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..

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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….

-- Measure "at least" twice and cut once

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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