Your choice..
Router Table options
Hello all, this is my first post on the site, but I have been around lurking for quite some time. Unfortunately, there aren't too many good sources of detailed information for routers...
I am planning on upgrading my router setup to a router table (never had one before) and have been obsessively comparing options and different ways to do things.
I would love to hear the thoughts of some more experienced router fans here on my proposed builds.
Option A:
Milwaukee 5625-20
Jessem Mast-R-Lift II
Incra LS Positioner Supersystem
Homemade Table and Base (MDF/Plywood/Valchromat, maybe maple top?)
Option B:
Dewalt 618
Jessem Rout-R-Lift II
Incra LS positioner Supersystem
Sawstop Cast Iron 27" x 16" Router tabletop, on a homemade base.
Option C:
Triton TRA001
Incra LS Positioner Supersystem
Sawstop Cast Iron 27" x 16" Router tabletop, on a homemade base.
Dust collection and Safety remote switches would be incorporated into all options.
Essentially what it boils down to is:
For ROUGHLY THE SAME MONEY -
Option A - $1169
Option B - $1018
- should I focus more on the ROUTER and LIFT (and get what appears to be the king of both fields), or should I focus more on the TABLETOP (and get a cast iron top) with a slightly less powerful (although certainly very capable) router/ slightly less robust lift.
(Option C being the route (no pun intended) designed to save a little money upfront, perhaps waiting to upgrade down the road).
In terms of experience - I am definitely on the "newer" end of woodworking, and have mostly only edge-routed, with some light experience making dadoes for a torsion box table a couple of times.
I believe that the Incra LS Positioner system will enable me to get more into routing for joinery and will open up more project plans that I wouldn't have otherwise attempted with another fence system.
I am open to hearing other options and counterpoints from more experienced members!
Thank you
I am planning on upgrading my router setup to a router table (never had one before) and have been obsessively comparing options and different ways to do things.
I would love to hear the thoughts of some more experienced router fans here on my proposed builds.
Option A:
Milwaukee 5625-20
Jessem Mast-R-Lift II
Incra LS Positioner Supersystem
Homemade Table and Base (MDF/Plywood/Valchromat, maybe maple top?)
Option B:
Dewalt 618
Jessem Rout-R-Lift II
Incra LS positioner Supersystem
Sawstop Cast Iron 27" x 16" Router tabletop, on a homemade base.
Option C:
Triton TRA001
Incra LS Positioner Supersystem
Sawstop Cast Iron 27" x 16" Router tabletop, on a homemade base.
Dust collection and Safety remote switches would be incorporated into all options.
Essentially what it boils down to is:
For ROUGHLY THE SAME MONEY -
Option A - $1169
Option B - $1018
- should I focus more on the ROUTER and LIFT (and get what appears to be the king of both fields), or should I focus more on the TABLETOP (and get a cast iron top) with a slightly less powerful (although certainly very capable) router/ slightly less robust lift.
(Option C being the route (no pun intended) designed to save a little money upfront, perhaps waiting to upgrade down the road).
In terms of experience - I am definitely on the "newer" end of woodworking, and have mostly only edge-routed, with some light experience making dadoes for a torsion box table a couple of times.
I believe that the Incra LS Positioner system will enable me to get more into routing for joinery and will open up more project plans that I wouldn't have otherwise attempted with another fence system.
I am open to hearing other options and counterpoints from more experienced members!
Thank you
1 - 4 of 4 Posts
My opinion is that the cast iron top is great with the saw but I don't see an advantage of using one in a separate table when there are other choices available. I personally went with the Woodpeckers phenolic table top and Super fence but built the cabinet and added the JessEm Mast-R-Lift II for its ability to handle any router motor out there. I found the plans I wanted and added the top, fence , and lift. The plan did have the information for the fence build but I wanted that fence. After building the router table I 1st used one of my Bosch 1617EVSPK motors which worked just fine but later upgraded to the JessEm router motor with remote power and speed controller. The router table is probably the second most used machine in my shop. I found and used the Crestonwood router table plans which I think is a variation of the Norm Abram plans. Mine is here
1 - 4 of 4 Posts
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