The growing popularity in the live edge slab table top that feature winding grains, eye-catching burls and even epoxy inlays offer some major challenges in the workshop. Overall width and tricky grain changes make the use of a jointer and thickness planer impractical if not impossible. You can use a belt sander and you will eventually end up with something that is somewhat smooth, but not even close to flat, and who wants a table that isn’t flat?
The Woodpeckers Extended Slab Flattening Mill (along with your router) lets you accurately and easily flatten oddly shaped and oversized slabs right in your own shop. Since you’re using a router instead of a planer-style cutter-head, tear-out is reduced and the surface will only need lighter sanding afterwards.
Woodpeckers Extended Slab Flattening Mill can be mounted to any flat and level work surface in just a few minutes, even to a simple sheet of MDF. The Extended Slab Flattening Mill adds an additional pair of 72" (1829mm) rails that can either replace the cross rails to increase width, or connect with the base rails to extend length. The capacity grows to either 62” x 105” (1594mm x 2654mm) or 38” x 129” (984mm x 3264mm). You can always mount the rails closer together when it suits your project. See the chart in the photos for a guide to all the maximum size configurations.
Using the Slab Flattening Mill is as easy as sliding your router across the slab and back, moving over a little less than the width of your cutter and repeating until you’re done. It comes with all the hardware you need to mount it to your workbench or a sheet of plywood. You’ll also get 4 Slab Clamping Dogs that keep the workpiece firmly in place.
The Slab Flattening Mill works best with a router of 2-1/4 HP or larger. You’ll get done in less time if you stick to larger diameter spoil board style bits.
So if you’ve been holding off tackling a live edge slab project because of all the challenges, you just ran out of excuses.
Compatible Routers
- Bosch 1617EVS (Fixed Base Only)
- Bosch MRC23EVSK
- Dewalt 621
- Dewalt 625
- Festool OF1400
- Festool OF2200
- Makita RF1101
- Triton TRA001
- Triton MOF001
- Trend T10
- Trend T11
Plywood and Router not included, image shown is for illustrative purposes only.