Routing small parts always presents a bit of a tricky situation. There’s rarely a good way to hold the workpiece for the cut that doesn’t leave your fingers uncomfortably close to the bit. But, that doesn’t mean the router is any less useful on small parts than big ones — which is where this sled comes in.
A pair of sliding blocks adjust to the width or length of the workpiece. A toggle clamp then secures it.
The sled starts with a hardboard base. A fence is glued along the back edge and a toggle clamp is attached to it, allowing me to quickly and easily secure the part for a cut. Sliding blocks are attached to the base by threaded knobs which run through slots, allowing them to be adjusted to the size of your workpiece.
The sled can be used with bearing bits (like the slot cutter you see above) or with the fence in place to register the workpiece. In either case, the added size of the sled will keep your fingers well away from the action, and allow you greater control over your cut. -Phil Huber Urbandale, Iowa
