My shop space is limited and I have always used a small 24" wide portable router table that I just set on top of my work table when I needed it. While designing a new work table I decided it would be convenient to combine a router table extension that could fold out of the way when not in use.
The work table is 24" x 36" x 34" tall and rides on four locking casters. The table top is extends to 54" long with the router leaf raised and supported by two arms. The main table top is 1 1/2" thick with a top layer of masonite hardboard. The router table is 1 1/4" thick with a top layer of formica and pivots on two arms held in place by 1/4" cabinet bolts which screw into threaded inserts in the main table top.
The router table is supported by two triangular brackets when in the raised position. Each bracket is held in place by a 1/4" hanger bolt and a 1/4" steel pin which was made by cutting the head off of a bolt. A quick release knob locks the bracket in place when the table extension is raised.
The front of the table cabinet has shelves and will eventually have drawers in the large open area on the left. The back of the cabinet has pegboard storage for my table saw miter gauge, the router table fence, various push blocks, and other stuff that never had a real home and were constantly moved from place to place.
I installed a Kreg plate in the router table extension and since my Dewalt router has both a plunge and fixed base, the fixed base is attached to the router plate. The motor is kept in the plunge base when I'm not using the table. I was able to scavenge the router table fence and on / off switch from the Ryobi portable table I had been using.
My old work table was just a piece of 3/4" x 24" x 36" pine that rested x-shaped legs. It was convenient and I've used it for many years but it wasn't all that sturdy. This new table gives me a strong, stable work surface that can be extended to 54" as well making table mounted routing much more convenient. Plus, the table can be easily wheeled around the shop when necessary.
The work table is 24" x 36" x 34" tall and rides on four locking casters. The table top is extends to 54" long with the router leaf raised and supported by two arms. The main table top is 1 1/2" thick with a top layer of masonite hardboard. The router table is 1 1/4" thick with a top layer of formica and pivots on two arms held in place by 1/4" cabinet bolts which screw into threaded inserts in the main table top.
The router table is supported by two triangular brackets when in the raised position. Each bracket is held in place by a 1/4" hanger bolt and a 1/4" steel pin which was made by cutting the head off of a bolt. A quick release knob locks the bracket in place when the table extension is raised.
The front of the table cabinet has shelves and will eventually have drawers in the large open area on the left. The back of the cabinet has pegboard storage for my table saw miter gauge, the router table fence, various push blocks, and other stuff that never had a real home and were constantly moved from place to place.
I installed a Kreg plate in the router table extension and since my Dewalt router has both a plunge and fixed base, the fixed base is attached to the router plate. The motor is kept in the plunge base when I'm not using the table. I was able to scavenge the router table fence and on / off switch from the Ryobi portable table I had been using.
My old work table was just a piece of 3/4" x 24" x 36" pine that rested x-shaped legs. It was convenient and I've used it for many years but it wasn't all that sturdy. This new table gives me a strong, stable work surface that can be extended to 54" as well making table mounted routing much more convenient. Plus, the table can be easily wheeled around the shop when necessary.
