Posts Tagged ‘do it yourself’

Here is another feature project that you just have to look at.  First of all, the whole thing is beautiful, I think I would be afraid of using it in my shop.  It could easily be furniture in my house.  My router tables get scratched and used and covered in dust and scraps, I would probably be cleaning this one off everyday.  Notice the very good design using a Jessem Router Lift.  There is tons of storage which will help you keep all your router accessories in one spot.  I also love the top which has the wood trim around the edges.  This makes for some great detail work, even the on/off switch is wood and matches the table beautifully.  Again the whole idea of feature other woodworkers projects is to stimulate ideas.  You may not walk away with the idea of having bookmatched front doors on your router table, but it may spur you on to make something similar and that is the whole idea.

This is a decent video for getting some good ideas. I love getting ideas and the jig this guy uses is pretty simple and has more applications than he is showing. He talks about:

• Making tenons
• Using alternatives to aluminum router table inserts
• custom jigs
• using a climbout cut which is tear out free

Here is another featured table.  This is a router table extension for a table saw and is a great example of “out of the box” thinking.  I really like the use of tweaking the project for the table saw.  Of course this saves a lot of room but it also solves a lot of problems for the small workshop.  This has been reprinted with permission to inspire you with your own design.  Almost all woodworkers have a table saw in their shop, adding this type of router table can give you a great workspace without taking up addtional space on the floor.  It also serves as a great extension for the saw, which will help you if you cut your own stock.  This is an awesome project that has been done excepetionally well.

Here is my new router table I finished this weekend. I still need to add the leveling screws to bring the plate up 1/64”, as well as build an auxillary fence but the table is all set. This was a lot of fun to build, and I can’t wait to actually use it.

The process:

I used 2 sheets of 3/4” MDF and glued them together. I then cut that slab down to size as I knew the glue would cause them to slide around a bit and not be completely square.

Once that was done I used contact cement to glue an oversized piece of white formica on the top. Once it was dry I used a flush trim bit to get the formica the same size as the MDF. (I knew I was going to put a border of 3/4” maple around it so I obviously adjusted the size of my table accordingly.)

The next step for me was to cut all of these maple border pieces and miter them. They are 3/4” x 2” x Length Needed. I lined them up in a dry fit to make sure they fit together. I then drilled 5 5/16” holes in the edge of the cast iron where the maple border was going to connect to. Once it was drilled I lined up the maple that was going to be there and made it flush with the table top and traced out the holes on the maple so I could see exactly where to drill. I also measured where the T-bolts were going to slide in on the rails and marked off the two side pieces of maple so I could drill them at the same time. I used 3 bolts for the front fence and 2 for the rear fence.

After drilling the holes and dry fitting just the 3 border pieces of maple to the saw using the bolts, and making any adjustments, it was time make a slot for the nut, bolt, and washer under the table. This part was a little tricky for me to figure out but I kind of did it as I went along. I used a forstner bit to drill down (from the bottom of the table) about 3/4” to allow enough room for the nut to spin on the bolt and enough room for the bolt to go past the maple. The big question for me was going to be ‘how do I tighten the nuts once I slide the bolts table onto the fence. I ended up using a chisel just wider than the nut and pared away at the MDF (which was very easy) to create angles on each side to move a combination wrench at least 1/6 of a turn so I could pull the wrench out and do it again.

Once these were set I needed to secure the maple to the table. I ended up using my Kreg Pocket Hole jig and did 8 screws each on the 27” sides, and 6 screws on the 20” sides. I clamped everything down to my table saw to actually screw it together, being the flattest surface, in order to try and get the table and maple border flush with each other.

At this point I put the bolts in and slid it into the table and tightened it down. I also used lock nuts on every other bolt. It may be overkill but I didn’t want the vibration of the table saw or the router to cause the nuts to get loose. After all of this I just routed out a place for the miter/ttrack as well as the router plate.

Edit: Added retractable/folding legs to the router table for support.

