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.
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.