| Project by Cory | posted 175 days ago | 1216 views | 6 times favorited | 12 comments |  |
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I just finished this benchtop router table. It’s design is based on the Benchdog model. I basically took their dimensions and made my own with a few modifications drawn from projects I’ve seen here and in the magazines. I didn’t want a miter track since I never used it on my other table, so I left that out. I also have the fence sliding from the sides, ala Kreg’s table. That leaves a maximum amount of space on the table top. It’s dimensions are approximately 18” x 25”. The inside height of the table is 15” so I’ve got plenty of room for storage and to get my routers in and out.
The router plates are sized so that I can either make my own out of acrylic or buy a “stock” plate from Rockler. I’ve got one made up for my Craftsman router and I’m working on another for my Bosch, which will have the fixed base mounted to it and problably find a permanent home in this table. I’ve never made a router table top before, so I was pretty nervous to cut into it. I followed the directions from a Shopnotes article and it went incredibly smoothly. The opening has leveling screws so insure it’s a perfect fit. The fence was a real struggle for me. It took me 3 tries until I got everything perfectly square to the table top, but it works pretty well now.
The cabinet and most of the fence are made from 3/4” birch plywood and the table top and fence faces are melamine coated particleboard. The MCP chipped out on me, so I need to get a better blade and re-do those faces. I’m working on a blade guard and some stop blocks, too.
The whole things sits on one of my Workmates and is pretty easy to move around, even though it’s a heavy set up.
Thanks for looking.
-- Premium firewood created daily.
12 comments so far
Karson
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25871 posts in 1300 days
posted 175 days ago
A great looking Router setup. I’ve got as router mounted on the side of my table saw. I love it at times and hate it at other times. The problem is the same fence is used for the saw and the router. And you have to keep moving the fnece when you switch between the saw and router.
I might have to make me a small router table setup like this.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
lew
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4515 posts in 655 days
posted 175 days ago
Great Looking Router Table!!
I really like the way you made the fence to table locks on the side of the table.
isetegija
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614 posts in 415 days
posted 175 days ago
Very nice router table and very neat workshop You got there .
Thanks for sharing with us.
-- My woodwork blog : http://www.isetehtud.pri.ee/blog/
a1Jim
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17211 posts in 477 days
posted 175 days ago
very nice router table
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com
darryl
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1401 posts in 1226 days
posted 175 days ago
that’s pretty cool. I need to make myself one of those.
-- www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com
spaids
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461 posts in 593 days
posted 175 days ago
Thats pretty sweet dude. I’m really liking your fence.
-- Wipe the blood stains from your blade before coming in.
Wingstress
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215 posts in 415 days
posted 175 days ago
I like the way you put the the fence guides on the side of the table. I’m assuming that always keeps the fence square to the table. I’ve never seen that approach before… Well done
-- Tom, Simsbury, CT
Cory
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198 posts in 319 days
posted 175 days ago
Thanks for the comments, guys.
Wingstress, the t-track on the sides doesn’t really keep the fence square. You have to have a little bit of play in it, or it’s too hard to move. I don’t have a ton of router table experience, but I think the only time you need the fence to be “square” is when you’re using a miter track. Since I don’t have one it’s not really a concern. The tracks do make it easy to adjust the fence, remove it, or flip it so I can work from the back of the table.
-- Premium firewood created daily.
jonww
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5 posts in 396 days
posted 175 days ago
Cory, really nice job on your router table.
I built my first RT from a shopnotes plan with the hopes of using in the same workmate-mounted fashion as yours. I found that the working height was a bit too high for me. Hopefully your particular set up works much better for you than mine did for me.
Cory
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198 posts in 319 days
posted 174 days ago
Jon, mounted on my workmate it’s about 38” or 39” tall. I’m 6’, so it’s just about the perfect height for me. For longer workpieces, I just take my rollers and raise ‘em up for support.
-- Premium firewood created daily.
woodymays
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23 posts in 172 days
posted 168 days ago
Nice Router Table, I need to make a new router table for myself. I will use your table to help build mine.
Mark
-- Mark, Ohio, www.swig@nktelco.net
rmora76393
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9 posts in 509 days
posted 122 days ago
Great job Cory! I’m wondering how accurate the fence is and if it moves as one? or do you have to adjust each end individually? I already have a OLD Craftsman manufactured router table and am looking for plans to build a new one …
Again you did an awesome job on the table
Be Safe and thanks for sharing
Bob
San Diego, Ca