Router table and Router

Budget and Power are the first questions…..

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

which car should I get?

lol ;) just kidding… but your question is far too general… as sIKE said – what is your budget? what are you planning to use it for?

I’d do a search for “router table” on lumberjocks.com and see what other people have come up with – i’ll give you an idea to start with – see what people used, what people MADE, what people use it for, and how people set theirs up… get you started with ideas for your own :)

enjoy the ride mister!

-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Well, I like the stand on the Kreg portable table, and I like the Woodpeckers aluminum table insert, and I like the Freud fence, and I bought a Porter-Cable 890 router. Kreg wouldn’t sell me just the stand, so I made my own and added a 1 1/4” MDF top, laminated on both sides, and threw it all together. This spring when it warms up outside I plan on painting the stand. I call it a Fregpecker router table.

I’ve always heard the Triton routers are the way to go. I have one on my wish list but havn’t used one yet.

-- Alan, Prince George

Build your own table and install a WoodPecker’s Precision Router Lift (Generation 1 or 2).

There’s only one router … the Porter-Cable 7518. All the router lift manufacturers accommodate this router as standard.

-- Just 'cause a cat has kittens in the oven, it don't make 'em biscuits.

I have a Freud but build your own and you will be soooooooo happy with it!

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

I have a cast iron table from Bench Dog that mounts on my table saw. I was looking for some space savings and a little extra support on the saw. I must say I am very happy with my decision. As for the router I have all Bosch, dont remember the model, variable speed 2.25hp and it has been able to handle everything I have thrown at it. If I were to do it over I dont think I would change a thing.

-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com

I thought about attaching the router to a tablesaw wing but I decided that I wanted a portable router table like I had before. The problem that I could see with it attached to the table saw is if I needed the table saw, I’d have to move the fence, or take off the fence, and then lower the bit, then the router table would have to be setup again.

I won’t post a review until I’ve had more time with it, but thus far I’ve been very happy with my Rockler table. And with the 20% off coupon I had it was only $160. I can’t comment on durability yet, but it seems to work well.

I built this one (http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/JohnGray/blog/5615) and I love it. My main suggestion on a router table is to make/buy one that contains the under side of the table, you’d be surprised how much dust comes out the bottom.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

One thing I found out about building my own was that it was VERY time consumeing, and expensive. I think it turned out real well, and I’m happy with it, but I’m not sure I’d do it again. I do however think Woodpeckers makes the best aluminum router plate insert.

I built mine, including the fence and aluminum insert a few years ago. While the fence could be a bit better, and I’m working on upgrading that, it is a very good router table.

My top is 1 1/2” thick made out of 2 3/4” chunks of MDF laminated with simple kitchen countertop. The top sits on a very simple MDF square that was just glued and screwed together. I hinged one side for access if I need it, a bit awkward, I should have made a door.

I have a Freud 1700 sitting in it. It has above the table bit changes. It works decent, probably not as nice a a real lift but its a good deal with a budget (you can sometimes find them at Lowes online for 99 bucks for the 2 base kit, woodcraft has them on sale last I looked for 124).

I planed to put some T-Track in on the top for featherboards, have yet to get around to it. The extra thick top would help there.

I can’t comment on router table yet, as mine isn’t built (going to make a quick and dirty one first…to let me make the nicer one) whenever it actually warms up around here…

However, I bought a porter cable 890 series (2 1/4hp plunge and fixed base) from CPO, factory reconditioned, and it’s beautiful, and was very cheap that way!

-- "That which has in itself the greatest use, possesses the greatest beauty." - http://www.willmego.com/

As Woodchuck has stated it can become a hassle to have tobreak down the router table to use the table saw. I have found that with proper planning and milling sequence I have been able to minimize the number of times that has happened. In my situation, I dont have enough open floor space to dedicate to a router table. I have a 2 car garage that is shared with household storage. I am aware there are limitations to my current set up, but for now it works well for me. As for my router I have a bosch 1617evs, couldnt remember it earlier.

-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com

Ken, don’t get me wrong, I think the Benchdog cast top is very, very nice, but like you say, we all have different preferances on what works for each of us, or can afford.