Router sled as a planer - what bit?

[Phil_S]

I'm trying hard to take in all this good advice. On one hand, I like the convenience of having what I need here at home so I can do what I want when I want it. On the other hand, there is this: http://www.stationnorthtoollibrary.org/our-facility/ where basically there is everything I need for dirt cheap as long as there is availability that meshes with my schedule.

The one friend I had with a very complete shop moved to Santa Fe a couple of years ago. He packed up the shop, including the table saw, and moved all of it into a POD that was shipped to Santa Fe. Otherwise, I have the wrong friends for this.

The sled is not elegant and not functional at the moment. When I have it up again, I'll try to remember to post pictures [1].

See if you can picture this setup:
-I leveled the outdoor work table with the sled, so the surface is good. See additional comment below.
-I made a base from an old MDF bookshelf that has some sort of wood-look plastic surface. It is about 30" x 10". The router is mounted dead center.
-The 30" edges of the router have a rabbet carved into both the top and bottom sides to thin out the edges to about 3/8". This allows me to mount bookshelf wall brackets to the edges. These fit very tightly, flush to the bottom surface, and extend the length to about 6'. With the "U" shape pointing sideways, there is near zero flex. It is very stiff. This is key to allowing the router adequate lateral movement without concern about going off the rails and allows travel all the way to the rails. In practice, it is unnecessary to go all the way to the rails as the work piece is held by wedges that keep it away from the rails. About double the width plus a bit more of the distance between the rails is needed on the router base to assure that it doesn't fall off into the work piece.
-I mount two long timbers that are about 2" x 2" x 6' to the work table with screws These are the rails. (When I leveled the table, I mounted the rails on the table edges, making the whole table in play for planing, with some scrap between the rails and the table to preserve the rails.)

There are many different takes on the router sled on youtube. Mine is not nearly as elegant as any of those. That is because the guys who show them on youtube all seem to own all sorts of power equipment. These shop tools will allow a person to build almost anything. Typically, they want to plane something big like a table top. This is one of my favorites. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05pV9LjR06Y but look at all the stuff he has already that lets him get this done.

[1] Actually, the router is presently attached to the MDF base. I'll see if I can attach the bookshelf brackets and then take it out to the table for some mock up pictures, maybe on Monday if time/weather permits. It is too late to do it today.

[Phil_S]

Router table aint got to be no expense. Make a baseplate out of some 3/8 inch cut an inset into some 3/4 . and let it hang . then you can pull it out and use the router for free hand stuff

I've been thinking about doing this. It just might happen. It involves cutting up my work table. I have fear of getting it wrong and being left with a gaping hole and compromised strength. I need to figure out the jig for controlling the cut for the inset and for making the inset.

Edit: I did not understand this at first. I think you are saying I can just clamp the thing to the edge of the work table and let it hand in free air. All I need to do is make a plate to set the router into a cutout in the plywood. This is a great idea. I don't need to mess with my work table. If I have concerns about hanging in free air, I can attach a couple of 2x4's as outer legs. It'll work great. Almost as cheap as dirt!

[cbass]

what i meant is you can let the router hang by the base plate and still be able to pull it ut to use for freehand routing.
I dont have it anymore but i had a mobile router table that I made thta had legs on one side on hinges that folded up. then i could clamp the other side to a solid object like a table saw or work bench.
If theres any jobsites near you. you might hit the framers up for scrap pieces of advantech.the stuff used for subfloor. it stays really flat and resists moisture.