Oak Park Router Table

B_Rod

Okay, my table arrived about two weeks ago but me and my entire family(3 year old, 3 month old daughter, and wife) got bit by the worst cold ever. I finally have some energy back! I am new to routing and have a couple of questions?

The Oak Park table takes all of about 5 minutes to setup! It feels pretty solid. I do have a couple of issues with the table but I'm not sure how important they are.

The first is the router mounting plate does not sit flush with the table top. The plate fits pretty tightly in the cutout and I cannot make it sit flush to the table. I would estimate it sits about 1/16" above the table. I ran some material across the table top and it grabs on the mounting plate.

The second is that I cannot center/align the circular cutout in the mounting plate to the router bit. I used the brass alignment pin and centering disc when mounting the router, but the bit is noticeably off center. How critical is this? Should I return the mounting plate? I dont see a way to adjust this misalignment since the router is mounted with with countersink screws which self center in their slot. I am using the 3 hole pattern in the Bosch 1617.

Thanks for the help.

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Woodnut65

Hi: I have the same table and the plate sits just slightly higher than the table. That's intentional to avoid hitting the table on the out-feed side. I would advise you to call Oak-Park on the phone, they have techs that can help. I have found them to be a good company to deal with. The plate not centering with the router is another matter.
I would check with them to confirm that it is the proper plate for that particular router,
and if it is it may not be drilled properly. The bit must center in order to use guide bushings. It also must clear all of the bits that use a bearing for a guide.
That's my 2c worth.. Woodnut65

Hamlin

Call Oak Park. The plate does sit slightly above the table as Woodnut as said. The bit however HAS to be centered. Back off the mounting screws, with the brass pin chucked up, let it recenter. If it's still not centered then the plate may be defective. They will make it right.

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bobj3

HI B_Rod

1st. let me say I'm a big fan of Oak-Park equipment but things do go wrong now and then... why not just fix the error..

You didn't say how far off the mounting screws holes are, if it's with in a 1/8" you can fix it easy, just drill the holes out just a bit..(in the mounting plate)

The plate should fit FLAT with the table top, just use your router and cut out some of the stock that's under the plate (the lip..) use a pattern bit..
Place the plate under the pole stop to set it right...but I would go down just a bit more and put in 4 Allen set screws in the corners ,in that way you can adjust it just right...

Or you can pack it all back up and tell them to make it right,,but I would send both parts back to make sure they get it right..

Good Luck
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B_Rod

Thanks for the help guys. I do like the table, It fits my needs well. The mounting plate has countersunk slots in it so moving them the required amount, i would guess about 1/8", is not an option as I don't think the the screws would lock down very well after that. I will give them a call to see what they can do?

There seems to be a difference of opinion as to whether the plate should sit flat on the table or not?

Drugstore Cowboy

I've never bought anything from Oak Park -- but have heard a lot of good things about them. But as mentioned -- a bad apple can slip through on any company.

As for the router plate sitting so high above the table it snags on the infeed side - personally I wouldn't like that - and would assume as you did - that it was a flaw.
If it is an intentional part of the design as some have suggested -- I would think Oak Park would mention this in their documentation to avoid confusion. I know the Rousseau plate has a slight rise in the center and they make it very clear that it is intentional.

As for the bit not being centered in the guide -
obviously that means the bit is further from the guide on one side than the other -- clearly NOT a good thing if you are relying on specific measurements.

As for routing out this - or reboring that -- or modifying -- whatever --
To me the whole point of buying a kit that is advertised as being ready to go on assembly --- is just that. If I'm going to have to redo it -- I would rather just build it myself from scratch. --- but thats just me.

Personally I would call them and explain the problem as you did here -
get them to explain to me what if anything I was doing wrong
-- and if they couldn't then request them to make things right.
From what I have heard in this forum -- I would bet you get good service.

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Should avoid interrupting
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curiousgeorge

B Rod, the edges of the plate should set perfectly level with the table. If it is too high or low your work piece will catch on it. You should be able to slide the work piece across the table and plate as if it were all one surface.

Edit: Sorry DC, looks like your post just beat mine.

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Hamlin

The video "Router Magic" with Bob R. He states that the plate sits slightly higher than the table. So that the workpiece won't catch.

Where's Rick & Bob to help answer this?

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Ken

***Please fill in your profile, at least your location. As this will help us help you better.***

"A VETERAN"
"Whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life". That is HONOR, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -Author Unknown

Drugstore Cowboy

Just curious --
Does that video come with the table?
Or is that design feature mentioned anywhere in the documentation?

If so and a user just doesn't read it -- not Oak Park's problem.
If not ---- I think they are making a poor choice in not making it clear right up front that this is something they did on purpose and why.

I don't see how they could not know people were going to question this.
Bet a steak dinner B_Rod is not the first to consider it a flaw.

Mind you -- I am NOT criticizing the table -- it looks cool.
Clean lines - lightweight -- simple - sturdy.
If I had had the spare cash laying around when I built mine -- I might have bought it and saved myself some time.
But if I had -- I too would have wondered why the plate didn't 'fit right'

__________________
The one who says it can't be done --
Should avoid interrupting
the person doing it.

Hamlin

Hi DC. When I purchased mine, back a few yrs ago, the video came with. I'm not sure if it still does or not. I've just checked OP's site and not seeing it listed as being included. If this is the case then the customers are missing out on some major info.
The video shows how to mount the plate to the router, assembly of the table, introduces the box joint jig.

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Ken

***Please fill in your profile, at least your location. As this will help us help you better.***

"A VETERAN"
"Whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life". That is HONOR, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -Author Unknown