A VERY SIMPLE ROUTER SLED
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- I have been using a very simple router sled.
It is really simple, convenient and cheap.
You just need only 4 linear rails, 8 bearing blocks.
And some bolts and plywood.
SBR 20 : 1850mm, 2pcs
SBR 20 : 1200mm, 2pcs
SBR 20UU : 8pcs
They cost USD135.21. And I needed some bolts and plywood for the setting.
I was using a 20mm router bit for flattening wood.
But that is a little bit small for flattening work.
So I got a new one from China.
It is great.
ENJOY THIS!!
For More Information!
How to Flatten Wood with Linear Rail Router Sled
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Build a Cradle for a Linear Rail Router Sled
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A simple wood slab table
• A simple wood slab table
Worthy of Note: Some lower-end plunge routers may have a little play in the plunge rods, allowing the router to rack slightly, making the mill end of some bits (especially 3/8' or larger) angled slightly higher on one side relative to the surface of the working piece. This will leave noticeably uneven cut lines, and in more extreme cases may leave a surface that needs a lot of additional work after leveling. This can be corrected with shims added between the sled base and the router's plate, but if the router is removed from the sled for a different job, the shimming process will need to be repeated. Tips from a woodworker of a budget. Cheers!
¿is it possible get same result using an electric brush?
Everything is SIMPLE as long as you have the (and can find) the right hardware
That is genius! The best router sled I've seen built. I just added all the parts to my Amazon cart.
You can also have a nice sled. Congrats!!
How do you order parts don’t know what to get thanks
@@KevinRMaynard he notes the parts in the video, and I looked them up on Amazon. I know you can also order them on AliExpress.
This is what I’ve been planning to do and have been looking at linear rails the past couple weeks, you mentioned price of $135 was that per set of rails or your total price in this setup? What brand rails you have or where did you purchase them. Cheapest I can find sbr20-2000 rails are around $130-160 for just one set, my cross rails will be around 800mm
Beautiful, elegant, simple.
Awesome system! For this to work properly you need to be 100% confident that your table top is flat.
Thanks for the great video. One of the best demonstration of a tool I have seen.
Wow, thanks!
Linear rails and guides are a good solution for flattening some large maple slabs for a table project for my son-in-law. IMO, this is a better solution than using wooden rails. Thanks for posting this video.
I think so. Thanks!!!
This is it, I always wanted to build one this way instead of alu extrusions and wheels, I think this is better.
The only thing I would add is long handle to a corner on the router tray for 2 reasons : 1 hands not exposed to prolonged router vibrations when working longer on bigger piece and 2 back not bent over the table reaching out, again when working longer amount of time.
Thanks for great upload.
Thanks for your support.
And your idea about the long handle is very nice. Sometimes I suffer from a backache. LOL!
@@makefurniture1 I know all about it 😁
very,very,very,very simple sled
I built this same jig, SBR20 rails and linear bearings are very rigid and don’t flex at all under the weight of my 1/4” shank plunge router. I got the 800 and 500 mm rails for x and y and it’s perfect for my small workbench and large enough for the 12.5” wide edge grain cutting boards I like to make. I had previously built one out of wooden rails and and a wooden sled and it was horrible.
With the linear rails, the motion is smooth and effortless.
Sounds great!! Thanks!
I recently got some of these rails in an estate sale lot and I have been wondering what to use them on. Welp, I think I have found the answer! Thank You
They make you happy. Thanks.
Amazingly simple, and truly effective idea, thanks fro the video.
Thanks for your warm comments!
I'm used to larger, corded routers th-cam.com/users/postUgkxfQ5_mgwq6PcudJvAH25t-I4D-3cTPz4z so this was a different experience for me. Basically, this is an incredibly sweet machine, fits well in the hand, etc. It has slightly less power than I'm used to, but that's understandable. Maneuvering freehand takes some practice. These days, it's especially nice to be able to avoid power cords. This is above the level of a hobbyist but below a pro level.
Your router sled is ingenious. Thank you for sharing with us. Wonderful
Thank you for your great comment!!!
sbr12 more than enough for this with the smallest carriages - having said that this is a great idea!
i have a question, for sbr12 car, you should buy 12mm rail right ? thats what it means ?
@@kizgintosbaga you need to buy sbr12 linear rail - btw yes its internal diameter is 12mm
I need this awsome jig setup in a mini sized version to work on 3.5"x10" plywood boards !
Super Super Awesome! I am going to copy this design.
Nice setup
Thanks.
A very beautiful sled.....certainly very simple but also very expensive....
Indeed!
not expensive....compared to buying a 400mm jointer to flatten the surface. Plus this setup will also work as a thickness plane. So double savings.
