Router Sled Information | Wood Grain Junkie

Trim Router Sled Kit

Flatten boards using your compact router and this DIY sled kit

First Ever Compact Trim Router Sled!

Flatten edge grain and end grain cutting boards, charcuterie boards and small to medium size table tops with this compact router sled kit made specifically for the most popular palm routers, like DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch, Ridgid and Ryobi.

What’s Included in Each Kit

Starter Kit

This kit offers the acrylic parts and hardware needed to assemble the linear ball bearing blocks and the linear motion rod clamps (not included in this kit). This is the most affordable and versatile option as it gives you the flexibility to purchase your own linear ball bearings, clamps and rails. Just note, this kit will only work with 16mm parts. See recommended part numbers in the FAQ section below.

Starter Kit Includes:

1x - 3/8” Cast Acrylic Router Plate
2x - 1/4” Cast Acrylic Hardware Mounting Plates
2x - 4” Handle Grips
Screws and nuts needed to attach bearings and clamps
Loctite 242

Essentials Kit

This kit offers the essential acrylic parts and hardware to assemble four linear ball bearing blocks and four linear motion rod clamps. This is the most complete, but versatile option as it gives you the flexibility to purchase your own rails at the length that’s right for your shop size. Just note, this kit will only work with 16mm parts. See recommended part numbers in the FAQ section below.

Essentials Kit Includes:

1x - 3/8” Cast Acrylic Router Plate
2x - 1/4” Cast Acrylic Hardware Mounting Plates
2x - 4” Handle Grips
4x - SCS16UU Linear Ball Bearing Blocks
4x - SK16 Linear Motion Rod Clamps
Screws and nuts needed to attach bearings and clamps
Loctite 242

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Rails and Rods Needed to Complete your Sled

These are additional items you’ll need in order to complete your trim router sled. We are a small business with limited space, therefore cannot house large quantities of inventory for all the various sizes and lengths. The upside is you have the flexibility to purchase these items in virtually any length that fits your needs—as long as the diameter is 16mm. These items can be easily acquired from Amazon or other suppliers. We’ve included links to get you started, but we encourage you to shop around for the best deals and availability. We hope to one day stock ALL the necessary parts so you can select your complete trim router sled directly from the Wood Grain Junkie store.

SBR16 Rail & Bearing Set

Typically, these rails and bearing blocks come in a set. To complete your router sled setup it should include 2x SBR16 linear motion rails and 4x SBR16UU linear bearing slide blocks. Purchase the length that suits your needs.

16mm Linear Motion Rod

These are the 16mm rods or shafts that go through the SCS16UU bearings on your acrylic router plate and attach to the SK16 rail clamps (if you purchased the Essentials Kit). Purchase your desired length as long as they are 16mm.

Cut Capacity Consideration

When choosing the length of your rails and rods, make sure to add 4 inches to each end of your true cut capacity. As an example, if you’d like to flatten boards that are 24”x 12”, purchase rails that are 32 inches long and rods that are 20 inches long. This will allow your sled to slide the extra 4 inches needed on all ends. This is assuming a 1-1/4” diameter cutterhead.

16mm Shaft Collar (Optional)

These 16mm Shaft Collars are also referred to as stop collars and help keep your linear motion bearings (and sled) from falling off its rails.

Surfacing Bit

This is just one of many surfacing bits available and I can’t possibly list them all. This is the one I use and have personally tested, which is the Amana Tool RC-2245.

Another option customers have used is the SpeTool surfacing bit. This seems to be a more affordable option.

When selecting your surfacing bit make sure you’re buying one with a max diameter of 1-1/4”. That is the largest diameter the base plates will accommodate.

FAQs

Why don’t you sell full router sleds?

The focus from the beginning was to provide a simple solution for woodworkers and DIYers who need a router sled, but don’t have a full size router or a large budget. The simplest solution was to provide a router sled kit that provides customers the flexibility to purchase virtually any length sled that will fit their needs. We sell the essential parts to fit your trim/palm router, and depending on the kit you purchase, may include essential linear bearings and clamps to get you started.

If I buy the Starter Kit, what do I need to buy to complete my sled?

Here’s a shopping list (with links) of items you’ll need if you decide to purchase the Starter Kit:

SK16 4pk Linear Motion Rail Clamps
SCS16UU 4pk Linear Motion Ball Bearings
16mm 2pk Linear Motion Rods (your desired length)
SBR16 2pk Linear Motion Rails with 4 SBR16UU Linear Bearing Slide Blocks (your desired length)

If I buy the Essentials Kit, what do I need to buy to complete my sled?

Here’s a shopping list (with links) of items you’ll need if you decide to purchase the Essentials Kit:

16mm 2pk Linear Motion Rods (your desired length)
SBR16 2pk Linear Motion Rails with 4 SBR16UU Linear Bearing Slide Blocks (your desired length)

Can I buy from any supplier or do I need to purchase using the links you provide?

The links provided are recommendations. I suggest shopping around especially since we have no control over their inventory. The biggest thing to keep in mind are the model numbers (i.e. SK16, SCS16UU…) and not confuse them with other model numbers since they reflect the diameter of the linear motion rails. These router sled kits are for 16mm rails.