The Router Table: How We Flatten Slabs Too Big for the Planer

Not everything that comes out of a tree fits through a planer. Some of the best pieces we get, the wide slabs and the big round cookies, are simply too big. So we've got a router table for them.

What It's For

The router table is for oversized slabs and cookies that are too big for the planer. We use it to flatten them to a consistent thickness, so you get a piece that's flat and even all the way across, not one that's thick in one corner and thin in another.

How It Works

The router runs on a sledge that sits on bearings. It travels across the slab and takes the surface down evenly, pass after pass, until the whole piece is level.

What We Used Before

We used to use a home-made one, built out of wood. It did the job, but it had no dust extraction of any kind, so it was a lot messier. This one is a big step up, and it's cleaner to work with too.

Why Level Matters

When you're flattening a slab, the thing that matters most isn't getting it to some exact number. It's that the finished piece is level all over. That's what counts when it's time to install it, whether it's going on as a bar top, a worktop or a table. A slab that's even across its whole surface sits properly and looks right.

What It Means When You Buy From Us

If you're after a big slab or a cookie and you want it flattened before it leaves the yard, get in touch and tell us what you're planning. We'll let you know what's possible for the piece you're looking at.