Love it ! Especially all the shim work. How simple yet extremely effective way to hold the workpiece.
Thank you for your comment.
Can you go over how you designed and made the tray that the part being flattened sits in?
I usually use hot glue to hold the board in place, which is a pain in the but. Yesterday I had to flatten a lot of small boards. After seeing your video, I tried using shims which saved me A LOT of time. Now I can throw away my glue gun 😅 Thanks for sharing 👍🏻
Congrats. Thanks!
Genius ! Great video 👍 👍 I’m impaired for another project
Thank you for your wonderful comment!!
I like that quite a bit. Really good idea. I'll steal it...lol
Please come by to pick it up! LOL
THIS IS SO SIMPLE TO SET UP AND AFFORDABLE..GREAT VID LOVED THE JIG
I appreciate your comment.
Thank you for sharing your efforts to perfect this concept! Well done
that is really nice, the price has gone up some
Great! Thanks
You saved me $$$$$$$s. The collet should have come with your router.
There are small metal dogs that will eliminate the need for the box.
Thanks, again.
I am glad to hear that you could save your bucks.
Please make the walnut borders also end grain. The edge or face grain can rip with movement
Genius! Well done.
Very flattering. Thank you!!
Hi, I watched this video over and over, in an attempt to recreate your exact system. My long rails are 1200mm and cross rails are 800mm, also SBR20. The only change I made to your router sled base was to use a 1/2" piece of plexiglass, for strength and visibility, everything else is just like yours. There is no flex under the weight of my 2.25hp router and the stout sled. Just an FYI, the guide bearings require metric M6 machine bolts. That might help some of the people in the U.S. I was rather suprised that only one bolt hole of the 4 in the guide block, lined up with the holes predrilled in the rails. That might be a source of my issue. Everything went together perfect and smooth but now, all snugged up tight, with the router sled in place, the assembly shudders when I slide it along the rails. I've tried a few different possible remedies, but nothing seems to eliminate the choppiness of the slide, except when I loosen all the guide bearing bolts, just a tiny bit. It then slides better, but the rails on which the router slides, seem to go out of parallel, creating binding. Do you have any idea what I can to to fix this issue? Sorry for this lengthy comment/question and thank you for the wonderful approach to slab flattening!
Sorry for your issue. I will help you if it's possible. First, I wonder there is a shuddering before attaching the router sled.(like 3:56 in this video)
You can email me at acgari1@gmail.com. With the photos or videos about the issue.
@@makefurniture1 Thank you so much for replying. I will contact you via email.
@Sue B…excellent points. MY biggest issue and hurdle was getting the bearing blocks for the long slides to marry up to the cross slides. My bearing blocks are 40mm with the 4 mounting screw holes being 3mm-4mm from each edge face. The rail bases are about 65mm wide so without some kind of adapter mounting plate, I was dead in the water.
But to your point about the bearing block grub screw, you are spot on.
@Sue B. the choppiness you described may be due to a mis-alignment of the bearing blocks since you only used one mounting screw to connect the long and cross slides. I solved the same issue (and was successful in maintaining mounting screw tension) by making 4 mounting plates using .1875in X 2.5in X 6.5in 6061 aluminum bar stock. I drilled 4 holes to mount the bearing block to the adapter plate, and 4 holes to mount the bearing block assembly to the rail bases ( the base screw holes are 6.25in apart length-wise and about 2in apart width-wise. With the way I “built” the mounting mechanism, the bearing blocks are all perfectly aligned and ensure a tight 4-point attachment to the bearing blocks AND the rails. More importantly, all the drilling is on the adapter and eliminates drilling directly on the rail bases and the risk of damaging the slide rod.
@@jwdickinson643 Excellant idea, with successful outcome, yes? I'm off to the big box store for some 6061 aluminum bar! Thank you so much. I envy your analytical mind !
This set-up is excellent!! It moves so fluidly. I wanted to use linear rails for my circular saw crosscut jig, but here in the States, they are very expensive. At least for most of us. You solved my dilemma as to how I could adjust it sideways for wider boards.
I was about to use these linear rails for my circular saw crosscut jig too. But unfortunately, I don't have enough space for the jig. That's why I made this jig.^^
I think his design has a lot of over-reach, you could get similar results from shorter rails...
Here is a pair of 1000mm (i.e.39") plus four bearing races for US$ 65 bucks as I write:
www.amazon.com/OrangeA-Linear-SBR20-1000mm-4SBR20UU-Bearing/dp/B07DCVBR1X
2x that is $120 and you have a lot of the same capacity. I would suspect, with considerable care, you could likely even buy another pair and mate them up for $185 to get almost the same reach (2m x 1m vs 2m x 1.2m)...
