Dewalt & Crafstman RT

[Tarheel]

Hi,

I recently found a deal on Dewalt DW616 and wanted to replace the Craftsman router in the model #26608 Craftsman RT I have. Well, low and behold the Dewalt won't mount (hole alignment).

Needless to say, I am just about ready to through away all of the Crapsmen junk that I own, but can't afford a whole new RT right now.

Does anyone have any idea's as to alternative router plate options? (The other thing is that the existing plate is only about 8"x7" - way smaller than a Rockler, BenchDog or Woodpecker plate.) Next time I will build my own table!

I am new to the forum and hope that I have come to the right place to start this thread!

Thanks in Advance for y'alls opinions and/or suggestions.

[Tom Miller]

...Needless to say, I am just about ready to through away all of the Crapsmen junk that I own...

Dibs on the micro torque wrench!

But seriously, I wouldn't waste much time/money/effort to get a good router to work on a non-standard table.

It wouldn't take much time/money/effort to bolt that router to a strong piece of ply, and make a quickee fence to get you back up and running. Eventually you'll buy a good router plate, and make a better table and fence.

Regards,
Tom

[LarryG]

First of all, welcome, and yes you did post your Q in the right place.

Second of all, what Tom said.

Third and last, is it possible (and/or would you be willing) to drill holes in your mounting plate to match the DeWalt's hole pattern? The stock Ryobi plate that many of us here use to mount a router to our BT3x00 table saws will only fit Ryobi and Craftsman routers as it comes out of the box. The solution is to drill new holes so the plate will mate up with whatever brand of router we own. This is a very common and very easy solution that might work for you.

[Tarheel]

Thanks guys,

I agree with building my own table, but...... I was anxious to set up shop and get woodworking last spring and made a bad choice in buying the RT off of EBay.

I took the plate off of the Crapsman RT and had a look for fit w/Dewalt. Your right, I may be able to get away with just drilling new holes for the Dewalt. At least, this way I won't have to debate any more new stuff with the LOML for a few more weeks. (She cut me off - took my credit cards and checkbook last week!

I appreciate your opinion's and have a great weekend!

[LCHIEN]

Hi,
...
Does anyone have any idea's as to alternative router plate options? (The other thing is that the existing plate is only about 8"x7" - way smaller than a Rockler, BenchDog or Woodpecker plate.) Next time I will build my own table!

I am new to the forum and hope that I have come to the right place to start this thread!

Thanks in Advance for y'alls opinions and/or suggestions.

I have attached a "foreign" router to a craftsman table in the past. The details in my mind are a little fuzzy but here goes:

You take a piece of plywood and 1/4" and trim it so that it fits up flush under the table where the router went. I don't remember the shape exactly but a round one the size of the router's removable base plate will work (use a flush trim bit to copy it). I'll call the top the side against the bottom of the RT.

Drill a big center hole inthe adpater.

Now place it under the RT and use a pencil to mark the hole locations. I'm assuming that the RT has countersunk holes to mount the router.
Drill holes and put T-nuts in the bottom of the adapter. T-nuts like these:

Note: the pic is upside down relative to the sides and the screw shown is not there.

Now use the router's base plate as a template and mark the new routers mounting holes. Drill them, countersink from the top and use the router's flat head screws to attach the router to the bottom of the adapter.

That's it. Make sure that the T-nuts aren't taller than the board is thick.