All Replies on Help me choose a router table top

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I’m not seeing a $100 difference between the two. By default, I’d go with the Griz for the price advantage.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

Me neither. I have the Rockler table top which is nice. I bought it without the fence or plate. I added a Rockler lift that came with its own plate… love it. All in… $340. Made my own fence. Am now working on a nice “Norm” style cabinet under it.

I can’t speak to the new Rockler table but have been using the “old style” for many years now, and have been very happy with it.

It’s MDF, with what I believe is melamine laminate & polyethylene edges, like the Grizzly.

If cost is an issue, I’d go with the Grizzly.

Building you own may approach the cost of the Grizzly, MDF, plastic laminate, fence, hardware, t-track and your time all add up.

I’d wait to see what others who may own the Grizzly are saying

-- Nicky

Just curious, but if you built the table, why not build the top?

-- jay, www.allaboutastro.com

I would get a bench dog top and fence. The fence is extruded aluminum, and has a nice heavy duty feel. It also allows the jointer operation by placing two rods behind the outfeed fence. I don’t use that feature, but the overall build quality is fantastic.

-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush

One difference between the rockler top and the grizzly is that the rockler top has a double t-track whereas the grizzly does not. The new rockler tops have layer of phenolic not melamine which should increase the stability of the top. Rockler has also added the plastic banding around the edge.

I made mine out of a double layer of MDF epoxyed together and covered with Formica.

-- Clint Searl.............We deserve what we tolerate

Wow Clint that is an amazing router table! and Jay, the reason is partly what Nicky said about cost, and partly that one from grizzly will be a-lot more accurate.

Thanks everyone! looks like im going with Grizzly!

A phenolic top would be an advantage for sure.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

I made mine from a double layer of MDF and Formica. Why would you buy one?

-- Bondo Gaposis

I just realized, will it be problematic that the router plate on the grizzly Is an odd size?

It’s not sized for the popular plates or lifts.

I’d build it. If I were to buy I’d get one of the phenolic tables.

-- He who dies with the most tools... dies with the emptiest wallet.

Have you looked at http://www.woodpeck.com/

American made and fantastic tools.

-- Sam Hamory - The project is never finished until its "finished"!

There are many 9 x 12 plates available….it’s not really an odd size, just different than the Rockler plate.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

Just a thought but use a reclaimed counter top. Sturdy and flat with a low-friction surface ready to go. Usually you can pick up a piece 24” square for less than $15.00. Then you can put in the Miter slots and t-track if you want them.
That’s my plan anyways.

-- A lack of money forces you to find creative solutions to problems you wouldn't have otherwise.

That will work fine, but you’ll want to laminate the bottom of the countertop or else it will warp from uneven moisture absorption.

-- He who dies with the most tools... dies with the emptiest wallet.

I like to make mine to keep the cost down and have it the size I want and the features I want. With plate T-tracks and material for the cabinet I’m into mine for about $80.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

If I was you and I wanted a router lift, not just a router plate (highly recommended BTW), I would pick the router lift, whether you are going to buy it right away or not and then choose the table based on that. Reason is, they all have plates that will fit their opening, but may or may not have lifts that fit that opening.

Disclaimer: I have the Woodpecker 420 Quicklift and love the damned thing!

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