If you reduced the size to SBR16 (I think it would work) the prices drop to 53 for the 1m length and 105 for the 2m length. I suspect the 20mm rails are overkill for the loads involved.
Not criticizing, and I'm not sure if 16 would work just as well...
To the creator: An impressive idea, you have given me some thoughts about how to do some things. Don't take any of my observations as negative in any way.
Q: Did you specifically pick SBR20 over SBR16? Or was that just what was convenient/available?
Also:
Would these rails work inverted? Could you **suspend** the bearings from rails with the flat part "up"? Haven't worked with this type of rail before.
@@nickbrutanna9973 Thank you for your opinion. I did hesitate for a moment at first picking between 20 and 10. But my short linear rails are 1200mm and I am going to use PORTER-CABLE 7518(3.25HP). 7518 is heavy. That's why I picked 20.
I think these rails work inverted. Haven't used it that way though. I guess that's a little bit unstable.
@@makefurniture1 Thank you very much for going thru the trouble to find that for me/us. I don't come across kindness too often on here or anywhere on the net. I went with 1/2" steel square tubing to attach to some 1/2" aluminum angle. I had the aluminum. I had bought a 3/32 plastic nylon placemat for 2-$1.00 at the Dollar store ( hint- the dollar store is a great resource for storage containers, plastic/nylon placemats, etc. for components for your projects). I line the bottom edges of the 1/8" aluminum plate I used for the base of the 7-1/4" circular saw I used. You just need to think outside of the box). I wanted the jig to be 72", but changed it to 60" long. I went with that length so I could cut wider boards on. The steel tubing and plate added weight to a heavy Makita saw I already had. In the summer I set up saw horses just outside my shop and work out there as much as possible. So the jig can be heavy but worth the outdoor air. I had planned long before building the jig to suspend it above my work surface, closer to the ceiling when not using it, and lower it to the work surface when I need it. I was using a bicycle hoist to lift it but later change to stainless steel pulleys, stainless eye bolts, and 1/8" steel rope. It may be overkill, but I already had most of the pieces, except the steel rope, and hardware so the cost was minimum. I bought the bike lift at a tag sale for $1.00 for a 'someday project". So, the whole project was under $35.00. The biggest cost was the hardware like hex head bolts I used, which was my personal preference, but regular screws would have made it even cheaper. I'm sorry for leaving a novel size reply, lol.
@@crossgrainwoodproductsltd9230 Thank you for l~ong reply, lol. I would like to look at your jig. That would be fantastic. Please let me see it later.
I NEED one!
😁 I have only one. Sorry!
I’ve been watching all of these slab flattening jigs. Then this. I’m guessing he’s the guy in elementary school who made a fusion reactor when everyone else was making vinegar and baking soda volcanos. Just jealous.
Really cool mate
Thanks!!
Thinking SBR20 1200 for both directions.. That gives me a 48x48 slab flattener. I think you can extend the one direction pretty easily by getting another SBR20 rail right up next to it right? I am new to all this so thought I'd try a smaller size first.
Yeah, it is quite easy to extend one direction. The size of SBR20 depends on what size you need to make. Thanks!
Great, thanks for sharing!
My pleasure!
Brilliant, simple and affordable! Thank you for sharing!! Cheers, Peter
Thank you for your wonderful comment.
Pleasant to watch
Question that i cannot find an answer to- can those open-type rail carts ride upside down ? This way you would just mount them flat on a surface, i looked at their insides and it looks like the upper inner side has the exact same lines of ball bearings as the bottom.
Well, I'm not sure because I haven't tried that way. Maybe it's possible I think. Thanks!
Thank you for the video, do you notice any sag in the middle of the rails when the router is in the middle? Especially if using a router that is 6-7 kg in weight?
Mine (GOF 1600CE) is 5.8kg. I don't feel any sag. Thanks!
@@makefurniture1 thank you
I love how everyone says on their TH-cam channel these are easy productions, if it were easy it wouldn’t take 10mins to show it. And they use tools that most novice don’t have to build them.
I never bottom a router bit in the collet. I always leave some space becasue router bits tend to "freeze" in the collect making them difficult to remove. Loosen the collet and tap the bit the down. that will unstick it .Often by taking the nut off with a wrench it will act as a press and push the bit up and out.
holy,,, so awesome!!!
What is the devise used that you hook the router to and then it rides on the rails? Custom made or did it come with the rails? Thanks.
Do you mean the cradle? I made it myself. If you want to know how to make it, please watch this video. th-cam.com/video/We0CzFxnQXo/w-d-xo.html Thanks.
