mikehop

I have a solid core door bench and was wondering if I could insert a router into it and make it a router table/workbench. Is this a good idea? If so are there any suggestions for making it more router table friendly, such as laminating the top or adding additional support?

Thanks,

Mike

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LeeC

Hi Mike
I have a workbench made fro a solid core birch door. It is 11/4 inch thick. You would have to rout out about 7/8 inch out of the door in order to get any adjustment with the router. If the router was permanently mounted, it would be almost impossible to change bits. In order to use an insert plate, you would have to relieve the surface by the thickness of the insert. This leaves only particle board to support the router. It would not last very long and your router would come out to see you. Leec

harrysin

I too have a bench made from a solid core door which has withstood close to 30 years of hard work, had I laminated it I'm sure that it would be on it's fourth covering by now, so in short, I would not laminate. As for fitting a router, it depends on a number of things including: it can't be easily moved around the shop and will there be enough clearance when a long length is being routed, also if a big job is being worked-on it's inconvenient if some part requires use of the table mounted router, in short, my recommendation is a separate table.

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Harry

Mike

Mike, mounting a router in the end of a large work table can be done but unless it is set up for a specific job your adjustments are very limited. I installed a router in the end of a similar table for a friend. He had this set up exclusively for use with the Oak Park box joint jig; he made a large number of cedar boxes and this was a permanent set up.

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Mike
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mikehop

Thanks everyone for your responses. I guess using part of this door asa router table is not sensable out so I will consider other alternatives.

AxlMyk

What you might consider is mounting the router and an insert plate in 3/4" MDF, and mount that into the door.

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Mike - Retired FoMoCo Tradesman
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