How To Build a Homemade Adjustable Router Sled - DIY

[diyfixman]

A router sled is one of the essential tools for perfecting the surfaces of materials. It is commonly used in leveling wood surfaces and over live edges. Instead of going for a ready-made router sled, you can create one using readily available materials.

For the last few months I’ve been dabbling into the world of live edge lumber. 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. 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. I had a big project and it was time to build a Router Sled.

Yes, you are still going to have to sand the material after you finish using the router sled. The point is to take off material in bulk but in controlled depths, not give you a smooth to the touch finish. You will have tiny visible lines from each pass you made. Those can easily be cleaned up with a belt sander or palm sander. That’s it!