Our Shop #4: Our Router Table

Is it a Jessem?

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

the table was a Craftex

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

here it is

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Ah, not familiar with it. I agree strange that you could not use a bushing set with it.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Debbie. It looks like there is a plate that goes around the router bit. They usually have different sizes so that you use a plate that is approx the size of the router bit.

Then usually one of those plates will use a porter cable style bushing. The PC might be different from the Triton. But they should be able to use something.

If they are saying that no one uses bushings with router tables they are wrong. Why would all of the table Mfg. have plates that accept Porter Cable bushings?

I use them all of the time. Its called pattern routing. You make a pattern of what you want and then attach the pattern to the wood with double face tape etc. and route the wood. Done all of the time.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Ouch on the price, Thats awful close to the price oh a one horse shaper.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

don’t forget that the price is Canadian $$.

They had 2 metal plates for the router. Neither would hold the bushing. We got out a package of bushings and we used a bushing holder from another table and there was no way that it would work—well, no way that we could see.

Yah, the guy really didn’t (again) know what he was talking about.. but Rick and I knew what it should do and we couldn’t figure it out.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

MsDeb,

You guys should really just consider getting a 1hp shaper. A good router and router table costs as much and does not come close to the performance of the shaper. The great thing of the shapers, especially the smaller ones, is that they have 1/4” and 1/2” collets to use router bits.

I have a 3 hp shaper and I have yet to buy a shaper bit. I have had it for 2 years and still just use router bits in it.

When I work in Ohio, my brother has a 3/4 hp Jet shaper that I use, and a 3 hp router does not even come close to the torque and power that it has. I often recommend to guys that ask about buying tools, buy a combo router set and then a small shaper. On a limited budget I think it is the better way to go than buying two routers and a router table.

I have seen the table you bought, it is marketed under Grizzly and Shop Fox. It did look like a nice router table. Even with the heavy top, the universal router motors do not have the torque and smoothness of a lower horsepower induction motor.

I bought the Bosch router table because it is mobile to the jobsite with the folding legs. It has turned out to be a good router table for that, and in the shop when needed.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Thanks for that info Todd… going to remember that.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Just out of curosity, how useable is the tilt option on a router table? I can see it for raised panel applications. Is it useful for non-90 degree operations such as cutting splines? I’m asking the spline question because In New Yankee he used a jig to cut interesting profle profiles where the stock was at 45 degrees and on the Router workshop they used a jig and slot cutters to cut splines on long miters.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

the saga is not done yet !!!

after continued frustrations we decided to order the Woodline router table – so that we’d be sure that the template system would work – finally – after a year. I called to order the table and was told that a router came with the table. (Thoughts of Obi flashed through my mind: “You can never have too many routers”) and so yet another router was to enter our shop. But I would have my table and I would be able to use the templates. Finally. After a year of waiting.

Last Thursday the new router arrived. The box was labelled “Router table” and the number of boxes was “1”. Hmmm where’s the table? Did it get shipped separately? Did it get shipped? Did they get the order all wrong and there is not table on my order??

I waited Friday, Monday and then today for the second box to arrive but, sadly, it did not. And so I called Woodline to find out what had happened. Well there is a table. And it did get sent out at the same time as the router. The two boxes must have gotten separated. The table might be stuck at customs for some reason. Oh, and since it is an international order they can’t track the delivery for 30 days.

Ah yes.. what’s another month in the scheme of things? Does anyone besides me hear the Universe laughing?? I do believe the next 30 days is intended for me to learn how to cut dovetails WITHOUT a router template!! Won’t that be a wonderful lesson .. . a year of waiting for something that I won’t even use because I’ll be a master dovetail hand-carver!! :)

Hah.. GIVE ME MY ROUTER TABLE.. I WANT TO USE MY TEMPLATES…. WAAAAH.. yes, Obi… those are (fake) tears in the shop!!! It’s my shop and I’ll cry if I want to… cry if I want to…

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

well, actually, it’s past the tears stage. This is just too ridiculously funny now!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)