Planer sled questions

I’ve seen a guy’s web site that has the answers you seek.

Actually it is Phil Thein, who developed the Thein separator.

http://www.jpthien.com/ps.htm

Here’s another couple of ideas for accomplishing the same result without a sled.

http://woodgears.ca/shop-tricks/flattening.html

http://woodgears.ca/jointer/wide_boards.html

I’ve done two very simple things for my sled which is just a base of two 3/4 inch pieces of MDF glued together. I have used small wedges that I slide in several places along the length of both sides of the board with carpet tape on the bottom to hold them in place. Then I started just putting the board I was planing on the sled and putting hot glue under it in any high places to hold it to the sled and keep it in place. The hot glue just pops off once you have one side flat. Thien has a good suggestion on his website for using glue. Both of these ways worked just fine. There’s no need to do anything overly complicated. I didn’t bother because I barely get enough shop time as it is so didn’t want to spend too much time building something too elaborate. PMcustom’s that you linked to is impressive! Here’s another idea from fine woodworking (I just checked and was able to view the video without signing in but I had to sign in to view the article):

https://www.finewoodworking.com/workshop/video/a-planer-sled-for-milling-lumber.aspx