To make both of these legs I ended up getting 1” aluminum tubing that is 1/16” thick, leaving 7/8” inside diameter. I then bought a 7/8” poplar dowel to fit inside of it. I used 2 feet of each material so it would overlap by 1 foot, but still be able to fold up to just over 2 ft total. I used some angled aluminum as the brace with a coupld of #10 screws and a nyloc nut. On the bottom of the poplar I also added a t-nut so I could thread in an adjustable foot depending on where I move my saw and how level the ground is. Once I got the basice height set I drilled a 1/4” hole through both the aluminum and poplar to put a pin which will hold it steady until I want to fold it up.

Here is a very interesting bench top design that can easily be built quickly.  Its simple design shows you how you can save some real money by not buy all the “official” router accessories and using some brain cells instead.  I really like the simple design of the fence.  You only need to small pieces of angle bracket to hold it square.  The all wood design really saves some money since aluminum fence cores are very expensive.  This builders project is sure to give you some great ideas on how to build your own custom table.  Be sure to incorporate the use of router bit storage into your design as shown.  This will help keep your shop neat and clean and keep all your router related items together in one spot.  We also would like to encourage you to submit your project to be featured on the website.  The aim is to help your fellow woodworkers with interesting or simple design and get good ideas yourself.  That is what woodworking is all about.

This was (is) my first Router table, and was made about 2.5 years ago. As you can see it is not a high quality piece of equipment, and has no finish on it.

I bought the T-track, cam-locks, and dust collection nozzle from Rockler, and the isolation switch from a local hardware store specifically for this job. I also bought the knobs from Rockler on special, but as part of my starting stock for future Jigs that I knew I would be making one day. Other than that, I had some plywood offcuts, some brandering and some Aluminium angle lying around from previous jobs. The power plug was also a leftover from a previous home repair. The sacrificial MDF fences were leftover from when I replaced my RAS sacrificial table. The table-top was rescued from a dumpster when my then office had some remodeling done.

I had seen a similar design somewhere on-line, but couldn’t find it when I decided to make this, so I basically went by memory. I didn’t “design” it so much as sketch a basic idea on my RAS table and the rest was done on-the-fly. The table-top needs to be replaced sometime soon as the old one is curving from humidity. I probably won’t replace the top,but rather make a new table for my new workshop while making the cabinets. I’ve done a basic design in SketchUp for the new table which includes better dust collection.

This is a short video that shows an easy short cut to making some nice looking raised panel inserts.  It highlights using both the table saw and the router table.  His technique saves some life on your router bit, which is always good.  The Highlights are:

• One cut pass on raised panel bit
• stack dado blade, rabbit groove
• sacrificial fence on table saw
• roundover or ogee cut on route table

As you may know, we love router tables. We like to build them, talk about them and profile them and when we find a good one, we always like to share what we have found. This particular router table was found in the popular Lumberjocks forum, and what a beauty it is. We have permission from the builder to reprint and feature the router table because the design and outcome is so GOOD. This is the Rolls Royce of router tables because of the great design and the great features.

The main benefit is for you to get some good ideas and see what other folks are building out there in their workshops. If you have a router table that you would like featured on our site please contact us at supportibn@gmail.com.

This is a router table I’m working on for my shop. I was able to incorporate most the features I needed and plan to use it often. It isn’t finished but most the major parts are in place. I purchased the Incra twin linear, router table top, woodpeckers router lift and the porter cable 7518 motor from Woodpeckers Inc about 6 or 7 years back. Finally, she’s in working order.

Since the last post I was able to complete the rear portion which really dressed up this side of my table. I needed a place to keep the large Incra template guide booklet handy. Again I included dowels in the construction of these new parts, this kept things looking uniform.

