A new topic/question to discuss

[OCtoolguy]

I'm thinking of either buying or building a bench top router table. I made the mistake of buying the one from Harbor Freight and I must confess, I'm disappointed in the router that came with it. So, I'm going to either change out the router or buy/build a different table altogether. So, my question is, who has, what brand, router, bought, homemade, etc. You get the idea. Something new to roll around here. I've looked at a couple of the better brands and I just hate to spend the kind of money they are getting just for the table. I have a Dewalt combo router, plunge router and also an old Porter Cable router that I inherited from my Granddad. He bought it new back in the 50's and it's still going strong. It's downfall is 7/8 hp and 1/4" chuck. So, let the games begin.

 

[Scrappile]

I have a Bosch 1617EVS mounted in a cabinet that I made from castoff kitchen cabinet.  I've had it a long time, has served me very will.  It has the Incra router plate with the magnetic inserts.  The top is hinged and I have to raise it to adjust the router height.  Lately I have used this set up more as I make picture frames so now I am wanting a router lift.  Haven't decided whether to build one I have the plans for or buy the JessEm one. 

Years ago, I helped a friend build this little bench top one.  It was the second project we did together after he asked me to teach him some about wood working.  The first thing we built was a folding workbench.  This little router table work well for him for many years.  By the way, it was only a couple years after he ask me to help him, he had a bigger, better workshop than I will ever have.  There was no stopping him.

https://www.woodstore.net/Benchtop-Router-Table-p/gr-00151.htm?Click=46506

 

[OCtoolguy]

18 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

I have a Bosch 1617EVS mounted in a cabinet that I made from castoff kitchen cabinet.  I've had it a long time, has served me very will.  It has the Incra router plate with the magnetic inserts.  The top is hinged and I have to raise it to adjust the router height.  Lately I have used this set up more as I make picture frames so now I am wanting a router lift.  Haven't decided whether to build one I have the plans for or buy the JessEm one. 

Years ago, I helped a friend build this little bench top one.  It was the second project we did together after he asked me to teach him some about wood working.  The first thing we built was a folding workbench.  This little router table work well for him for many years.  By the way, it was only a couple years after he ask me to help him, he had a bigger, better workshop than I will ever have.  There was no stopping him.

https://www.woodstore.net/Benchtop-Router-Table-p/gr-00151.htm?Click=46506

 

I'd love to have something like that Paul but I just don't have the space. It's got to be a bench top unit and preferably something like the Bosch pictured here.

[Scrappile]

Did you follow the link to the bench top one?

https://www.woodstore.net/Benchtop-Router-Table-p/gr-00151.htm?Click=46506

Edited November 19, 2019 by Scrappile

[Sycamore67]

I have a homebuilt router table with a PC7518 3.25'hp router.  I have a Incra router lift in the table.  It is a heavy duty router and gets a lot of use.

Edited November 20, 2019 by Sycamore67

[spirithorse]

That's a beautiful set up, Paul!

Ray, there are some free plans here https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/free-router-table-plans-1357138

and I am sure you can find more if you just type in something like FREE BENCHTOP ROUTER PLANS

or FREE ROUTER PLANS.

Good luck and God Bless! Spirithorse

[oldhudson]

I consider the router only second to the table saw in it's usefulness in the shop. (I used it this week to make a beading element on a shadow box project.) I had a shop built router table in the 80's. I got plans from Woodsmith Magazine. It had a Craftsman router with 1.5 hp. My shop was pretty small and I made it so that it would be mounted on a B&D Workmate. Thus I could hang the table and Workmate on the wall when not in use. I purchased a Rockler router table in the late 80's and upgraded to a Kreg router table when they came out with theirs. Maybe around 2000? (I might have kept the Rockler but in an attempt to make some modifications I really screwed it up.) Anyway I kept adapting the tables to be held in the Workmate, so I can have that floor space when not in use. At the same time I purchased the Kreg table I purchased a Bosch 1617EVS. I like the Bosch router pretty much but I've had the switch go on it twice already.  Here are a couple of pics. Note in the first (old) pic , my old Rockler table on the shelf. Also note, I've modified the Kreg/Bosch set-up with an auxiliary shut-off switch.

There are two big disadvantages to my system. 1) You need to set it up each time and then take it apart. 2) dust collection isn't nearly as good when the unit isn't installed in a cabinet. 3) a less important issue is you need to store bits/tools somewhere else - But if you don't have the floor space - this works.

 

One final note that B&D Workmate is one of the best tools I've ever purchased. 

Edited November 20, 2019 by oldhudson

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, Scrappile said:

Did you follow the link to the bench top one?

https://www.woodstore.net/Benchtop-Router-Table-p/gr-00151.htm?Click=46506

Yes, it's nice but it looks too big. I'd have to downsize it. But, it's a possibility.