Those are some nice rails!
Is your shop in the living room? Engineered flooring, flawless sheet roci, and painted trim? Still, the best router slide I've seen yet!
How is this affordable? Seems like a good amount of money in that railing system.
I love it!!! It's super clean...moves great .but where can I find that Sorata railing and the sliders cheap?
I just bought the SBR20 1200mm and 600mm rail sets and the bearing blocks don't align like with your video, what happened? Thanks for the help.
Hi, thanks for your comment. I don't do anything special when I set up my bearing blocks. If you would like me to take a look at your set up, take a photo of it and email to acgari1@gmail.com
If I can see the problem, I will try to help you fix it.
Great stuff❤
Thank you!
Simple, efficace, merci pour le partage
Great video. I was wondering if I have the Rollers attached to a half inch piece of plexiglass do I need the support pieces around the perimeter if the router is attached also to the plexiglass
Can you post the links for all the rails and bearing blocks? Thanks
www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001631419573.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.17.26722a54peTv8h
This is the seller I ordered. I guess the price is getting expensive. You could find other sellers on the Aliexpress.com. Thanks.
I just bought a similar setup, but the holes in the upper rails do not align with the holes in the bearings riding on the lower rails. I see you have both screws in each bearing, so did yours just match up, or did you have to make some kind of mod?
I didn't modify them. I use only one screw on each bearing. Thanks!
That is Sweet!!!
Thank you!
Would you put a link where you buy this linear rails? Thanks from Argentina
www.aliexpress.com/store/group/SBR10-12-16-20-25-30-35-40-50/4997273_515245698.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.pcShopHead_49400883.1_1_6
This is the seller I ordered.
But you can find them on Amazon.com too. Just type "SBR20" on Amazon.com.
Thanks!
So many things to do with linear rails. I plan making a similar one except it will take a Sasquatch saw as well
Expensive solution for cheap machine
Great demonstration! Where would I be able to purchase this router sled?
I didn't buy that. Just did DIY. You can purchase the parts here or at amazon.com.
www.aliexpress.com/store/4997273?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.399.2c621802XncFKV
thank you for sharing, been looking at making one for myself and really like this idea!
That would be a great jig for you.
Amazing build! I admire your work! I wonder if you have considered adding a conveyor strip brush around the router base to cut down on chips?
That's a great idea. Thanks!
Looks like you have a good start, on a real nice CNC.
P.S., Suggestion: hearing protection. 😁
Thanks for your comment!
what an amazing setup
Meus parabéns ficou show
Simples e Eficiente, sem Tirar nem Por ...muito TOP !
Gracias!
Self locking Linear Rail System👍👍
There are holes on the block bearings for clamping levers.
What a very nice
Thank you so much!!
Where can i buy your tools...
@@zo-zaminterior2013 www.aliexpress.com/item/33020810063.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.9.58c92a54NcbSos
You can find them on Amazon too. I think Aliexpress is cheaper than Amazon.
Fantastic! thanks for sharing.
for all y’all in the States, I discovered that the rail base is NOT the same width as the bearing blocks which therefore will not permit a simple bolt-on connection between the two. Each of the rail bases are approx. 2 1/2 in (63.5mm) but the bearing blocks are only 40mm wide. I made four adapters to connect the vertical slides (long portion) to the cross slides using .1875in X 2.5in X 6.5in 6061 Aluminum bar stock.
This is NOT a criticism of the video. In fact, the video shows perfectly what a railed sled can do and how it works.
However, before you go gung-ho ordering parts (like I did), make sure you get the exact dimensions of everything before you order, i.e. rail-rod diameter, rail base width, rail base screw hole diameter and distance from each other, bearing block dimensions, bearing block top face screw hole dimensions and distances, etc.
Good luck, best wishes and happy routing!
Wow if I can order that and it's delivered for 135...then its well worth it.
Do the bearings get clogged with sawdust?
Nope. I just clean up the sawdust with an air gun sometimes.
Don't shove the router bit all the way down the collet. You'll have to overtighten it and it could still work loose.
Did you just buy 2 sets of liniar rails to do this setup? It looks like it could give a cnc machine a run for its money man. Awesome work! I plan on basically copying your design because I too want to make big wood/epoxy tables and that's the best router sled setup I've seen on youtube by a wide margin!
Yes, I only bought 2sets. Usually, 1 set is 2 linear rails and 4 bearing blocks.
Why don't you watch this? th-cam.com/video/zw5ExobPcCc/w-d-xo.html
You can see how I flatten a wood slab.
Where you buy those things?
