Router sleds allow you to make multiple controlled passes over the surface of your material whether you’re working on live edge or even glue ups for cutting boards to level out the surface. If you’re picturing Chevy Chase applying sled wax in Christmas Vacation… you’re a little off. With this being my 3rd Bosch router product, it’s easy to see why they are an industry leader in this line (not just because I have them, but because the masses agree). I have multiple routers that have the on/off button on the top of the unit and if something should occur that requires an immediate stop during use, taking your finger off the trigger is much easier ( and safer) than taking your hand off and locating a switch.Īn added bonus to this Bosch Model is that it will also fit into my Bosch Benchtop Router Table that already has my other 11 amp Bosch Router hooked up to it. Just like cruise control on your car, just tap the trigger and you’re back into manual control. The trigger squeeze provides a ton of control and the trigger lock allows you to engage the motor and keep it running. The two pommel grips feel like I should be piloting a spaceship, even more so because the start and stop trigger is also on the grip so I’m either firing my photon cannons or firing up 25,000 rpms of router. Aside from the variable speed and the great LED work surface light, what really sold me were the handle grips. which wasn’t going to be an issue because I was going to be sliding this along on a router sled, a little weight is actually a bonus. The Bosch has the bulk to match the power, it weighs just under 13 lbs. With that in mind, I ended up picking the Bosch 15 amp, 2.3hp Fixed Based Router (model #MRF23EVS) ( *update, it’s now a few years old and is cheaper!) I was going to be working with some serious hardwoods and I needed a router that would hold up to the abuse. With the field reduced it was a matter of figuring out which router was going to be the best fit and also best quality for me. I’ll let you guess what Jenny McCarthy would have titled those categories on the big board. That significantly reduced the number of potential candidates like an early round of the TV show “Singled Out”. When I started my search for routers for this project I had two basic requirements: More power and a ½” collet to match that power. Skip below the router review for the plans! I had a big project and it was time to build a Router Sled. Up until this point I’ve been using manageable piece of lumber that I’ve been able to either sand smooth or run through my 13” thickness planer to level out… not anymore. You know, those slabs of wood that make beautiful benches, table tops or even anniversary laptop trays for your wife… I’ve lucked out and have an awesome source for local live edge pieces. See the Care and Use tab for the instructions and plan.Ī way to flatten slabs without buying a costly flattening mill.For the last few months I’ve been dabbling into the world of live edge lumber. If you don’t already have a proper surface to support the jig, the instructions include an easy-to-follow plan for building a supporting frame with risers that can be adjusted to accommodate workpieces of varying thickness. To build the router sled, you’ll need nominal 1 1/2" electrical metallic tubing (EMT), tools and a router with a suitable flattening bit. The wheels strung onto U-bolts form the glide mechanisms that allow the router carrier to travel along the rails. It includes a CNC-routed Baltic birch router carrier and a pair of trunnions, as well as U-bolts, hex nuts, washers and nylon wheels. The assembled sled lets you pass your router back and forth in an XY-plane to consistently flatten an entire slab.Ĭombined with materials you supply, the kit offers an excellent option for milling live-edge tabletop slabs that are too large for a conventional thickness planer and jointer, or for projects using wood with difficult grain such as crotch wood, burls or knots. This innovative kit provides the necessary hardware to build a large-capacity router sled for flattening slabs.
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