[OCtoolguy]

39 minutes ago, oldhudson said:

I consider the router only second to the table saw in it's usefulness in the shop. (I used it this week to make a beading element on a shadow box project.) I had a shop built router table in the 80's. I got plans from Woodsmith Magazine. It had a Craftsman router with 1.5 hp. My shop was pretty small and I made it so that it would be mounted on a B&D Workmate. Thus I could hang the table and Workmate on the wall when not in use. I purchased a Rockler router table in the late 80's and upgraded to a Kreg router table when they came out with theirs. Maybe around 2000? (I might have kept the Rockler but in an attempt to make some modifications I really screwed it up.) Anyway I kept adapting the tables to be held in the Workmate, so I can have that floor space when not in use. At the same time I purchased the Kreg table I purchased a Bosch 1617EVS. I like the Bosch router pretty much but I've had the switch go on it twice already.  Here are a couple of pics. Note in the first (old) pic , my old Rockler table on the shelf. Also note, I've modified the Kreg/Bosch set-up with an auxiliary shut-off switch.

There are two big disadvantages to my system. 1) You need to set it up each time and then take it apart. 2) dust collection isn't nearly as good when the unit isn't installed in a cabinet. 3) a less important issue is you need to store bits/tools somewhere else - But if you don't have the floor space - this works.

 

One final note that B&D Workmate is one of the best tools I've ever purchased. 

Thanks for posting these pics. I have one of the original Workmates and I have to take mine apart and put it all away when not in use. That's why I really like that little Bosch enclosed unit. I'm really leaning in that direction but I'm going to check out all the plans and pictures that everybody is posting. I really like your setup but I'm afraid it's just to big.

 

[Rockytime]

I doubt this will be of much use to you unless you just do small things like I do. I just use it to round off small thing I cut on the scroll saw. 15 inches wide, mounted to the edge of a bench and chea... er inexpensive. I think under $150 including the little router which whips through 1/2" oak just fine.

[lawson56]

I had,a Sears/Craftsman 3/4 hp Router I got from my Dad,with a bunch of bits,I bought a big Table at a Fleamarket.It was also Craftsman,it was is pretty darn good shape.but they both set under my work bench most of the time.so when my Little Bro,started doing woodwork they went up to Ky. to be put to use.

[JimErn]

I have an old, very old Ryobi table saw that works for me, and it came with a router mount in the sliding side panel of the table.

I know they sell a router table leaf extension for a lot of saws, something like what you see in these pics, or build the add on

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/775252523325611588/

edit found one, https://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-T10222-Router-Extension-Table/dp/B006SJEG5W

I have to agree with @oldhudson that B&W workmate is one of the most versatile, handiest things to have in any shop

Edited November 20, 2019 by JimErn

[Bill WIlson]

12 hours ago, octoolguy said:

I'd love to have something like that Paul but I just don't have the space. It's got to be a bench top unit and preferably something like the Bosch pictured here.

I have this table and like it very much.  It has a lot of nice features.  I used a cheap Craftsman table for many years which was very limited in what I could do with it.  I always intended to build my own someday, but kept putting it off.  Finally I saw this on clearance one day, at Lowes and made an impulse buy.  I've been very happy with it.

[trackman]

My wife found this craftsman rotor at a goodwill I think for $25. All I need.  You can find them on EBAY sometimes  

Edited November 20, 2019 by trackman

[OCtoolguy]

15 hours ago, Rockytime said:

I doubt this will be of much use to you unless you just do small things like I do. I just use it to round off small thing I cut on the scroll saw. 15 inches wide, mounted to the edge of a bench and chea... er inexpensive. I think under $150 including the little router which whips through 1/2" oak just fine.

That looks neat Les. I like it.

[OCtoolguy]

5 hours ago, Bill WIlson said:

I have this table and like it very much.  It has a lot of nice features.  I used a cheap Craftsman table for many years which was very limited in what I could do with it.  I always intended to build my own someday, but kept putting it off.  Finally I saw this on clearance one day, at Lowes and made an impulse buy.  I've been very happy with it.

Well everybody, thanks for all the great ideas. I just found/bought this Bosch table, minus the router, for $100 in like new condition so I guess that solves the situation. I would love to be able to have a router table in combo with my Dewalt portable table saw but it isn't set up all the time. It only comes out when I need to make some cuts. I try to plan ahead and do my cutting all at one time so I don't have to go through the whole hassle of setting it up. Thanks to all of you for your pictures and suggestions. I think the one that I bought will be great because most of the mess will be contained in the cabinet. And storage will be easy too. A very small footprint. I can't wait to use it.

