Which Router Sled do you REALLY need - Linear Bearing or DIY?

If you need to flatten a large slab, you definitely need a router sled. In this video, I'm comparing the DIY router sled that I made with a linear bearing router sled from s2ms.com. The results may surprise you, but you will know which router sled makes sense for you after watching this!
Stuff to Make Stuff (s2ms.com)
Linear Rail Acrylic Sled: s2ms.com/collections/router-s...
Pro Router Sled: s2ms.com/collections/router-s...
Wagner Moisture Meters:
Orion 910: amzn.to/40MwxxJ
Orion 950: amzn.to/3QCUnXK
00:00 Intro
00:24 DIY sled setup
01:17 Wood moisture content
02:39 Moisture meter comparison
04:03 Linear bearing router sled setup
05:20 DIY vs linear bearing comparison
06:48 My final verdict
Tools used in my shop:
Ridgid Spindle Sander: homedepot.sjv.io/vd1Ej
Ridgid Router 2.5hp homedepot.sjv.io/MeoRo
Husky 30gal Air Compressor: homedepot.sjv.io/mdro1
Dewalt 13in Thickness Planer: homedepot.sjv.io/LkoRY
Worksharp 3000: amzn.to/2UM88qs
Dewalt 12" Sliding Compound Miter Saw: amzn.to/2UWVRiR
Jet Jointer JJ-6CSX: amzn.to/2UwVywd
Jet Mortiser: amzn.to/2QXtFLA
Dewalt 20V Drill Driver Combo: amzn.to/2JBEwXy
Dewalt Random Orbital Sander: amzn.to/2R5qP7t
Hegner Multi Max 18 Scroll Saw: amzn.to/34hF5iV
Portable Belt Sander: homedepot.sjv.io/XBEK3
2hp Dust Collector: amzn.to/2VbkKHV
Workshop Vac: amzn.to/3bF7ul6
Polyurethane mallet: amzn.to/3bVgl2z
Ridgid 12V Drill Driver Combo: homedepot.sjv.io/7gKK5
Hudson Shop Apron: amzn.to/2R5oSIb
Also check out my social media pages:
/ eveningwoodworker
/ eveningwoodworker
Website: www.eveningwoodworker.com/
I am an engineer by day and a woodworker by night... usually after the kids are in bed and before the neighbors call the cops!
I have a passion for building things out of wood and all things woodworking. I am always looking for new projects that look fun and challenging. My woodworking inspiration comes from my kids, my wife, and the forests around my house. I consider myself a serious hobbyist and I hope you can learn something and get inspired from the projects and mistakes that I make. I will also show you how I organize and work in my small shop in 1 bay of my garage. I will share videos of my past, current, and future woodworking projects with the goal of getting you out in the shop making sawdust!

[@jpellet2744]

Really helpful video…I watched the one on making a DIY sled first and then this one. Super helpful. Thx.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it

[@sapelesteve]

Not in the market for a router sled but that was a very informative video! Well done! 👍👍

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.

[@davidjefferds8532]

Great info about the moisture tester.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! It's an often overlooked tool.

[@DaveMillman]

The easy way to start flattening that warped slab is to clamp it down tight and freehand with a chainsaw. Seriously, it's easier than it sounds, just go slow. When you think "one more pass should do it" STOP and finish on the sled! PS, your hints in the Router Sled Mistakes video were awesome.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! Also that's an interesting idea with a chainsaw. I'm guessing it takes some practice too!

[@robertmclellan3541]

I have used my DIY sled for about 5 slabs. It is very messy but it works. It’s great if the weather is nice I can share the dust with my neighbors 😂. Thanks for a informative comparison. On the moisture issue I have never used a meter. To be honest I have been lucky most of my projects have not warped. On the epoxy resin tables I like to use a polyurethane on the bottom to help seal the wood.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! I guess you can either use a moisture meter or just wait a year or two until you know it's dry!