¿Is it possible get same result using an electric brush?
Sorry, I don't understand about an electric brush.
Where did you get the dust attachment for the Bosch router?
It came with the GOF1600CE when I got it.
www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/dust-collection-attachments-39318-c/ Please take a look at this site.
Very nice…
Thank you so much!!!
Thank you for the video and adding the items in your description! Is it still holding up? Have you made any changes to your set up? Thanks in advance!
This is the best since I have made some jigs until now. There are not any problems. Thanks!
Brilliant
I appreciate it.^^
Coll!!! nice idea
Please write links to products ))
🙏
www.aliexpress.com/item/33020810063.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.11.63c52a54PYeal9
You can find them on Amazon, too.
nice one....have a lame ques - how did you align the screw holes on top of the blocks ? i dont think they go all the way through.
Hello nice track system, how can i get my hands on some like that?
www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001631419573.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.13.26722a54vvpXhK&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%21US%20%2499.02%21US%20%2499.02%21%21%21%21%21%40210318c916554760728178188e6352%2112000016896152972%21sh
This is the seller I ordered. But you can get these on Amazon.com. Just type SBR20.
Thanks for sharing, I have copied yours and it works really well!
How do you clean and lube those bearings? I like this sled.
I just remove sawdust by air blow gun. I didn't lube them until now. Thanks!
lot cheapen and biggest can build use aluminium profile and bearing made rails. or metall profile tube rails.
Hello! Sorry if the question has already been asked. If you use the cross rail at its maximum length, does it sag in the center under load? Sorry for the mistakes, if any, translated through Google translator. Hello from Moscow)
It depends on the router's weight, the diameter, and the length of the guide rails.
In my case, I don't feel any saggings.
Could you please make a video as to how you put together the sledge for the router. And include links as to where the things can be bought
I'm going to make a new video about how I flatten some wood slab and walnut planks.
So you can see how I put the set-up in the video. Maybe in July.^^
What do you want exactly to see the whole setting or the base of my router(how to make the base)?
www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001631419573.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.727d6c768V1wxL&algo_pvid=eeb16706-fc6c-4183-b2ce-a2a6ffbd724f&algo_exp_id=eeb16706-fc6c-4183-b2ce-a2a6ffbd724f-21
You can find them(SBR20, SBR20UU) on Amazon.com. But aliexpress.com is much cheaper than others.
From where did you by the router bits?
www.aliexpress.com/item/4000070506541.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.21ef1802jIlHal Thanks!
What brand of linear rails did you use for this simple and accurate setup?
I am not sure what brand it is but this is the seller I ordered.
www.aliexpress.com/store/4997273?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000061.1.6dd19955y0agjX
How many hp this router Mr
Doesnt dust get into the bearings of the slides. And if yes...is it harmfull ?
Well, I don't have any problems yet. It would be best to put on a mask when you are routing. Thanks!
@@makefurniture1 I meant harmful for the sled 😅. But thanks gonna use this system 🙌
It looks great but have no idea what or how you did it. Help out us beginners with explanation of what and how you did it.
th-cam.com/video/zw5ExobPcCc/w-d-xo.html
This might help you. Thanks.
Excelente idea, gracias por compartirla.
Muchas gracias!
Very awesome setup. I made mine from plywood and I used 2 long metal rulers from Harbour Freights. But I like your setup better.
Do you have any links for the metal parts? Im lookin thru Amazon and cant find what you have there. Please
Thanks.
www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001631419573.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.3.26722a549qStkZ&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%21US%20%2499.02%21US%20%2499.02%21%21%21%21%21%402101d91e16583273051392076e812d%2112000016896152972%21sh
This is the seller I ordered. But you can find them on Amazon.com too.
Just type SBR20 on Amazon. Thanks!
The linears are great to use, however...... I would have those bearings on the long rails permanent so you are not playing "find the tiny ball bearing" everytime you put it on.....
Where did you get the tubing/bearings?
www.aliexpress.com/store/group/SBR10-12-16-20-25-30-35-40-50/4997273_515245698.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.pcShopHead_49400883.1_1_6
You can find them on Amazon.com too. Thanks!
Grande ideia ! Parabéns.
How many screws do you have holding the rails to the guide blocks? It looks like you only have one in each guide block is that correct?
You are right. I think it's enough, no problems. If you want more screws, you can make only one new hole on the rail per each guide block. Thanks.
Where did you buy them ? Please share
www.aliexpress.com/store/4997273?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.369.16151802qsLayv
You can find them on Amazon.com too. Thanks!
Does it lock in place so I can do dados
It may be possible. But I don't recommend using this for making dados. Thanks!