[NC Scroller]

If you are only planning to do a simple round over or an occasional chamfer almost any router with a 1/4" chuck  will work.  If you are trying to make fancy frames and cut daddos you will need a router which can handle a 1 /2" bit.  

[rjweb]

Ray,

I see you said you found and bought the Bosch table, which one did you purchase, RJ 

[OCtoolguy]

5 minutes ago, NC Scroller said:

If you are only planning to do a simple round over or an occasional chamfer almost any router with a 1/4" chuck  will work.  If you are trying to make fancy frames and cut daddos you will need a router which can handle a 1 /2" bit.  

I agree. I have the Dewalt that has both 1/4 and 1/2 collets. I'll leave it mounted in the cabinet and use my old P/C for free hand work. It's limited to 1/4" shank bits. I'm like Les in that I only do small projects anymore. If I have occasion to make something large, I have to set up on my driveway and hope nothing gets stolen. Next project on my list is security cameras. I already have motion lights but I want to see who the thieves are. We are starting to see more homeless & transients in our park at night. Sad!

[OCtoolguy]

49 minutes ago, rjweb said:

Ray,

I see you said you found and bought the Bosch table, which one did you purchase, RJ 

The white one that I posted the picture of above. This one.

 

Edited November 20, 2019 by octoolguy

[rjweb]

Very nice, I have the 1181 blue one, Bosch makes a real nice product, good luck with it, RJ 

[Bill WIlson]

Ray,  I think you will like that table.  The only thing I would caution you against is not to be too ham fisted when tightening the wing nuts that hold the fence to the table.  I suspect that, over time, one could begin to draw the head of the bolt up through the slot in the table, if one wasn't careful.  I haven't had any problems with mine yet, but those wing nuts give you a lot of grip to really torque those screws and the head of the bold isn't much larger than the slot in the table. 

I only have my shop vac hooked up to the collection port behind the bit.  I catch a lot of chips there and most of the rest end up in the cabinet.  I need to get a splitter so I can attach to the bottom dust port, in the back of the cabinet as well, but it hasn't been a big issue for me, yet.

I've dedicated the Bosch router to being permanently mounted in the table.  I like the above the table height adjustment that is part of the Bosch set-up.  That table also comes with a starting pin for doing free-hand routing on curved edges.  That is a nice feature and takes some of the pucker factor out of starting a rounded profile into a spinning bit.

[OCtoolguy]

6 hours ago, trackman said:

My wife found this craftsman rotor at a goodwill I think for $25. All I need.  You can find them on EBAY sometimes  

I see you have that Craftsman rotating table. I wish I had room for something like that. There is one on C/L for over a year now and the guy is asking $500 with 3 cheapie tools included. I saw another one for $100 that went really fast. Great idea. 

[OCtoolguy]

37 minutes ago, rjweb said:

Very nice, I have the 1181 blue one, Bosch makes a real nice product, good luck with it, RJ 

Thanks RJ. I think it will outlast me.

[OCtoolguy]

12 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said:

Ray,  I think you will like that table.  The only thing I would caution you against is not to be too ham fisted when tightening the wing nuts that hold the fence to the table.  I suspect that, over time, one could begin to draw the head of the bolt up through the slot in the table, if one wasn't careful.  I haven't had any problems with mine yet, but those wing nuts give you a lot of grip to really torque those screws and the head of the bold isn't much larger than the slot in the table. 

I only have my shop vac hooked up to the collection port behind the bit.  I catch a lot of chips there and most of the rest end up in the cabinet.  I need to get a splitter so I can attach to the bottom dust port, in the back of the cabinet as well, but it hasn't been a big issue for me, yet.

I've dedicated the Bosch router to being permanently mounted in the table.  I like the above the table height adjustment that is part of the Bosch set-up.  That table also comes with a starting pin for doing free-hand routing on curved edges.  That is a nice feature and takes some of the pucker factor out of starting a rounded profile into a spinning bit.

Thanks for the warning Bill. I'll take it apart and put some fender washers under the heads of the bolts. That should help. I would love to have that above table feature for adjusting the router too. I might have to think about selling the router I have and buy one with that feature. Or, I might jerry-rig some way to do it with what I have. Time will tell. I can't dedicate too much time to it because I want to concentrate on the scrolling. The router table is strictly for the dressing up of what I cut as Les said. By the way, I just bought a 5 piece set of cove bits w/carbide blades and 1/2" shanks and guide bearings, on Amazon for $20. I needed the 1/8" for a special project and nobody would sell it by itself. This set arrived and I was very surprised at the quality. No box but great bits. I think with tax it came to $21.54 and I had some credit so I got them for free. This is the set......

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KYMG11L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1