Hey everyone! A while back, I worked in a metal production shop where we used this awesome tool that would magnet to the top of tables and had an arm to keep an air drill perfectly aligned at a 90-degree angle for tapping mounting holes. I'm wondering if there's a similar setup available for a router. My goal is to flatten large wood slabs that wouldn't fit in a planer. I initially thought about creating a track system for a sled on my workbench, but then that drill-arm tool popped back into my mind, and I had a lightbulb moment! Any suggestions?
3 Answers
There are some DIY designs and kits out there for 'slab flattening jigs' or 'router sleds' that you can use with a standard router. These usually sit on the workbench instead of hanging off an arm. Check out this kit from Lee Valley and also Woodpeckers' milling tools if you're willing to splurge. There’s tons of info online about easy setups for this. Just search for router sleds!
I’m not exactly sure about the drill-arm tool you mentioned, but it sounds like it could be a swiveling arm that keeps the drill at 90 degrees, right? Making something like that work should be doable if you're handy. However, for a router-flattening tool based on that concept, you'd need it to adjust height and maintain the angle as it moves. That gets pretty complicated, kinda like a CNC setup. But, honestly, a simpler arm setup could have issues maintaining the height and angle given the router's weight. A sled and rail system for your slabs is probably your best bet instead!
Honestly, I’d suggest just using standard hand planes. They’ll help you learn sharpening and maintenance skills, plus they’re often quieter and create less dust compared to power tools. You could check out some videos on flattening with hand planes—they might surprise you with how effective they are!