LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

We have been remodeling the shop for months now. We have recycled University of Wisconsin lab cabinets for workbenches. One group of cabinets was used for a tablesaw outfeed bench and the others were installed along the wall for 18 feet of bench.

To make room for the benches, we dismantled our make-shift horizontal router table and decided to make one that we could install in the center of the bench along the wall. I wanted it to be removeable if we needed to use the length of the bench for a large (long) project.

This router table was made entirely from scraps and hardware which was laying around the shop - resized 2×4s, plywood, pine (with a big knot by the door pull), oak, MDF, laminate, plastic for mounting plate, hinges, threaded rod, nuts, t-track, knobs, threaded inserts, and bolts. MLCS sells a similar one for $189.95. I guess I saved a little money!

I looked at pictures of router tables and downloaded a couple SketchUp files, then readjusted them to fit our needs. The cabinet below with slide-out shelf will store the table when not in use. (The doors for the cabinet below are made but I ran out of varnish so I didn't get them installed.)

I originally designed it to be used with a Bosch router, but determined it would be better with the larger 3¼ HP Porter Cable. That made it necessary to redesign parts to fit the large handles of the PC. And it made it awfully heavy so I need my husband's assistance to take it in and out.

We haven't put it to use yet, but hope to do so soon. We've already decided that we should change the design of the lift handle to make it fit the storage area better. Maybe you have other ideas on how it can be improved. Thanks for taking a look.

Update: Here's another horizontal router table from which you might want to incorporate some ideas.

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
1,251 Posts
Excellent! With this, I think the guillotine-style horizontal rig is within my skill level. Favorited for shameless copycatism later!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
216 Posts
I like it I like it alot…..........................Schloemoe
 

· Registered
Joined
·
19,753 Posts
Excellent router table.
 

· Premium Member
Joined
·
20,131 Posts
Very nice job. What is the advantage of having it horizontal?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
158 Posts
Great job. I've looked at these designs, and I like what you've done. If I had the space, it would be next on my project list.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,171 Posts
Thanks, guys, for all the encouragement. Topamax, we use the horizontal table with large router bits (long, but not large circumference) to make moldings, etc. (any time it would require running the lumber on edge through a regular router table). I also prefer to use a vertical raised panel bit in the horizontal table but it can only be used for straight cuts, not for arched panels. We don't have a shaper. It seems like a safer method for a wimp like me!

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask - not that I can answer them! ;-) I'm willing to share any additional information if anyone wishes to copy it. Just send me a PM.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,083 Posts
Very nice work.
Do you have vibration issue with that router mounted horizontally?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,171 Posts
Woodworm,

We haven't run the router through a workout yet, but we did run it to see if the dust collection worked satisfactorily and if the table would vibrate. Even without the table fastened to the main cabinet, there was no vibration issue at top speed. (We have since fastened the table to the cabinet.) Our previous make-shift horizontal table set-up never caused any vibration issues but we were using a considerably lighter router. It does seem, however, that this PC router runs extremely smoothly with a gentle, soft start and no major jerk. We are hopeful this will be the case when routing dense, hardwoods with such big bits. I am accustomed to taking tiny bites in each pass so I think vibration will not be an issue.
 

· Premium Member
Joined
·
20,131 Posts
Thanks. I don't do that kind of stuff, but it makes sense not to turn lumber on edge to route it:)
 

· Registered
Joined
·
288 Posts
NICE! Great work, that's an awesome router table. Out of scrap to, way cool! I need you guys to come get my shop organized.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
380 Posts
I have the MCLS, and love it, but it would have been nicer to build my own. Good job.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,171 Posts
Wow! Your encouragement is great! I guess that's why we all like this site. It really gives us a boost!

Les, We'd love to have a shop like yours to organize. Just move it here and we'll get busy right away! ;-)

Pete, I sure wish I could have seen the real thing in person. Glad to hear you love it. I'm sure this one will be considerably better than our previous one and we put up with it for years . . . no easy lift mechanism. I had to unscrew four small T-knobs and then tap the edge of the face plate with a hammer to move it up and down, but it helped me make a lot of baseboard and picture frame moldings and many raised panels.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
233 Posts
grand! I've been eying the MLCS and the Woodhaven, and am trying to justify having a horizontal approach added to my arsenal..fantastic you built one for yourself. Grand Job
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,527 Posts
Great job on the router table. I like the design
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,171 Posts
Thanks to all for your interest in this project. If there are enough people interested in my SketchUp file, I will go to the library and upload it to box.net. (It's too large to upload it from home on dial-up.) Just let me know if you're interested.

L/W
 

· Registered
Joined
·
425 Posts
Nice job.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
411 Posts
That's a real cool tool very clever
Best
Trevor
 

· Registered
Joined
·
11 Posts
Nice job on the router table! I made one like that several years ago.I use it for sliding dovetails on my cedar chests with a Milwaukee 3 1/2 hp router .
 
Top