There’s also a new picture of the inside of the vacuum enclosure.
Some of the important features include:

* locking casters
* 16” ball bearing full extension slides for all 4 drawers
* concealed hinges on the inset doors
* grizzly power switch and aux power outlet on the front of the cabinet
* Power is supplied by a 30 foot cord reel (I just installed a male plug to the end of the reel) built in
* I put 3/8th” stained dowels in the panels of the doors and drawers on the sides
* the dust collection enclosure is fabricated out of 1/2” mdf (the inside is smoothed, all corners have a 1” radius filled in and the bottom is made with an mdf frame and fiberglass in order to maximize dust flow) hooked up to 4” thin wall drain pipe (pvc)
* the reason the two side doors open facing the operator is for future bit or accessory storage access
* Incra template library drawer (I built a series of removable boards which house templates on both sides behind 1/8” lexan or acrylic)
* plexi windows for viewing the router and lift in action
* constructed from different types of pine and mdf

Future plans include:

* trimming out the inside of the cabinet around the plexi windows
* would like to add a Wixey digital router lift gauge
* need a coat or three of Polystain or some finish haven’t decided
* use this table more and master all that its capable of!

You can also see more information about Incra fences here.

Product Description-Incra Precision Tools LS25WFNCSYS

Everyone knows how famous Incra is for making super accurate tools. Just having one in the shop shows that accuracy is important to you. The tops and joinery systems take your woodworking to the next level. And lets not forget, they look really really awesome.  $679

Product Description-Incra Precision Tools LS32-TS-WF

The new INCRA LS32-TS-WF offers the one thing that every table saw fence should have that none does – namely, Automatic Positioning Control. All other table saws depend on a tape measure and your eyesight to position your work. That’s why all table saw users are resigned to the fact that a good cut requires long set-up times and endless trial and error. The INCRA TS-LS completely eliminates the need for these tedious processes by using INCRA’S patented lead screw technology to position your work instantly and automatically to within 0.002″.

Even better, if you want to repeat a cut, you can return to any former position in less than 5 seconds with ZERO repeatability error. This kind of accuracy and perfect repeatability are luxuries that woodworkers could only dream about before the INCRA TS-LS. And because of its structural design, centrally placed carriage, and optimized side mounted clamping system, the entire unit virtually welds itself together into one solid block of steel and aluminum when locked in place. The result is exceptional strength, rigidity and stability.

Includes-Incra Precision Tools LS32-TS-WF

32″ Range INCRA LS32 Positioner
Pair of 72″ TS Rails
Base Mount Unit for LS32
TS-IIIA Rip Fence
INCRA Wonder Fence
INCRA Shop Stop
INCRA JUMBO Right Angle Fixture
Master Reference Guide
51-Piece Template Library
All Instruction Manuals
82-Minute Instructional DVD
Router Table Extension Wings NOT Included

You can find the Incra LS32-TS-WF here

or

This is Bench Dog’s only small router table. It is what we call a “mini cabinet” It has all the features of their larger cabinets but in a smaller size that is designed to fit under your work bench. This table would be good to take on the job if you do any sort of contracting work. It has all the good design features that you come to expect from Bench Dog and the price is reasonable. $239

Top

• 24” x 16”
• Laminate covered
• Miter Gauge slot with ¼ accessory t-slot
• 8 Leveling screws
• Fits all standard Bench Dog Inserts

Fence

• 22” x 3 5/8”
• Adjustable sub fences
• Bit guard included
• Jointing capabilities

Insert

• 2” bit hole
• Phenolic
• Predrilled for these routers only: Bosch 1617series, DW616/618series, DW621, DW625, Fein RT1800, Hitachi M12VC, Makita 1100series, Milwaukee 5615/16/19 series, Milwaukee 5625, All Porter Cable, Triton MOF001 and TRA001

Cabinet

• 15” inside height 22” outside height
• Birch Ply
• Rubber Feet
• Twin steel rail supports

Customer reviews

There are quite a few customer reviews for this product. I have taken a brief snapshot of them to give you an idea.

