I’ve been working on framing the garage, so i can insulate it, so I can work out there come winter, but since I have the shop space framed, I figured I’d start setting up my shop. The first thing I did was to make a router extension for my table saw. To understand how I arrived at this design, you must understand that I’m a 16 year old, and that I cant find a job. So everything I do is either mooching scrap off of projects for my parents, or stuff that I can get for free. The base of the table is a few 2” wide 3/4” MDF strips brad nailed together, the pocket-screwed for stength. The top is some peg board I got for free from my shop teacher. I had planned on using a piece of MDF, but i made a mis-measurement on the dado for the outside strip. There was a lip for the old extension wing to sit on, so I had to put a groove in the MDF, or make it 1/4” undersized, and I chose the former. The lip was in the wrong place, so I improvized. Since I haven’t gotten it secured to the table yet, the weight loss is good anyways. That and a lot of the dust just goes right through the holes, which is pretty nice. The insert is just a piece of MDF that I routed out so the plunge base for my router would sit close enough to the top that I could use the base plate screws to attache it with. It has a rabbet running around the ege so it sits flush with the top while resting on the cross supports for the table. While it isn’t perfect, it should do the job till I can afford to get a proper router lifet, and build the proper table to put it in… then again, I’ve never been one for being proper.
11 comments so far
mjlauro
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244 posts in 1932 days
#1 posted 1435 days ago
looks good to me. Nice use of resources too.
Paul
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312 posts in 1760 days
#2 posted 1435 days ago
You’ve already learned to improvise, took me a lot longer! Good job.
-- If you say 'It's good enough', it probably isn't.
huff
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2556 posts in 1456 days
#3 posted 1435 days ago
I always say, never wasted a piece of wood…...Looks like you put your thinking cap on for this one and it turned out great. Good use of what you had available. I still like using scrapes after 23 years of making sawdust for a living.
-- John @ http://www.thehuffordfurnituregroup.com
MOJOE
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533 posts in 1440 days
#4 posted 1435 days ago
Hey buddy,
Nice work, I just finished a similar router extension for my Ridgid saw. Funny how the simple projects always seem to work the best.
-- Measuring twice and cutting once only works if you read the tape correctly!
Kent Shepherd
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2690 posts in 1457 days
#5 posted 1435 days ago
You’re off to a good start, learning early the value of jigs to make life easier and making do with what you have to work with.
Keep it up, you’ll go far.
-- She thought I hung the moon--now she just thinks I did it wrong
BTKS
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1919 posts in 1635 days
#6 posted 1435 days ago
Good work and resourcefulness. You are definitely on what I consider the right track.
Keep it up. IMHO, I believe you will find the homemade jigs, tables and fixtures better for your application and much more enjoyable to use than the mass marketed one jig or tool does it all stuff.
BTKS
-- "Man's ingenuity has outrun his intelligence" (Joseph Wood Krutch)
happy_budah
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124 posts in 1969 days
#7 posted 1435 days ago
sweat not fret not! i agree that a bit of improv and creative thinking will serve you well because as the song goes you may not get what you want ,, but youll get what you need ! nice jig
-- the journy of a thousand miles begins with a single step " Lou-Tzu"
a1Jim
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87269 posts in 1748 days
#8 posted 1434 days ago
got er done
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
Tuuek
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56 posts in 1602 days
#9 posted 1429 days ago
This is a brilliant idea that I will probably use in my shop. One thing you can add is a dust collector bin below it so all you have to do is dump it out instead of having it just fall on the floor.
-- Kelly -- Common Sense, Isn't Common to Everyone. - Me
Derby
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27 posts in 1443 days
#10 posted 1429 days ago
In line with what Tuuek says about adding a dust collection bin below, if you box it in it might also work as a down-draft table!
Get use of bits and pieces!
Derby
-- "Lumber is just sawdust in 'solid' form!"
dbhost
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4748 posts in 1403 days
#11 posted 630 days ago
If you accomplished that as a broke 16 year old, you have been well raised, and the skills you used for that will take you a long way in your personal life, and career…
-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!
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