Router Table Plate?

[RJD2]

I am currently working on building a mobile base for my BT3100, and will be incorporating a router table into it to save some shop space. A Bosch 1617 will be mounted in the table, and I need some opinions on what plate to ultimately purchase. Aluminum instead of a Phenolic version would probably be the best in the long run.

[Knottscott]

I've never tried an aluminum plate, though I've heard they're louder. I've got a phenolic from Hartville Tool that I'm very happy with.

[bigsteel15]

I bought the Jessem Mast-R-Plate.
My reasoning for this is that I intended also to buy the Rout-R-Lift.
they fit in the same size cut-out.
I'm mounting my big Triton on the plate and can use the lift to swap any of the other routers I have that fit it, including the Bosch and PC 690.

I would definitely look at Phenolic for sure, but don't skimp on the quality of this item.
Or uyou could make one if you don't intend to change out anything.

[drumpriest]

Router-R-Lift FX, works with the Bosch, and keeps your fixed base out for dovetail use. Very nice lift.

[lcm1947]

I too have a JessEm Rout R Lift FX and although this is the only one I ever had I couldn't be happier with it. It was like $189.00 at Woodcrafters but well worth it to me. It is so simple to setup and use and adjust I could never be without a lift no matter what. The model I have is the 02302 which will take the PC 690's and 890 series plus the Bosch 1617 & 1618 and even the DeWalt 610, 616 and 618 series. The Model 02303 will take the Makita 1101's and the Model 02304 will take the Milwaukee 5615, 5616 and 5619 series routers. So one for everybody.

[RJD2]

A router lift would be nice, but I really can't justify the expense at this time. Rockler has aluminum plates starting at approximately $50 that comes with two inserts as well as mounting holes pre-drilled for my router. I will install my fixed base in the table, and utilize my plunge base for handheld work. Has anyone had any experience with Rockler's plates? http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1385

[drumpriest]

You can often get the Rockler version of the lift for 150$. The regular plates are all right too, just a pain to level with a table.

[bigsteel15]

Here is a good deal, I would think.
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=22229

[LarryG]

Two questions, the second being somewhat dependent on the first:

1. Do you have the Bosch fixed base that allows above-table height adjustments?

2. Have you considered mounting the router with no plate at all?

I'm building an extension wing with a router mount for my BT; this photo shows a portion of the wing in prototype form. It uses a Bosch 1617 fixed base mounted without any kind of plate or lift:

The top panel of the prototype's wing is 1/2" MDF; the final version will be 1/2" Baltic birch plywood covered with plastic laminate. (There is a stiffening rib structure underneath to allow the top to be only 1/2" thick, without sagging.) The router's plastic subbase is set into a ~1/4" deep recess in the top. Under the black plastic plate is a ~2-1/2" thru-hole in the middle for bit clearance; this leaves a 1/4" thick lip of MDF that's about 1-3/4" wide all around. The router's fixed base casting simply fits tight against the underside of this lip, and the four machine screws hold the resulting sandwich together. With this setup, I actually lose less bit travel than if the same router was mounted to the BT's accessory table, using the mounting plate from the accessory kit.

Bit changes are handled by ducking under the table and dropping the motor cylinder out of the base. When the motor goes back in, the bit height is set to roughly the right place and then fine-tuned from up top. That's why I asked if you have the newer version of the Bosch base that allows above-table height adjustments ... although the bit height could be set entirely from underneath, the top-side adjuster makes the process easier.

I should mention that I have a separate, standalone unit for my primary router table, complete with a Rockler/JessEm Mast-R-Lift. But I have been using the BT's accessory table as a secondary router station for simple stuff like roundovers, and eventually realized I was using it enough to justify building something larger and nicer. My first impulse was to design the extension wing to use a drop-in plate, but the more I thought about it, the more I asked myself, "Why? What would that gain?" In the end I decided it would gain nothing of significance, and cooked up this approach instead.

Something to consider, maybe?

[RJD2]

Larry, I don't have the fixed base that has above table height adjustments. Lee Valley sells a unique system that might be worth considering.http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,43000,51208

[LarryG]

Lee Valley sells a unique system that might be worth considering.

I've seen that base plate before, but thought it could only be used with an LV table top. Reading more closely, I guess that's not the case: you can build your own.

The claimed benefits seem sound, although I don't understand this one: "The base is perfectly centered on the bit and, therefore, on any guide bushing, making all of your routing more accurate." The LV base plate appears to replace a router's stock piece, so I don't see how bit centering accuracy would be any different.

It also appears to use a proprietary guide bushing size: 1-1/2" vs the 1-3/16" of the defacto-standard Porter-Cable style bushings.

Those things said, and now realizing this can be used with a homebuilt table, I'd say this looks like a viable alternative at an attactive price.

[bigsteel15]

Larry, I don't have the fixed base that has above table height adjustments. Lee Valley sells a unique system that might be worth considering.http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,43000,51208

I was looking for that earlier.
Note that if you screw up drilling the holes, they'll give you another plate.

[brooks]

Whoa - this idea rocks! Figure Lee Valley would come up with something creative.

Thanks for the tip!

[91FE]

OK...I'll bite

Larry, I don't have the fixed base that has above table height adjustments. Lee Valley sells a unique system that might be worth considering.http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,43000,51208

How hard is it gonna be to cut that circle just right? Am I missing something?

[bigsteel15]

How hard is it gonna be to cut that circle just right? Am I missing something?

I think you are missing something.

"With the included hardware (positioning template, trammel bar, alignment pin, 82° countersink bit, and centering disc), you drill the base plate to match your router base. This is easy; but if you make an error, we will give you another base plate free of charge. Instructions for making a matching table top are also included. In minutes you can rout both the hole and support ledge."
I think the key item is the trammel bar for making the circle.