[@contessa.adella]

I bought a cheap bench and wanted to flatten the top. I fitted 15mm ply side rails on small stand offs so the bit could reach across the entire bench width. I made the two sled rails from 1/8” x1” aluminium angle (which I checked for straightness) and put some furniture wax on them for an easy slide of the router base. The rails were separated by a wood block at both heads, the width of the router base. Worked brilliantly and cost little. The chippings left the bench top through the standoff gaps each side. Hardest bit was ensuring a perfect alignment of the six feet long ply rails each side of the bench. This worked with my cordless DeWalt palm router using a one inch surfacing bit and I kept the depth of cut to under 1/16” to avoid over loading.

[@EveningWoodworker]

Sounds like a great setup!

[@brucehansen7949]

Looks like my garage except yours is even more packed full lol i made my own router sled with wood and now making a linear rail router sled, the wood plywood model works to an extent but im going for pro performance

[@fathogwoodworking]

Great video. I’ve been looking into sled improvements for a while so it was good to see your video and comparisons. Was there a time saving between the two sleds for how long it took to flatten each side?

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! The linear bearing one was a bit faster for the actual routing, but setup took a bit longer because you have to slide rails onto bearings and tighten Allen wrenches.

[@joshdorrough5403]

🔥🔥🔥

[@tutubeos]

I used the wooden DIY sled in the past and I didn’t like it, because it bends in the center, so little, but it doesn’t perfectly flat a slab. Slab large around 40inches, and 100 long, with a quite heavy router 13 lbs. I’ll try with the metal ones, but I doubt they won’t bend as well.

[@EveningWoodworker]

The thicker diameter linear rails (20mm) will help reduce the sagging in the middle... they're just a lot heavier!

[@unckle247]

What are the sized of the acrylic

[@petermuller7397]

Fill in the cup with epoxy resin. The top will be flat with a 3D effect when looking down into it. Leave the bottom of the slab exposed-ragged edge.

[@terryt2910]

I really like your home build flattening sled. It's the design I would use. But in regards to moisture meters, how do you know the Wagner is more accurate? Not just because 😂🎉it costs more, I hope. There could be a huge variability between any brand of moisture meter. How could you measure the moisture more reliably to compare it to your meters? How about comparing it to another high end meter?

[@EveningWoodworker]

That's a good point. Cost does not always equal quality. In this case, in addition to the cost I'm basing my assumption off of recommendations from other woodworkers that I trust. Although, it wouldn't be a bad idea to borrow a few of these from friends to get a good comparison of higher end meters.

[@anthonywilliams7052]

Crazy wood suggestion - a few chess sets 4 in tall at most. Definitely NOT for the board itself! Use plenty of sealer,.

[@wesleymorris9990]

Hang it vertically and put a clock and the 3 weather guages.

[@tinysparky]

I think the dust collection is enough incentive to get the pro model you showed. How is the vendor??

[@EveningWoodworker]

Yes the dust collection is a game changer! The vendor is the kind of guy that will bend over backwards to make sure you're happy with your sled and give you his personal number in the setup manual.

[@MONKEY-vi7hx]

What diameter are the libear bearing rails / rods

[@EveningWoodworker]

The 8' ones are 12mm and the shorter ones are 20mm

[@davidcw10876]

What router bit are you using?

[@EveningWoodworker]

Here's what I use: amzn.to/3yh8jRO

[@bryansimon3206]

Well dun, no superfluous redereck

[@EveningWoodworker]

Thanks! Trying to be efficient with everyone's time!

[@davidhabener5767]

There are a lot of DIY linear sled builds on KZbin, easier than I thought, I built mine 4x6 for less than $250, already had a router on hand. Any woodworker can do this, why buy an expensive kit ?

[@EveningWoodworker]

Sometimes people just want it already done. There are lots of random pre-made jigs for sale out there that you could easily make yourself, but they seem to still do well!