gotta start somewhere

Geoff some of those old tables were meant to fit a specific router, especially some old Sears tables. I don't know if that one was. Most newer tables go with a removable plate but that doesn't appear to have one so to mount a router of your choice to it you'll need to dill holes to match the pattern on your router. Most of us do that by taking the thin black plastic base off the router and use it for a template to mark the pattern.

A lot of us use the Grizzly plate because it's cheap ($13 when I bought mine). They don't come drilled for any router so you have to. Insert plates all come with one or more snap in rings to limit how much much space is left open around the bit. The smallest of the rings is usually sized so that it will accept guide bushings for doing pattern routing. We normally use those and bushings or centering tools or cones to center the router in the hole before we drill the plate. Unless you have one of those reducing rings that is sized for using template guides for your table then it's not an issue. You'll just need to get it as close to center as possible.

A large percentage of the members on this forum built their own tables. We have a long running thread showing some of them and it might be helpful to you to see what others have done. You can see it here: https://www.routerforums.com/table-mounted-routing/17212-wanted-pictures-your-router-table.html

thanx for the responses here, they helped put a few things into perspective.

Charles, that thread is fabulous and I get it. In poking around (lurking) this website looking for all things routers 101, and then posted an introductory thread a member stick responded with a link to a particularly helpful thread with much great info about this discipline. It led me to the member's tables thread and I said this is the kind of group I need. The Vermont American thoughts helped bolster my thoughts of where my head was on this part of the situation. Thoughts of something different, new vs. used vs. build my own etc. Saw this on CL and said for under $100 I could go grab it and likely have all I need to get started but I can build that for less...later.



Dan added to this and believe me I am a New Englander and frugal by nature. I can only imagine the rabbit hole that can be woodworking tools and the like. After reading these two responses I was settled on getting a functional table and bail on the Vermont American. While the idea of building a table is romantic I work a full+ time job and have plenty of time consuming things so I decided to purchase a table and start there with a new system all around. Came home and grabbed my laptop and ordered a Bosch RA1181 figuring it would be designed to work the best with Bosch router, it will be here next Wednesday.

Then I open the forum and see Marco has basically sent a link for a Bosch table.

Yes, trim in general is the focus and the truth is I have a tremendous amount of trim to do! We have been in remodel mode for a couple years and finish work is what is left for the most part. It used to be a colonial style trim which was easily purchased as needed but the house has gone in a different direction now. Shaker and industrial steam punk is where it has gone, and Diane (wife) found a set of shutters years ago at an antique shop that she loves. The profile on those is what we plan to duplicate for the most part with our trim. There are a number of other trim applications that are yet to be determined but it should be fun exploring options.

I will need a good deal of guidance and it sure seems like I came to the right place.

Geoff

I'm still using my now decade old Rockler brand table. I changed the plate out when I put in a larger router for the table only. I suggest you make your own, buy a plate that's pre drilled for the 1617. Find a source of real Baltic Birch ply and use it to make a top. Make it 3 ft long by about 24 inches wide. Lay the plate on that board and draw the outline. Then use a jig saw to carefully cut it out.

Kreg makes some leveling screws that you put in the corners of the cut out opening. See the picture below. You will then use the screws in the Kreg levelers to make the plate absolutely level with the Baltic Birch. If you can feel an edge with your fingernail, it's not quite flat.

As far as plates go, I prefer aluminum, pre drilled for the Bosch fixed base, and with twist lock type inserts. The pix below is of the plate I used and you can see the inserts are red. Some plates come with 3 holes to hold in the insert, but those screws instantly disappear.

The same small bolts that hold the round base on the router are sometimes used with the plate. but if you need longer bolds, you can find them in the odd piece drawers at Lowes and sometimes Home Depot. Pre drilled plates will let you use the Bosch provided bolts. They don't have nuts but thread into the fixed base of the router.

The fixed base is bolted directly to the plate. You can look for and find a Bosch part that is a "key" that allows you to do final adjustments on bit height.

You will need a fence. A really really straight piece of 2x lumber will do, or you can buy a commercial fence, most of which will a small dust port and have a variable split fence so you can open it to fit the bit. A couple of clamps from Harbor Freight $4-5 bucks each, will hold it in place as you run your stock up against it.

Stick with half inch shank bits, and Freud bits are very good and available at Home Depot.

One other item you might consider is a dust collection setup for your router. The picture below shows a bucket with a Dust Deputy cyclone separator, linked to a shop vac. The bucket collects most of the sawdust so you don't clog the shop vac filter. I'd go for at least a 14 gallon shop vac, and you might find one used in a thrift shop. That dust collection will save your lungs, that with a dust mask is very important. And, you will find sawdust gets under your workpiece. Keep brushing it away or it will lift your piece up a bit and ruin the alighment on assembly.

I also added a picture of the type table and fence I started with, vs a shop made fence with dust collection.

You could also check second hand stores for a wood table or dresser and use that for your router table.

OK, here are the pictures, including a fence. As always, they have jumped out of order, but you can tell which is which.

Geoff, You can mount your router with a couple of slabs of wood to hold your router to the table without modifying. You will have to shape them for your particular router. Mount to the holes you already have in the router table top.

spot on Marco. The remodel has been a wonderful journey.

I appreciate all the various input and am looking forward to setting up a work area and starting this process.

I think I will start a new thread for the trim design question posed by Art, but I have been given private message guidance on inserting photos in a thread so here is a picture of the shutter my wife found

and it may give you an idea of the simple chamfer edge with the tailing up before terminating.

thanx again folks, if this opening thread is any indication, I am thrilled to know that I can get sound guidance from a group of like minded members.

Geoff