Bt3000 Router Table ?

[conwaygolfer]

I set up my BT3000 using the guidelines shown by Rod Kirby (I think). It has the torsion box and two seperate boxes. My question is: Is it okay to mount my router into the table top about 2-3 ft. away from the saw blade? Originally I was going to make a stand alone router table. Then I got to thinking, why not use what I already have? Since I would be between the rails, my fence would be either to the right or to the left. So I would have to make a new fence that would be behind my bits. This would involve cutting some slots into the table top, etc. I am not sure this is such a good idea? I made the top out of 3/4in. birch plywood. In the center of the table I doubled up for strength and ridgidity. Any thoughts on what would be the best route? You may notice on the outfeed table, a large piece of wood. Yesterday I cut and planed 2 2x12s and glued them together for my router table top. They are 3 ft. long. I guess I am rethinking the whole thing. Thanks,
Glenn

[steve-norrell]

Whoa! All that space. But I digress in a fit of jealousy.

You don't say if you are going to use a router lift of any kind or even a router mounted in a plunge base. If these are options, why not mount the router table between the rails at a height that would allow the fence to move over it. See the attached photos as one example.

I used 3/4 inch plastic top (Sanatech), supported by a 3/4 inch MDF subtable with aluminum cross piece stiffeners. It is held in place with oak or MDF mounting blocks (to the rails) and its center is supported the dust collection box.

This has worked quite well for me. The only issue I have had with this that IMO it would be better of I had a larger surface area for a table top.

Good luck, Steve

[Uncle Cracker]

If you could do your routing off the end of the extension table, rather than the front, then you would not need to devise a new fence system parallel to the table, but just use a clamp-on aux fence on the stock BT extrusion. That's how mine is set up. (I actually picked up a second BT fence, and made my aux. fence permanent.)

[conwaygolfer]

Router table

I think you guys answered my questions. Now I just have to determine where on the extension table do I mount the router. As far as having a lot of room out there - I need to get rid of some "stuff", in order to have more room to work / play. Guess we all have that problem.
Thanks again.
Conwaygolfer - Glenn

[dbhost]

I am confused. Why not just use the router accessory table you already have installed? What am I missing here?

[pelligrini]

I've got my router table built onto my saw incorporating a set of half rails. My router fence clamps onto my saw fence. I picked up another fence so I wouldn't have to take down the router setup if I needed to use my fence for the saw. The further you can get the router from the saw the better.

The only thing I really don't like about working from the end is that there really isn't a lot of space between the rails. Meaning that the table isn't all that wide. Routing long pieces can be troublesome at times.

[Mr__Bill]

I like the router on the end. That way I can work three sides of the table. I use a separate fence for the router. That way I do not have to strike either setup to use the other and I can hook the vac up to clear both above and below the table.

Nice cabinet you have for the saw, if you were to get another BT3 fence you could just use the existing rails and not have to cut the top for slots.

Whatever you do, make sure that the power switch for the router is easy to get to and that changing the bits is easy.

Bill, on the Sunny Oregon Coast

[Black wallnut]

My router table is part of my saw cart. I attach my router fence with two "T-bolts" in "T track" on the left of the bit. In this set up I route in the same direction as I saw, standing in front of the cart.

[dkerfoot]

I've got my router table built onto my saw incorporating a set of half rails.

Wow - interesting. I also have the 21829. I don't want to hijack the thread, but I'd love to see more detail on how you added, the 1/2 rails and how the router table mounts. Do you still store the saw upright? If so, how long to assemble/breakdown?

[pelligrini]

Doug, there's some more info in post 7 of this thread; http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=37992

[conwaygolfer]

Router table

I am confused. Why not just use the router accessory table you already have installed? What am I missing here?

I have it so close to the saw that the router will not fit under it. I am simply using it as part of the table surface. I cannot move it as the extension table comes right up to it.
Glenn