You who are saying 1/4" plywood will withstand toggle clamp force. Have you checked your base straightness after clamping a piece down? My old coping sled was 1/2" mdf and it couldn't take the slightest toggle clamp force without bending.
Is this router coping sled design OK ?
I watched this video (and many others) and this seemed reasonable and easy so I thought I would build it.
In the below picture, highlighted in blue is my base which is 1/4" thick, three layers, birch plywood (relatively flat)
On top of it I have an 11 layers piece of Baltic Pywood (3/4") and two Bessey STC HH70 toggle clamps . The clamps are an overkill for this sled but they are there on a temporary basis I can remove them and use them where I need (they are installed using insert screws)
To me this design has a flaw and that is that if you are using a thin base (to avoid having to lift the bit too much) the clamps will push the base downward and the base will bend or the base will be pushed upward putting pressure on the screws that connect the base of the sled (blue) to the base of the clamps (purple)
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Should the base be much thicker ? I did try to adjust the pressure the clamps put on the piece of wood in order to avoid the base bending but it ends up with the wood that you are routing getting lose
My sled is longer but that is because later I plan to get it up to this design
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On top of it I have an 11 layers piece of Baltic Pywood (3/4") and two Bessey STC HH70 toggle clamps . The clamps are an overkill for this sled but they are there on a temporary basis I can remove them and use them where I need (they are installed using insert screws)
To me this design has a flaw and that is that if you are using a thin base (to avoid having to lift the bit too much) the clamps will push the base downward and the base will bend or the base will be pushed upward putting pressure on the screws that connect the base of the sled (blue) to the base of the clamps (purple)
Should the base be much thicker ? I did try to adjust the pressure the clamps put on the piece of wood in order to avoid the base bending but it ends up with the wood that you are routing getting lose
My sled is longer but that is because later I plan to get it up to this design
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From what I am reading you are referring to an extension that ends with chuck like end not with a collet
Is that different ?
I am considering this one but I am now worried that 3 1/4" is way more than I need and I won't be able to sink the router under the table deep enough
so if I go with 1/2"or 3/4" base for the sled I would need at most that much to extend the current bit
I am going to try 1/4" MDF first to see if that removes the bending I am seeing
Have you ever had any issues with not being able to raise the bits high enough because of the 1/4"base ?
Is that different ?
I am considering this one but I am now worried that 3 1/4" is way more than I need and I won't be able to sink the router under the table deep enough
Wolfride 1/2-Inch Shank Router Bit Collet Extension Collet Extender for 1/2-inch Shank Bits : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement
Wolfride 1/2-Inch Shank Router Bit Collet Extension Collet Extender for 1/2-inch Shank Bits : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement
www.amazon.ca
so if I go with 1/2"or 3/4" base for the sled I would need at most that much to extend the current bit
I am going to try 1/4" MDF first to see if that removes the bending I am seeing
Have you ever had any issues with not being able to raise the bits high enough because of the 1/4"base ?
Well he quoted an article showing that bending is a problem for most of these jigs when clamps are used
I am having the same problem so I think you are doing something special not the rest of us
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