Router Table Help Needed

Hi Guys!

I need some help with the router table I’m building. Specifically, how to mount the router plate into the tabletop. My tabletop is 1 1/2” MDF (2 3/4” sheets laminated). I haven’t yet cut the hole to mount the plate and router yet, so no goof-ups to fix yet.

I’ve always read that you need to cut the opening all the way through, and then rabbet the top of the table to accept the router plate. I’ve been a little intimidated by that, because if you screw it up, there’s really no good way to fix it. You have to start all over from scratch.

A couple of weeks ago, I was watching “The Woodsmith Shop” show on PBS, and they offered what looks like a fool-proof method. What they did, was cut the tabletop all the way through, to the exact size of the router plate—no rabbeting. Then at each corner, to the bottom of the tabletop hole, they attached plates with leveling screws in them. The router plate then sat on theses leveling screws at the corners.

The advantage to this method is that a much easier method than the previous one, and you can get the router plate exactly flush with the top of the table.

My question is: does anyone know where to get these mounting plates with the screws? I checked the woodsmithshop.com website, but they didn’t make note of the supplier.

Also, does anyone have experience with this method? Do you recommended it? Or do you recommend the older, rabbeted way?

Thanks much in advance!

-- Dean