router table for occasional use? which

[gychang]

I just ordered the Hitachi router, just a beginner and the weekend warrier, plan to build a speaker.

I see a need for "cost -effective" router table, any suggestions?, not into building one unless is super simple.

thanks,

gychang

[JR]

Do you have a BT3K? It's got a router table built in, which is a great way to get started.

JR

[LCHIEN]

Rockler has a benchtop one, runs about $100-120 for table and fence and all stuff you need. Nicely finished. A good starter unit.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

See the bargin alerts section of this site for current deals on Bosch and Bench Dog router tables. Both are excellent and can be had for great prices right now.

As far as building one yourself, drill a hole in your workbench, screw your router in on the underside. Take a straight board and clamp it down for a fence. You have a router table with a huge, stable table and it didn';t cost you a penny.

[gychang]

See the bargin alerts section of this site for current deals on Bosch and Bench Dog router tables. Both are excellent and can be had for great prices right now.

As far as building one yourself, drill a hole in your workbench, screw your router in on the underside. Take a straight board and clamp it down for a fence. You have a router table with a huge, stable table and it didn';t cost you a penny.

You are giving me some great ideas, thanks. I appreciate it very much.

gychang

[LarryG]

The April 2005 issue of Popular Woodworking (that long ago?!? wow!) ...

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/st...edate=4/1/2005

... had a very nice design for a portable router table that can be clamped into a vise, B&D Workmate, or whatever. Of the many designs I have seen for something nicer than a board with a hole in it (NTTAWWT) but not as elaborate as a full-speed-ahead router station, I thought this particular one striked the best balance between features and simplicity. If I didn't have a homemade extension wing on my BT3100, I'd build one to use as my secondary router table.

ETA: As the magazine cover photo shows, this design does use an insert plate, but it could be simplified, and built less expensively, by using the same hole-in-board approach that Jeffrey mentions.

[gychang]

The April 2005 issue of Popular Woodworking (that long ago?!? wow!) ...

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/st...edate=4/1/2005

... had a very nice design for a portable router table that can be clamped into a vise, B&D Workmate, or whatever. Of the many designs I have seen for something nicer than a board with a hole in it (NTTAWWT) but not as elaborate as a full-speed-ahead router station, I thought this particular one striked the best balance between features and simplicity.

thanks, I was able to download the pdf file and will take a close look.

gychang

[Brian G]

I used the PopWood article as a guide to make mine. I needed something with a larger table than what the BT3 offers, but I wasn't ready to dedicate the time or material to a "real" router table. It's all made from scrap or recycled material. The laminated particle board top is from a cutout for a sink.

I routed about a 3/8" circle to accomodate the router base, marked the holes to attache the base to the router table, then chucked in a bit and plunged a hole.

In the long run, a dedicated table would be more handy, because it still takes up the same footprint. Plus, it's heavy. It works great, though.

[cwsmith]

I got linked up to the Woodworking channel a few weeks ago (www.thewoodworkingchannel.com) and noticed the rather simple set-up they use on the "The Router Workshop". Surely the commercially available tables have some great features; but, with the exception of the guards, is it really a necessity to start out with these other features like the fancier fences, miter slots, etc.? (Real novice question!)

Thanks,

CWS

[Anna]

thanks, I was able to download the pdf file and will take a close look.

gychang

Hi,

Where did you get the pdf file? Did you have to purchase it? I'm also interested in this design, but I can't find a free download of the plan/article if it's available.

Thanks,
Anna

[JBD]

I just ordered the Hitachi router, just a beginner and the weekend warrier, plan to build a speaker.

I see a need for "cost -effective" router table, any suggestions?, not into building one unless is super simple.

thanks,

gychang

I highly recommend getting the book "Woodworking with the Router" by Bill Hylton, 2006 revision.
There is a Po' Boy RT design thats very easy to build and cant be more "cost - effective". Its similar to the Rockler benchtop version; scaled down a bit.
BUT, the main advantage is that you will have the book! This has to be one of the best sources of info on the router I have ever seen.
Absolutely a must have book!

[LarryG]

+1 (in fact, make that +1,000,000) on the "Woodworking With The Router" recommendation. I'm probably a bit biased since the router is my favorite tool in my shop, but even so, this is the single best, single most-useful title on my woodworking library shelf.

Simple tables like the Rosendahls use are perfectly adequate. There are times when the stick-type fences they use will fall a little short, but otherwise their tables are sound. You don't need a miter slot on any table, and you don't need fence tracks like on the Pop Woodworking table if you make the fence long enough to simply clamp into the table at its ends, ala the Rosendahls.

[LYU370]

Head over here: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/fe...cts_signup.asp

Just register and you have access to quite a few free plans. In the workshop area they have plans for two router tables, one a benchtop, and the second fits on a workmate.

[gychang]

Head over here: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/fe...cts_signup.asp

Just register and you have access to quite a few free plans. In the workshop area they have plans for two router tables, one a benchtop, and the second fits on a workmate.

thanks for all suggestions, I will be looking at them carefully.

gychang

[JimD]

A good cheap top can be made from a sink cutout. I do not often see them in stores although I bought a couple there. When a kitchen countertop of laminate is installed, the portion where the sink will go is often thrown away. It is high density particle board with laminate already glued to it. I put maple around mine to dress it up a little and protect the edge - after squaring it up - but this would give you a key portion of a router table for little or nothing if you can locate one.

Jim