Good Working Height for Router Table Design?

mine is about 30” and its way too low. I’d say about table saw height. or higher depending on what you use it for. I use mine for jointing, so i wouldnt want it too high.

I have raised many of my tools about 6” above the “stock” height. It is more comfortable on my back not to have to bend over so far. It is especially comfortable when doing repetitive operation- or turnings on the lathe.

BTW- Love your avatar of Sophie. We are on our third basset- Quigley. Best dogs in the world!!

Mine is also at 37”. I made it this height so I can feed material over my workbenches on either side so I don’t get bound up on longer pieces. If I had a table that was free and clear of anything else I’d want it taller by maybe 2” – 8”

-- You know.... I think that old wood needs to be furniture.

I make all my tables and tool stands the same height as my table saw for what I thought would be obvious reasons.

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

I am also 5’ 7” and mine is 38”. That works fine for me. I made it that high and if I did it again would make the next one the same.

-- Hope Never fails

I’m 6’ 4” and mine is at 37”.........works for me

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

gerryM, I built the Norm r.t., and the heigth was ok, but I’ve got a very bad back and don’t like to bend over more that I have to (two back surgeries will do that). I’m also a short guy (5’-8”’, and fat!!!). I mounted 2 1/2” locking casters on mine, and that made it 39” tall. Now it’s just right, and I can move it around the shop if I want to, although I don’t—but you never know!! Sounds like from the other posts, somewhere around 37—39” is compatable for heigth. Happy routing!

-- Remember--- one good turn-- gets most of the blanket!!!!

I think theres a cruel conspiracy behind all woodworking machinery being near crotch height.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

I just started doing some drawings for a new router table. My current table is 36 1/2” and seems a bit too short. I cut some 2×6’s and some 1×6’s this past weekend and experimented with stacking different layers of them to raise the height. For me, the most comfortable height was with the legs stacked on 2 layers of 2×6”s which brought it up to a height of 39 1/2”.

-- Each and Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. Greg Little

The correct height is what works for you. experiment with different heights and see what feels good as if you were pushing material through The router.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Wow, this is an interesting thread, so much so that I had to go measure the height of my UniSaw and router table. Both are 34-1/2”, but that’s because my router table is the extension table on my saw.

But, out of the box my UniSaw would have been even lower, maybe 32-33”. I put a mobile base on the UniSaw and replaced the wheels with 5/8 bolts to use as levelers. The only reason I did that was to raise it to the height of my other benches so I can use them as support when sawing large panels.

I’m 5’10” and I find that 34-1/2” height very comfortable, I do not find myself bending over when using the UniSaw or the router table. But when I buy shirts or suit jackets I do have to get the long because I guess my arms are a inch longer then average. Same thing happened when I had a set of golf clubs custom made, I was measured for them and the shafts were made an inch shorter then average.

So I have to agree with aiJim, you have to experiment with different heights and decide what is most comfortable for you. Using what is comfortable for others may not work for you.

Norm built a router table a few years back, his second I believe, I’d be curious to know what its height is so if anyone has the plans please chime in. Norm doesn’t seem to be hunched over when he’s using it and I don’t think he’d build something that was uncomfortable to use. But then again, how tall is Norm?

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI

Gerry, what ever is comfortable for you. I just redid mine and simply checked different surfaces around the shop and found the one closest to what felt good to me and went with it. A simple solution, but you know…it worked out perfectly :>)

-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA