Yet Another Router Table Project #3: Making the router table plate

Check Woodpeckers site to see what rings they offer, and what they supply with their tables.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Tom,

You have too much time on your hands!! :) I cannot ever remember anyone making their own router plates. But go for it. I really don’t use any inserts. I run two tables. One has a 1.5” opening for round overs, flush trim bits, ... basically small profile bits. The other table has a 4” opening for my raised panel bit.

To tell the truth after I am seriously thinking about making a table with several replaceable tops and dedicating each top to a specific bit. This saves setup time and they can be stored in a relative small area. I currently have 5 routers so several sit idle a lot of the time anyway.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

This is an ambitious project. I get by with two inserts, like Scott.

-- Maplewood, MN

wow that is a great project. i’m looking to build a router table to so its cool to see things like this made. thanks for the post.

Nice project!
You have to make your own plates, otherwise your milling machine would be sitting idle.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I made mine out of a piece T6 1/4 plate I didn’t access to a mill or I would made my own rings also I cut a 2 1/2” hole I was hoping to later figure out a ring system for it. I repair a friends computer in trade for enough alum to make 2 plates and several rings, he worked at a shop that build custom dragsters parts. so far I been please with mine, I haven’t gotten any makes on the wood from the alum like everyone said I would, but if ever became a problem I was just going to put a piece of laminate on it.

Joey

-- Joey~~Sabina, Ohio http://sleepydogwoodworking.blogspot.com/

Good point about the marks, joey. I think I’ll polish it up and wax it, that should prevent most of it. I think I’ll draw the line at Anodizing it myself, although … I did find a great site explaining how to do it ;)

-- Tom, Central New York