Router Table

[tseavoy]

Can anyone steer me to a source of plans for a router table? Better yet, plans for a cheap router table? Nothing fancy. Sometimes it's nice to be able to pass the wood over the router rather than vice versa.

On the same line, has anyone had experience with the Grizzly mini shaper?

http://grizzly.com/products/Mini-Shaper/G8693

Maybe that's a better solution than the router table.

Tom on Marrowstone

[chopnhack]

Its only got a small 1/4" collet size. That would be fine for small work, but if you are interested in making anything larger than say 3/4" wide profile of molding or raising panels etc. you would want at least a 1/2" collet size. Many shapers have 3/4" and 1" collets (or shanks can remember a.t.m.) but they also cost as much as our collective first cars lol A router table is a great asset, take your time and build yourself a dead flat one. My one biggest complaint is that the one i cobbled together because i was in a rush and needed the functionality of a router table, just wasnt as flat around the router plate as i wanted to be. You can tell when you try to make molding and the profiles just dont match up right!

[BobSch]

The Griz has a table that's less than 10x12 — pretty small. I've got a small Sears router table that's half again as large and it's too small for a lot of pieces. I'm planning on building a larger table.

Google "free router table plans" (with quotes.)

[Woody]

I would go for a bigger router table. That one is awfully small. I have the Bosch from Lowes and it has been great. I have mounted both my PC router and my Hitachi router to it and have been able to handle some bigger pieces.

[Hoakie]

I'm in the process of building Nahm's router table, modified to fit the Rockler top I purchased eons ago. It has been a fun project to learn many techniques. I'll post pics in the next day or so....but it is not a trivial undertaking

[cabinetman]

Here's some info on the NYW table. Do some research while deciding as there are many features you may like or wind up disliking.

As for the small shaper, I wouldn't recommend it. It's way underpowered. There are many routers more powerful with a greater capacity than the little shapers. Shapers vary in capacity to horsepower, size of the spindle and distance under the nut. A versatile shaper could have the ability to accept 1/2" to 1 1/4" spindles, and under some shop requirements up to around 10 HP. Electrical hookup could be 110V-120V single phase, 220V-230V single phase and then the three phase machines. I would also recommend the use of a stock feeder if you decide on a shaper.
.

[Tom Clark]

Can anyone steer me to a source of plans for a router table? Better yet, plans for a cheap router table? Nothing fancy. Sometimes it's nice to be able to pass the wood over the router rather than vice versa.

No plans needed. Just build a box and mount your router under it. Forget the plastic insert. Not needed.

Here is my first table, built in an hour or two when I needed one quick to rout a lot of parts I was making. It wasn't too hard to change bits. I just tilted the table up on an angle to get the wrench in the right place.

That gave me the idea for the second table. It is nearly 20 years old now, and I wouldn't change a thing. The second one has an enclosed router to hold the noise down, dust collection thru the 1.6 diameter hole, and still no plastic plate - and no lift mechanism. I am happy with the way it is without it…

[LCHIEN]

a table-mounted router is an important shop tool and is to a hand held router as a table saw is to a hand-held circular saw - much easier to guide accurately.

Two things are essential for a good table-mounted router for all-around use, and that is a flat top so you get consistent depth on edgings and moldings on longer items and a sturdy base to you can push the wood hand-over hand without having to support the router yourself.

For the flat top you need a plan with 1.5" thick or more table lamination or buy one. A sturdy base you should be able figure out yourself or be included in the plans.

[cabinetman]

The "flat top" mania can be taken to extremes. Three quarter sheet stock can be used that is well braced from beneath. Doubling up tops doesn't mean they cannot warp.

It pays to have an extra base left mounted in the table, so that router can be also used hand held. Some members may not have the budget for multiple routers.
.

[niki]

Have a look here....zillion of router tables....
http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...=router+table+

As for me, I'm using the "Workmate" as a base...the router is bolted directly to the "floor panels"...no insert, just a 1¼" hole (my biggest bit dia)...

niki

[LinuxRandal]

First, Welcome back Niki and good luck.

Second, besides google, Your public library and books like Woodworking with the router by Bill Hylton, Check out Pat Warner's site: http://www.patwarner.com/router_table.html.

A Mr. Sawdust table (started out as a RAS table), storebought top, and then you build a cabinet, as in the Kreg dvd, a router in your saws wing, if your tight on space, etc.

[L. D. Jeffries]

Ditto on "chopnhack's remarks on the Griz trim router. Its the only Griz tool I ever bought that was a piece of junk! It has a plunge feature that is so sloopy that its impossible to center a bit. I returned it and bought a TREND trim router. Its about 100 bucks as opposed to the Griz at 65 or 70 bucks. Works great for its purpose...trimming and detail routing only, not heavy stuff.

[billwmeyer]

Gorilla Glue Web Site

I stumbled across this on the Gorilla Glue Web site. I might try this myself if I can find time.

http://www.gorillatough.com/Portals/...uterCenter.pdf

I like how if folds up..

Bill

[dbhost]

Tom,

Not sure if you have a BT3x00, one of the Craftsman clones, or if you have gone to the dark side but... If you do have a BT why not use the accessory table for mounting up that router? You can get the entire BT3Kit for $99.00 still I think. At least on Ebay you can...

If you have a regular cast iron saw with a 27" deep top there are PLENTY of nice router wings for them on the market, shopping for sales helps.

[fbrend123]

Check out the current (Sep '09) issue of Wood magazine. It has plans for a router table similar to the one pictured earlier in this thread. Also has and article on add-ons to soup it up, if desired.