Lockable Bearing Upgrade Kit For Router Sled

We introduced this upgrade kit after our customers requested to be able to lock the X or Y axis on the router sled to make straight cuts and grooves. While not everyone will utilize this feature, if you want to route straight grooves in your workpiece (with a variety of router bits available) then this is the way to upgrade your sled to do it!

This kit includes a total of 4 linear bearing blocks with removable locking handles. Two of the bearings are 20mm open, two are 20mm closed. These are designed to replace 4 of the 8 total linear block bearings in the Crafted Elements router sled system.

We often get asked, why not make all 8 bearing blocks lockable? There are two reasons:

1. It's overkill. Locking two bearings of the four per axis does a sufficient job of holding the sled in place.

2. The lockable bearings are roughly 1/2" longer than the standard non-locking bearings. With the locking handle only on one side of the block it would result in bearings protruding past the router base plate (or cross bar mounts) thereby reducing your maximum slab leveling ability by ~1/2" per axis.

See the photo attached that shows the linear bearing blocks highlighted in red that these lockable bearings are meant to replace.

When used in conjunction with the C-stops (C-clamps) included with each Crafted Elements router sled, you also have the ability to router out juice grooves in cutting boards, and do other decorative router work. Simply lock one axis (X or Y) then set your C-stops where you want your router to stop.