Router Table on the Cheap #1: The Beginning...

Let me start this off by saying that I am not only a novice woodworker, but I am also a BROKE novice woodworker so…
I scored this crappy old particle board cabinet for free at a garage sale. I have been wanting a router table for a while now, but haven’t been able to part with the green and this cabinet is the perfect size. As you can see, it is kinda sad:

Flimsy would be the best way to describe it. I started off by making a bottom out of some old 3/4” CDX plywood I had laying around:

After nailing and gluing that in place, I made a back out of some scrap 1/4” oak ply and attached it with brads:

Here you can see where I added some gussets to the back corners to keep the cheapo cabinet from racking:

Next is the removable shelf for the inside. I wanted it to go the whole length inside the cabinet so I had to add a 4” filler piece to the front of that. Once again, I dipped into my scrap bin and found a piece of 3/4” oak ply. I cut that to size and attached it to the shelf with glue and #10 biscuits.

Here is an overhead shot with the newly lengthened shelf installed. I attached it to the cabinet permanently with screws and that was a simple matter of drilling out the existing shelf-pin holes. You’ll also note that I added some screw-blocks for attaching a top.

That’s where I am at so far and the best part is it hasn’t cost me a single dime. I will have to spend some money for a top, I’m thinking melamine for that. Then some t-track for the fence, some casters for mobility and a router plate. Then I will have buy the actual router (which I have been planning to do anyways). I’ll give y’all an update when I get there.