Router Table Help

[Clark]

Any recommendation on a router table top and source would be a help. Santa brought a Dewalt 621. It will have to do double duty as a hand held and table mount. Thanks

[MadMark]

Rockler catalog is full of such things. ORder their catalog thru my web page and I'll make 50¢. Visit: http://www.netexperts.cc/~lambertm/Wood/wood.html

M

[sheldon]

the rockler table is a fine beginner's table; just like a sears (ryobi) router is attractive to a beginner.

the problem with both is that after you them for a while, you wish that you had bought better quatity stuff.
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[Glen]

I'm brain cramped right now for a source but you'll end up with a better 'table' if you research for some plans and build it yourself. Two major considerations I'd look for is a split fence arrangment and dust control. I would also recommned incorporating a prefab insert that has various sized knock outs to encorporate differant sized bits (source: Rockler, woodworkers warehouse). And give yourself plenty of surface/table area, something those lil pieces of (^%^ tables don't give you.
Another thing about those little tables is that when you put that sucker on your bench its not at optimum working height.
One other very nice feature to add is a stripped down base you can leave mounted to the table. Just remove the body/motor and place it in a hand held base and voila.

[Glen]

Something I said?

[Steven Sugg]

DeWalt actually has a plan for a nice table on their web site. It seems to have lots of expandability. I, too, have been looking at tables for awhile and I think I've decided to build. I'm either going with this one or one I saw on www.diynet.com ( can't remember the exact link ).

Hope this helps.

[Glen]

If you intend to build a table. Consider using counter top stock.
the laminate makes for nice flat, smooth, resistance free surface.
One I built sometime ago was with counter stock. I did double the underside with MDF leaving a 'cutout' for the router base. Also used a router plate ( from rockler I think). Reason for doubling up the thikness was because I ran a T slot the length of the table to accomadate the miter from the T.S Also if your handy with wiring mount a switch thats easy to reach on the outside.
Please do still unplug when bit changing.

[Ski]

Finished my router table about a month ago. I used the plans from Jointech and bought the table top from Woodpeckers with the Incra Ultra Lite system. I couldn't be happier with the results of both the table and the Incra. www.jointech.com has pictures of the table design and www.woodpeck.com has the table tops. Check them out, hope this helps.
Ski

[Jon]

I had a limited budget and still do, so my choice of router table had to be incorporated into my budget. Therein, I chose to mount my router into my workbench (a 4x4 frame, topped with a solid core hardwood door, with tempered hardboard as a top sheet). My router table top is 7 ft. long and 3ft deep. Works extremely well. IF YOU ARE LIMITED IN FUNDS, this is a great way to go...plus, everyone needs a work bench.

[ROBERT]

Shopmade is the way to go. In my opinion, the only way to go. You'll need to order just a few things: a good "insert" (I use exclusively Rousseau 3509 with snap-out rings) and a metal miter bar channel and/or guide.

A split fence is easy enough to build, just use good quality hardwood stock -- same holds for featherboards.

You'll probably want to run a 12 g wire in your box or to you table, and that way you can switch the vac and the router from exterior or from a convenient location. I've got mine wired so that a pigtail runs off to a circuit that stays hot (unswitched for a lamp), and two circuits to a duplex 20 amp switch, one for the router ending in a single plug inside the box, and one flush mounted on the exterior of the the box for the vac.

The tops are doubled MDF with plastic laminate, piano hinged for easy access (an old screen door piston works great to hold the top up let it down gently).

IMPORTANT: do not totally enclose the router. Universal motors require ventilation to run at optimum level, and having a well vented "box" is crucial to prolonging the life of the tool.

[burt]

Check www.leevalley.com for the veritas router table. They are a 3/16 " steel top and by far the best that I have used.

[Dick]

I bought a Craftsman "Professional" router table with stand a few years ago for 89$American. It's worth $89 Canadian(no slight intended).For the light use I give it, it works well. As I grow into this great hobby, I'm going to need more and better. The big formica counter top types are very appealing. I like large work surfaces.

[John]

I decided to build my own, but after locating the $100 worth of T-trac, knobs, bolts, plates, rings, etc, I decided the Rockler table top was a much easier way to go. You can get the table, fence, and an accessory pack for $130 bucks, build a simple 2x4 frame, and you're on your way. It's sturdy enough to hold my PC 7539 (25 lbs.) with no problem.

J

[Pastor Paul]

PlansNow.com has a good set of plans for a router table. Also, today one of my church members showed me a set of plans from the April 1995 issue of American Woodworker magazine. That one has storage space the PlansNow.com doesn't provide.