I finally got the materials together to build a decent router table. I have had the Incra Ultra Jig around for awhile now, and have used it on some of my previous router tables, but my homemade tops were always off just a little. Always seem to have trouble getting the router plates to sit just right in the opening, etc.
This time I bit the bullet and bought Woodpeckers 27×43 offset table along with the PRL V2 lift (very sweet!). I acquired the extruded aluminum pieces from some discarded carts at work.
Putting the aluminum base together was a lot trickier than it looks. All the pieces must be precisely cross drilled at each joint in order to slide an allen wrench through the extrusion and tighten the joint. The black panels around the dust box are installed with rubber U-channel into the t-slot of the aluminum so they are tight and don’t vibrate.
The casters are industrial strength and they have a rubber foot that threads down with a large thumb wheel to level the machine and reduce vibration. It’s a pretty heavy rig, so I expect it should run pretty smooth, I haven’t test driven it yet……..
I plan on building drawer units to slide into the two shelves on the base.
Appreciate your suggestions and comments….
Jeff
-- Jeff - I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
5 comments so far
grub32
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209 posts in 1246 days
#1 posted 936 days ago
Boy that turned out great…I dont have the incra fence but I have heard nothing but great things about it…You are going to love it. My Router Table and fence was the most valuable project I have ever built for myself and shop.
Grub
-- Science Teacher by Day, Wood Butcher by Night!!
JL7
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3724 posts in 1163 days
#2 posted 936 days ago
Thanks Grub, The Incra fences are great, I have 3 of them actually, including the LS/TS table saw fence. I guess I’m hooked. I just fired it up a little bit ago, and the first impressions are good. Changing bits quickly above the table is superb!
I’ll be working on improving the dust collection behind the fence…..short of buying the Wonder Fence, the Incra fences don’t do that well at dust collection above the table…...
Jeff
-- Jeff - I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
nobuckle
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1045 posts in 959 days
#3 posted 936 days ago
Dude you could park a truck on that thing. We used to use that same type of extrusion in a shop I worked at. If those were scrap pieces I’ll give you my address and maybe you can send me some, lol. Where I live that stuff is about ten dollars a foot. You have the Mac Daddy of router tables. Way to go!
Doug, Ohio
-- Doug - Make an effort to live by the slogan "We try harder"
JL7
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3724 posts in 1163 days
#4 posted 936 days ago
Hey Doug,
You’re right, this stuff is super spendy. We paid thousands of dollars each for the original cabinets that I got. I have been working the angles for six monthes to get this material which was going to be sold for scrap value.
I have another set of casters plus enough extrusion to build another one, or….....something else…time will tell. Cutting the stuff square is tricky and kind of a pain. My 18” bandsaw has a metal cutting transmission on it, but I haven’t fidured out how to make a square cut yet, so have to use the disc sander after each cut.
Not complaining, it’s like pennies from heaven.
Jeff
-- Jeff - I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
ChuckC
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569 posts in 1133 days
#5 posted 919 days ago
If there’s ever a hurricane in your area, hide under that table :-)
That router table looks great!
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