| Project by jstewart | posted 492 days ago | 662 views | 3 times favorited | 10 comments |  |
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I’ve basically finished my router table.
The stand is a simple construction of 2×4s. I plan to install some casters on the legs and put in some plywood to serve as a shelf. Attached to the stand you can see that I added an electrical outlet and switch. I don’t want to reach under the top to find the router’s power switch each time I need to turn it on or off.
The table top is a layer of MDF below a layer of melamine. I used a Woodpeckers phenolic plate, mainly because I could find one pre-drilled for my PC 690 base at my local Woodcraft. I used T-track as a way to hold down the fence.
The fence is just something I slapped together today from some MDF scrap I had laying around. Since I basically have $0 in the fence, I can always justify replacing it later if I’m unhappy with it or find that it gets out of square at any point. I decided to try making the fence just a little nicer than a simple flat board with a hole cut in it. I cut a 1/4” groove through the upright on each side of the bit opening (which hasn’t yet been cut). I then made some facings from the remaining MDF scrap I had laying around. (I literally used every last fiber of extra MDF that I had.) With this design I can make the bit opening as little as 1/8” or as large as 4”. It was supposed to close down to nothing, but when everything was said and done, the facings didn’t come all the way together. I can lengthen either one of the grooves in the backing face of the fence if I really want the facings to come together completely, but I doubt I’ll find a real need for that.
It feels good to have this project under my belt. A router table is something I’ve wanted for a very long time, from the moment I became interested in fine woodworking. I always thought making my own would be too difficult to do if I wanted any real measure of quality. I haven’t been able to put mine to use yet, but just getting this far makes me ecstatic. I’m very happy with how things have come together. I can still use any constructive criticism or advice that you guys have to offer.
-- Joshua, Olathe, Kansas
10 comments so far
steveosshop
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208 posts in 520 days
posted 492 days ago
Congrats on building the new router table. Good luck and have fun with it. Looks like you did a good job on it so it should serve you well for a long time.
-- Steve-o
Dusty56
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3460 posts in 582 days
posted 492 days ago
great job …you’ll want to seal those edges on the melamine and mdf to prevent moisture from getting into them and ruining your nice , flat top : )
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .
EEngineer
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275 posts in 507 days
posted 492 days ago
You’ll love using the router in a table. I had a router for years before I found a table (long story there – check my blogs in the future) but after I had the table, I rarely do anything without it. I think it’s a safety issue, also. I just feel more comfortable with the router in the table. I have two routers now – one permanently mounted in the table and another that I use for those jobs that just cannot be done on the table.
A second on sealing the edges. Also, if you didn’t do it, seal the bottom of the table.
-- "Find out what you cannot do and then go do it!"
Karson
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25792 posts in 1294 days
posted 492 days ago
Good job Josh. The table should be very useful.
Congratulations.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
bhack
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242 posts in 614 days
posted 492 days ago
Josh, looks like a sturdy stand. I am sure you will enjoy using it. good for a lot a jobs.
Keep up the good work.
-- Bill - If I knew GRANDKIDS were so much fun I would have had them first.
jockmike2
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7302 posts in 1140 days
posted 492 days ago
Nice table, looks like its got some heft to it, which mine needs. When I try to route some long pieces it tends to move. Yours looks like its gonna stay right there. Nice job.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
jdwood
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14 posts in 495 days
posted 491 days ago
I like this table…simple and functional. I have to stop looking on this site…every page I click on has a project that I want to try and this is no exception. What does the top framing look like? is it the same as what is pictured on the bottom? How did you attach the top? I like the outlet and switch idea. It must be a lot cheaper doing it that way than buying one of those set ups at woodcraft. Thanks for the post and inspiration.
-- Yes, "Wood" is my last name
thetimberkid
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1944 posts in 597 days
posted 491 days ago
Great job!
Thanks for the post
Callum
-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/
jstewart
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141 posts in 985 days
posted 491 days ago
To jdwood’s questions…
I used the exact same framing for the top as I did for the base. I used some basic aluminim L-shaped framing brackets to attach the base to the top.
-- Joshua, Olathe, Kansas
wdh
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5 posts in 534 days
posted 476 days ago
Looks like a great router table. I will be making one for myself soon as the new router I just bought won’t fit my old table.I hope it turns out as well as yours!
-- Wayne,Saint John,NB