1. Excellent portable router table
2. Better Than Most, But Still Some Issues
3. Well-Made Table
4. A Best Buy in Router Tables
5. Perfect router table for a weekend warrior
6. The FINEST Benchtop router table at ANY price!
7. Quality well built table
8. Excellent Portable Router Table
9. quality product
10. solid, well-built router table

You can find this table at Bench Dog 40-001 Router Table

Here is a table that often gets overlooked. It is a full sized cabinet table that is comparable in features to the Larger Bench Dog 40-300 table, but a lot more inexpensive. This table is a custom table that is sourced and built for Router Table Depot Customers. When you look at the price, remember to factor in the larger delivery fee on bigger tables. As with all large router tables, this one is heavy and costs about $100 to deliver. Even adding that to the price still brings you in far less than a name brand table. It really has good looks too, plus a really nice cabinet with lots of storage. Price $469

At this printing there are no customer reviews for the table, but we will add them as they become available.

From the site:

RTD presents a little something different, a custom hand built router table. If you’re tastes vary from the typical name brand table, this deluxe router table might just be the ticket. It is chock full of features and is bound to help you create all sorts of unique projects and special memories for you and your family.

Cabinet

• Cabinet is constructed of solid wood core Oak veneer panels. This material is not common plywood, it is solid wood laminated on both sides with Oak veneer, very strong! Inside shelves are mdf Built in floor leveling system compensates for uneven floors and keeps the unit stable. Total height to table surface is 35”.
• 2 drawers hold 28 – ½” bits, 2 drawers hold 36 – ¼” bits and 1 wrench drawer. Lower storage drawer is mounted on KV roller slides and large enough to hold several routers. The side 2 ½” quick-connect dust port draws dust through the fence and out of the router compartment while ventilating the router motor.
• Router compartment light is great for changing router height and bits. Plus being able to see the work as it contacts the bit under power. Once you use a table with a light you will wonder how you ever managed without. On/Off switches for the Router and Light are mounted in front for easy access. Both recessed for safety. Two 120-volt receptacles in back. Equipped with 6′ Power cord and casters.

Top

• Top is 22″x 30″ x ¾” thick with durable ThermoSet Plastic Melamine on both Top and Bottom surfaces. Table edges are thickened to 1 ½ and wrapped in Oak for durability and plenty of heft for clamping fixtures down. Two ¾ steel reinforcement struts run the width of the table top to insure it stays flat Plus two additional steel bars under the router opening to support large routers without worry. The 9-¼”x 11-¾”x 3/8’ opening in top is sized to accept many of the most popular router lifts. Clear 3/8”Acrylic plate with 6 leveling screws ships blank for custom fitting to routers up to 3 1/4 hp from All manufacturers.
• Plate is offset to the backside of the table to allow more working surface in front where it’s needed. Aluminum ¾” x 3/8” miter track runs the width of the top.
• Steel Reinforced

Fence

• The fence is constructed of 9 ply cabinet grade ½” Baltic Birch using glue, brads and screws with enough supports to insure it stays square.
• The fence is mounted to the table with large Star Shaped comfort grip knobs. A few turns of the large knobs and the fence lifts off, leaving a smooth unobstructed table for pattern and freehand work.
• The 4 1/4″ tall-segmented fence is ideal for control and accuracy in vertical routing operations. The top section has a “T” slot along its length for attachments such as feather boards, hold downs, stop blocks and guards. The lower section opens from 0″ to 3 1/2″ for the safe use of larger bits. Fence adjusts Forward and Back 5″. Dust is collected through the fence from under the table surface.
• T-track on fence is included

Shipping

• After inspection the top and base are removed for shipping. Assembling the table, with the supplied hardware, is a simple project requiring only a few minutes.

• Assembly and illustrated router mounting instructions included.
• Fixed rate shipping on this item. ($89) No shipping outside of USA nor canada, HI, or AK

• This table needs 7 to 10 days lead time, this overrides the statement that says it ships in 2 to 3 days.