Router Table

excellent table, can you use feather boards on the fence?

-- Duane,matt_megan@twlakes.net

Yes …. feather boards can be used with the fence. There is also plexiglas dust shield that mounts to the fence and can be adjusted for height.

Ray

-- Handcrafted by RJ Paquin - Ohio

Sweet table Ray. Man I got to get cracken and make me one. Did you have plans for the table? If so where did you get them?

-- Senior Chief

nice…but blue isn’t my color…hey, and I don’t have a router table like this…so if a blue one showed up on my doorstep, and it won’t, I’d probably take it.

-- /\/\/\ BarryW /\/\/\ Stay so busy you don't have time to die.

That is one pretty piece of shop furniture there. I do have one question, shouldn’t the on/off switch be on the other side?

-- Chunk

Nice build Ray. I like the idea of the magnetic strips on the side to hold tools as well as the hole behind the fence for the router lift crank.

Ray, this question/comment is intended to be curious, not critical. You said the dust collection works well but in the picture of the interior, there appears to be a good amount of sawdust on the bottom. Had the table been in use without the DC running?

-- And on the eighth day God was back in His woodworking shop!

Answers to a few questions / comments ….

ON / OFF switch … I feed most work from the right side to the left side and when I built the cabinet I moved the switch that was once mounted on the underside of the table (right side) to the left side. It works best for me this way.

Dust collection …. the dust system always works best when you’re able to use an insert plate that minimizes the open area around the the router bit shank. When you use a large open insert for large bits (ie; raised panel bit) the cabinet suction is affected, but that’s about the maximum residual dust there is in the cabinet.

No plans …. built it to fit my router table top and the many different bits and accessories I’ve collected over the years.

Ray

-- Handcrafted by RJ Paquin - Ohio

Looks great.

-- You can't get a hug from Facebook.

Well done router table.

Not to be picky, but that wye in the back is facing the wrong direction. At best, diust collection is not working as well as it could; at worst, you’ve got a possibility of jams right at the wye.

-- "Find out what you cannot do and then go do it!"

Nice router table and I personally love the blue color! That is just sweet!!! Makes me want something other than my Craftsman steel/aluminum open table clamped atop a school desk! Someday I WILL build myself a router table.

JimC

Great looking RT, should be very functional and might I add – easy to find in the shop :-))

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

The white and blue is definitely a sharp contrast!

What are the dimensions of the cavity where the router sits? This one seems to be more efficient from a space-saving perspective than a lot of the ones I’ve seen. I have often wondered why so many of them (e.g. Norm's) seem to be so huge.

-- "How can I be lost if I've got nowhere to go?"

Packman: I’ve typically seen the ON/OFF switch mounted on the right hand side but mounting on the out feed side makes perfect sense to me now.

Thanks,

-- Chunk

Hey LJ’s …. I appreciate all the feedback. Eengineer made an excellent observation regarding the direction of the Y at the back of the cabinet. If there was a prize, he would win. The Y is turned due to space constrictions. I’ve run out of room in my shop and floorspace is precious…. if I turn the Y the correct direction I needed to first extend the pipe at the back of the cabinet which created another issue for me. If I do this, I can’t store the table where I do today. Since the table is actually the first tool connected to the dust collection system it hasn’t caused any problems yet …. if I ever build another table that’s one design change I will make.
You guys are great …. thanks for sharing your thoughts …. much appreciated!
Ray

-- Handcrafted by RJ Paquin - Ohio

Just a thought… What if you inserted a 90 degree elbow between the fitting that comes out the back of the cabinet and the wye? The wye would then be turned sideways, so your general flow would be left to right (or vice versa) instead of front to back. This would allow you to connect the wye as Eengineer suggested. It might even save you a couple inches of clearance on the back because the vacuum hose would be able to run along the cabinet instead of sticking straight out the back. The obvious down side is the air flow restrictions that come with a 90 degree elbow, so weigh that against the potential gains.

-- "How can I be lost if I've got nowhere to go?"

CyBorge …
That’s a great idea …. I just have to go buy another 90 degree elbow. Other than the drawer slides I was able to build the entire table out of left-overs I had in my shop (including the casters). My problem is I always have more “wants” than I have “funds” .....

I’ll get you some dimensions and send them direct to you …

Ray

-- Handcrafted by RJ Paquin - Ohio

Hey Packman;

Nice… Very nice.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Nice router table, I like the color!

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker