise. Count the number of passes. Bet it’s less than 1/3 of going across the width! Just try it once and you might be amazed as you’re cutting with the grain too!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Good idea... I may try that next time. Just gotta make sure everything slides well!

[@camofpv]

@@EveningWoodworker that butter smooth action you didn’t really cared for 😉 might come handy. Awesome video and awesome point made by Darrel Reed

[@jungko9031]

There are fewer passes, but each pass is longer in length. Time wise isn’t it roughly the same thing?

[@Lennart1995]

@@jungko9031I’d argue it may take even longer, since you would have to release the router and fix it back in position after each pass, whereas it’s much quicker to just move the slide a little bit

[@crzxm]

Cutting with the grain is best in my experience. It eliminates the use of a belt sander and makes sanding much easier.

[@tkjvsmith227]

One of the best explanations and uses for a sled. I will say though, that the reaching over the blade of the table saw to cut the long runner to prevent it from falling on the floor instead of using an out feed support looked rather dicey.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! And yes I need to come up with a better out feed solution. Right now it's just roller stands

[@RobDucharme]

So, right around the time this video came out, I had just built my first router sled. I actually went in a third direction with my sled. I cut a dado into each side of the sled walls and glued the bottom in that way (as one might do with a drawer). Then capped the ends. I never would have thought of the expansion problem, but glad I did it the way I did!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Good thinking! That works too

[@philipdavison4066sawdust]

Good advice mate I'll take that onboard thanks. Happy woodworking ❤

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks, you too!

[@navarroedwards8031]

I actually learned a lot from your video . I have 3 projects to finish for family members so I’m taking my time . Thanks for your very educational video .

[@EveningWoodworker]

Glad it helped!

[@The78bluedevils]

You answered a lot of questions I had, and save me time and money avoiding some of these mistakes. Thx

[@EveningWoodworker]

Glad it helped!

[@Iyutdgts]

I always like when I learn something. Thanks🤠

[@EveningWoodworker]

You bet!

[@notionpollution]

I think you've saved me some headaches! Gonna plane a thick slab of padauk for an instrument, and it needs to be as close to perfect as I can get it. Thanks!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Glad it helped! Sounds like it's gonna be beautiful!

[@notionpollution]

@@EveningWoodworker It worked! Beautifully. Did the job today.

[@bradcarlson2096]

Awesome video, thanks for taking the time explaining the details

[@dalepage5511]

Excellent points. Thanks for taking the time to share this.

[@MrOneacuff]

Great tips! Mistake #1 cleared up my sleds issues. Thanks!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Awesome! Glad it helped

[@loridaniels9452]

Simple Kudos on a good presentation Thank you Tim D

[@ronkaplan8472]

Thank you for your pragmatic information for making it simple to construct an efficient flattening sled. This was tremendously helpful. 👍👍

[@EveningWoodworker]

Great! I'm glad it helped

[@franciscoayala1062]

Hey Man, just found your video / Chanel with the Sled for Router. I just finished mine. And I have to say that I am pretty new in Woodwork. Could you give me I tip how deep I should use my Router on the first pass. I have a Makita 3612 C with a 12 mm shaft and a 50,8 mm cutting ( 2 inches diameter ). But I’m not to sure how far I should go on a 2… inches Cherry with Epoxy. Thanks for any tip / help and best regards from Germany. Frank😊

[@Strawdozz]

Thats an intelligent and helpful video. Good job.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Glad you liked it!

[@90Beater]

A very informative video. I built a router sled over the weekend and will level my live edge Walnut slab the next weekend. It is a 2 3/4" thick 58" wide and 22" at most deep. The top has 1/2" taper on each side. I used a large piece of 3/4" melamine for the base and 1 x 4" red oak for the guide rails since I had them in the garage. For the sled I also used 3/4" melamine with 1 x 4" red oak on each side and for guides on each end. For all of this I pre-drilled the holes from the bottom making sure the alignment was perfect then I used a countersink bit so the 2 1/4" screws would hold the wood but not get in the way. the sled rides smoothly and is great. Just tonight I received a 2" 4 cutter leveling bit for my router. I watched your video to make sure I did not miss anything, I think I am good.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Sounds like a good setup! Good luck!

[@matthewmckenzie8508]

Great video. I'm new to woodworking & you gave me some great tips. Liked & Subscribed. Cheers from Down Under !!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thank you sir!

[@wrongfullyaccused7139]

Outstanding video. Well done.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thank you!

[@strale]

my first thing when I saw the thumbnail was - but it is a lot more stable that way! it really makes a sense after watching the video. chapeau and thanks for the tips! also kudos for thinking about your neighbors

[@EveningWoodworker]

Glad it helped!

[@LosoIAm]

I never thought of the minute expansion of the base of the sled. My instinct (bad experience, rather) tells me to do it like the way you're suggesting. Your method is both scientific and practical (and considering good relationship with your neighbours is a bonus!) - thank you for pointing that out.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! I try to be logical when I can! 😀

[@jeffreythomasonify]

Excellent vid No fluff Good length

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! That's what I'm trying for

[@tinycuisine6544]

Great tips before my first attempt!! Thanks

[@domciancibelli]

Love your presentation. Clear, low key and very direct. An observation to improve the sled is that the sides of the sled need not be so high. That seems cumbersome. I attached L shaped aluminum angle “iron” to far less tall sled sides. The router slides much more easily on the aluminum surface. Again thanks for a very nice low key instructional video. Ciao!

[@EveningWoodworker]

Good point. The sides really don't need to be that tall!

[@mickjay2579]

@@EveningWoodworker The taller the better for the sides, within reason. The taller they are the less sagging there will be in the middle of the sled. Not really an issue if flattening narrow slabs but the wider they are the stiffer the sled needs to be. Great tip about joining the sides to the base that way!

[@matthewloeffler5846]

I’ve been wanting to do this. Thanks for the ideas.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Good luck!

[@fattyboombatty7736]

Thanks for giving me the confidence to give it a go :)

[@EveningWoodworker]

You can do it!