Posted: 1/8/2016 2:03:49 PM EDT
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I'm looking at a Bench Dog Brand router table. $299 on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002242E?keywords=bench%20dog%20router%20table&qid=1452275964&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1 This is basically the upper limit of what I'd spend on a table. It also seems to have good reviews. What table do you have? What else should I be looking at? I have little experience with routers... but it's time to get one and my projects would benefit. |
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22.8" tall means you are going to have to mount it to something to raise the height of the table.
Bench Dog makes ok products. Kind of the low end of the wood working scale. The table you linked is made for 1 1/4 HP routers That will limit it's use to smaller bits. (no raised panel bits). Bottom line, it will get you by until you decide to upgrade and buy / build a proper sized router table with a 3+ HP router. |
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There's nothing wrong with a stand alone table when space isn't at a premium. You can also just buy a top and fence system and make your own. If floor space is at a minimum and you have a table saw, another option is a Router table top which attaches to your table saw wing with a couple of nuts and bolts, and two lengths of black iron pipe. You have a router table when needed and another wing on your saw when not. |
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Shop furniture is a great way to hone your skills before tackling in house projects. A router table is an easy project.
Here's a bunch of plans for you |
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Does OP have a table saw? If you do, just make an extension off the side with the fence rails. Double up some 3/4" MDF and glue on some laminate, and get a good baseplate - I have a woodhaven plate and router lift, but would like to upgrade to a Jessem or Incra lift. Very similar. The PC 3.5 router motor is a good power source.
Norm abram has plans for pretty much the exact router table you want. I think American Woodworker started the design. Popular Woodworking owns that brand now, so they may have plans too in their store. Why not have a go at building your own? It will be cheaper. And be good practice building cabinetry. It doesn't even have to be that complicated, but having a means to enclose the router does help control dust. They generate and throw lots of fine chips. |
here's what i use: simple, sturdy and cheap. you can use it to build one of those fancy ones... |
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Yep - I just looked around to see if I could Mod my table saw - but It's very limited. Dewalt 745 compact contractor saw. You'd think I'd learn when I pick up new hobbies - buy once cry once. NO I cheaped out and couldn't resist the "sale", even though there was a decent full sized saw available for only $599. I'm very tempted to build a router table based on the designs linked in this thread. Got to browse around Rockler.... |
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Covertness' router set is waaay over the top.
Buy a router base plate nd a few other items from Rockler but make the table yourself. It is fun, rewarding and will get used as much or more than your table saw. Really, having a good router set up opens doorways for you. |
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Quoted: Covertness' router set is waaay over the top. Buy a router base plate nd a few other items from Rockler but make the table yourself. It is fun, rewarding and will get used as much or more than your table saw. Really, having a good router set up opens doorways for you. Yeah covertness recommended I build a router table, and he really wasn't kidding when he said it would open up a whole new world of options |
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Quoted:
Yeah covertness recommended I build a router table, and he really wasn't kidding when he said it would open up a whole new world of options Quoted:
Quoted:
Covertness' router set is waaay over the top. Buy a router base plate nd a few other items from Rockler but make the table yourself. It is fun, rewarding and will get used as much or more than your table saw. Really, having a good router set up opens doorways for you. Yeah covertness recommended I build a router table, and he really wasn't kidding when he said it would open up a whole new world of options Yes, what I want to know is how come it is so clean??? 
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Stopped in the Rockler store in Oregon today!! Damn candy shop is what it is! I picked up a table top and some other stuff. I'll make a cabinet for it soon, but I also bought a stand for it... all on sale for $299. I should have bought their dovetail jig too. I just finished an all cedar rustic style kitchen island, bar height, 6'x4' with shelves and storage for a new cabin we have... and now I'm working on a king size storage bed. |
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Quoted:
Stopped in the Rockler store in Oregon today!! Damn candy shop is what it is! I picked up a table top and some other stuff. I'll make a cabinet for it soon, but I also bought a stand for it... all on sale for $299. I should have bought their dovetail jig too. I just finished an all cedar rustic style kitchen island, bar height, 6'x4' with shelves and storage for a new cabin we have... and now I'm working on a king size storage bed. It is a toy store for big boys. Do not rush to buy a lot of tools and jigs. I once bought a 24" wide Leigh dovetail jig (current Rockler price, $819). I've used it once. It has been stored beneath my workbench ever since. There are so many ways to do joinery, I have just never needed it. I'd suggest buying a book on wood joinery and reading/practicing those methods. |
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The leigh jig is probably great if you are doing a lot of the same thing, like a small production shop.
I wasted my money on one too. But I don't think it was quite that much, maybe $400-500. Still a good bit of money. Then on a small cabinet I was building that only had one drawer, and struggling with the setup on the Leigh, I figured why not try cutting dovetails by hand. And they actually turned out fairly decent that first time. And no cookie cutter look. |
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Look around Woodhaven http://www.woodhaven.com/
Purchasing more than a table top is rarely worth the money. Router bit shafts should not be stored in foam for the same reason guns should not. Temperature swings will cause surface rust. |
| I simply bought the Porter Cable table to go with the router. Not nearly as nice as the taller home built units, but I don't have a wood working shop, so I need to be able to tuck it under some stairs or another bench while not in use. Real estate is at a premium with all my hobbies. |
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Build it the same height as a table saw.
Handy extension for long pieces. If I really need to work on long stuff the table-saw on the in-feed end drill press table on the out-feed. I also have a large table extension for the Unisaw. 70 inch rails. There is a hole for a router insert near one end in the extension. I can use the table saw rip fence for the router. It has steel cables (Paralok style) that keep it dead straight as it moves and locks down. Works like a drafting table with a loop of steel cable. All on the 'JetLok' fence that came with the saw. |