Router Sub Bases

Can you put the router in a vise or clamp it down . if your comfortable, you can turn the router on and slide the base onto the bit and it will cut out what it needs….Safety first..

Base plates are pretty easy to make. Use your original base plate as the template for the 3 mounting holes to the router base. Bore the hole the size you need for your bits….

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widdle – I had thought about doing that but I’d like to keep the original sub base intact as it is.

kdc68 – I kind of figured that would be the best way to do it. What would material would you suggest making them out of?

I bought one at ACE hardware. I don’t remember the brand but it is something you will recognize. They are universal in many cases. About $15 with screws etc.

MDF. I also have a craftsman router (the professional model, I love that thing).

Technically, that bit is a little too large to be using safely freehand. The reason they keep the holes small on the sub bases is because with a bit over 1 1/4” diameter, you should really have the router in the table.

With that said, I prefer to edge profile freehand. Milescraft makes universal sub bases with larger openings that fit craftsman routers. I have a few. I used MDF for the first one, but no matter how much I sanded/waxed it, I couldn’t get it to slide as smooth as lexan.

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widdle’s idea might be a bit dangerous and would probably trash your original base plate….just my opinion…something flat and smooth like MDF…1/4” or 1/2” thick for example….thats what I have used and didn’t have to spend $$ because I had small scrap pieces in the shop

-- Measure "at least" twice and cut once

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I’ll definitely have to try making some with MDF and take a look at Ace Hardware and/or the Milescraft universal sub bases.

You can also make a new sub-base out of 1/4” plywood or 3/16” Hardboard. I’ve made at least 3 so if I break one, I’ve got another. If you DO go with wood, I would cut some extra “viewing holes” in it.

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Easy to make out of 1/4” MDF. Carefully align the screw holes and drill a center hole w/ a Forstner bit.

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If you can find a shop that fabricates acrylic displays they might sell or give you scraps. The paper that protects the face of the sheet has a limited useful life. If you wait over a year or so it becomes very difficult to remove. So the scrap pile has an expiration date on it. 1/4” acrylic is plenty for a router base like you need. I have double face taped the original baseplate to the new one to drill the screw holes accurately. Use a drill press to keep the holes straight.

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I use laminate flooring for router bases and also for table saw inserts.

¼” Acrylic works great for router sub bases.

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