Flatten Live Edge Wood Slabs with this Simple Router Sled || How to Flatten Wood

In this video I'll show you how I built and used a router sled to flatten some live edge slabs I'm working with!
Tools in this video (amazon affiliate):
2200mm linear rails (bottom rails): amzn.to/3Vaqy2B
1500mm linear rails (top rails): amzn.to/3LcFx7G
Festool OF 2200 Router: amzn.to/3HgSE6D
Whiteside Surfacing Bit: amzn.to/3V5ifW5
Dust Brush/Broom: amzn.to/3MpiOGR
Dust Collection Adapter: amzn.to/40W0R7z
4" Flex Hose: amzn.to/448wspl
Dewalt drills: amzn.to/2O1O6ZI
This was filmed with a GoPro Hero 11 Black and iPhone 14 and edited in iMovie. Thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe and check out some of my other videos! Find me on Instagram (MMCC_Woodshop) for more of my work!
*DISCLAIMER* The following content is for entertainment purposes only. Woodworking and using power tools can be extremely dangerous if not done properly. YOU (the viewer) are fully responsible for understanding proper use of tools, as well as the safety features of each. I highly suggest reading the owners manual and/or watching how-to videos on the tools. I (MMCC_Woodshop) am not responsible nor liable for any injury, death, or handing of the tools you may use, nor do I assume to display the proper handing of as a demonstration. Please use extreme caution when working with any power tools. - Matt

[@dougbrown8601]

Now you're going to have me building this instead of buying one already built. Thanks for the video and links.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Glad it was helpful, enjoy building your sled!

[@Joestacemazjojo]

I just purchased one already built , very excited to use it. I wanted to say that dust collection for your set up looks to work incredibly well

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Nice! The dust collection definitely isn’t perfect, but it does a pretty good job overall 👍🏻

[@genedavis1450]

Very nice

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Gene!

[@tboneterryd]

Looks good

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks!

[@bradleytuckwell4881]

I built the same sled but I did have a bit of trouble squaring the linear feet so I ended up getting some transfer screws and they were a game changer

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for the input! I’ll have to check those out 👍🏻

[@bradleytuckwell4881]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 if you are going to buy some don’t buy the 7 piece set there is a better set with more screws

[@edwardgross3330]

I realize this video is several months old, but do you recall what screw pitch & length you used for your 3/4 ply application? I think they are m6 but my local big box never has metric in stock and I'll need 32!

[@paulmayer1492]

What is the largest width slab you can flatten with this setup? I see the top rails have overhang on each side so I'm trying to figure out which length top rails to order to accommodate flattening a 48" wide slab. thanks great video.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

You lose about 6”ish on each side due to the overhang and the sled not being able to go all the way. If you have a 48” wide slab I would go 60” rails (across) as a minimum

[@asderven]

Thabk you formthe the video. Your dust brush/broom and the bit have the same link. Might want to look into that. Would you film the part of the dust brush and the dust port, or walk through the mechanics of it? I am thinking of getting one, building up all the parts in the shopping cart. How would you rate dust collection and chip collection if only using your shop vac in place of where your dust collector port is going?

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for the heads up on the link - I corrected them to the proper items. For the dust port part, it's this item (this is a similar item, I can't find the actual item) connected to the base plate with screws. amzn.to/3QBD6zv I used the Rockler port adapter to connect the hose to the inlet flange amzn.to/47dCMwj The broom/brush is just superglued to the sides and then further attached with screws right through the top (white part of the collar that holds the brush together). The shop vac dust collection works pretty poorly by itself for doing something this big - it works great for regular routing/mortising/etc, but the planer bit creates a TON of chips.

[@asderven]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 thank you, will check out the links and try to figure out a solution. Right now more focused on problem solving my LiFePo4 battery build.

[@jonakers16]

What is the square black piece you used to attach the dust right to? Nice work!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

It's just an inlet flange. I can't find the exact one I used on amazon, but here is a link to one that's similar. amzn.to/3QBD6zv After that's secured, I connected the hose to the inlet flange with the Rockler adapter kit amzn.to/49llvDw

[@seanconnolly903]

Did you notice if the rails had any kind of flex in the rails that ran the width of the table?

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

The rails themselves have no flex at all. The bearings will compress a tiny bit if you push downward on the router as you’re making the cut, but it’s very minor 👍🏻

[@Myersmr1960]

I knew there was an easier method to set up a planer w rails

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Much easier! 👍🏻

[@robertbernard1581]

How are you holding the lower rails in place? Or do you need to?

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

They aren’t secured, just sitting on the bench top

[@lawrencewalker6457]

I wonder if something similar could be made using an electric hand planer instead of a router.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

I’m sure it’s been attempted. I’ve never used an electric hand planer but it might be an issue planing across the grain rather than with - not certain though.

[@Jped277]

Couldn't u just buy a planer for the price of these rails?

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

You could for smaller pieces, but these slabs in the video are wider than my planer 👍🏻

[@Jped277]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 that makes sense

[@toddgillespie5198]

Plus depending on the wood, the planer really struggles. I have some live oak slabs that my dewalt planer cringes at.

[@theofarmmanager267]

That’s certainly not a dumb questions as the rails and accessories are not cheap. Almost none of us, from hobbyists to smaller shops, have the space, let alone a cost efficient argument, for a planer wide enough to take in rough sawn timber in the dimensions available. A CNC would be a definite step up in my opinion but that would require a dedicated space of 10’ x 5’ to do what I can do with my sled - and my sled is fully demountable and stores under my bench. I have got a 42” wide belt sander but that can only takes off a very small amount of thickness in each pass. It would take days, and many belts, to do what the sled can do in an hour. The only advantages that my sled has are that the router bed is made of 3/8” clear Perspex (good visibility), integral dust port and dust shoe brushes fitted (much less messy).