I needed to trim the ends of a 300-lb., 4-in.-thick oak workbench top. A circular saw wouldn’t handle the thickness and pushing the heavy workpiece across my bandsaw would be dangerous. So I decided to set up two parallel rails and use a router across the end to trim it level.

I started by penciling a trim line around the end of the workpiece. To make the idea work, I needed to attach two rails to the outside edges of the workpiece that were parallel to the layout line and each other. The rails needed to be offset horizontally as well as vertically, and on opposite sides of the workpiece. I accomplished this using two Lee Valley Precision Machinist Squares. I put both heads on one rule, lining up one head with the layout line and the other with the desired fence height. This created a clear reference for setting the rail’s height. Repeating this offset at each end of the rail gave me perfect parallel alignment at the right offset. With an auxiliary base attached to the router, it was then easy to flatten the end of the workbench in small, incremental passes.

Drawing: Jim Richey

Jim Richey

None

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

WoodRiver Router Bit Storage Case

Molded from high impact clear ABS, this WoodRiver case provides a strong storage solution to keep your router bits safe and dry.

Buy at Amazon

Woodriver Rechargeable Desiccant Bag

Placed in a drawer, cabinet or closet, the bag immediately begins to absorb moisture from the air, which reduces corrosion.

Buy at Woodcraft