[NewMontanaWorkshop]

I agree with making a simple top also. I am in the process of making one from scraps and cut-offs from a local cabinet shop. So far there is only one piece of wood included that I paid for , which is the 1/2" Baltic Birch top.

http://bt3gallery.fhauto.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=RouterTable

There are a number of things that will change when I build my next table (or modify this one), but it gave me some ideas just building this one.

If you have any cabinet shops near you, they can be an excellent source of scraps for smaller projects like this.

 

[NewMontanaWorkshop]

The cut-out was done with a jigsaw, cut the top piece of 1/2" Baltic birch first, then used that as an edge guide with a trim bit to match the second layer of 1/2" MDF. The bottom layer is 3/4" ply and the hole was cut slightly smaller to create a 1/2" lip for the plate leveling screws.

Again, this project was done using cabinet shop cut-offs and 'found' items, with the exception being the piece of BB ply. The 3/4" plexiglass was an experience to work with, but I just found a local source for 3/8" Phenolic and will be making another top in the next couple days.

The first table built works much better than what I had before, but as mentioned above, a lot is learned from making a 'first' table, which will make the second and any following tables that much more 'personalized'.

Eventually I'll be purchasing a Vacu-Plate system, but I think this table and the next one will get me by for now.

 

[NewMontanaWorkshop]

Agree, cabinet shops can be quite handy for a variety of stock. From one -- I've gotten quite a bit of Baltic Birch ply, another has laminated chip-board (which is where I picked up some tossed stuff that will make my next router table).

I'm now making a list of all the cabinet shops in the area so I can do 'drive-bys' on a regular basis to see what's available.

Don't overlook your local contractors either. I have a friend that works as a secretary for a contractor, she has gotten permission for me to 'dumpster-dive' the large haul-away dumpsters. She has my list of times when I'd like to go see what has been tossed and calls me when various construction sites reach that stage.

(Note: Do not go right after the drywall has been installed . You'll come out looking like a ghost and it's hard to get to the good stuff which will be buried under layers of drywall).

I recently built a corner shelf unit that needed a 2-1/2"X2-1/2" post for the back corner. Lacking any other 'goodies', I ran a bunch of oak trim cutoffs through the thicknesser making them 48" long by 1/2" X 1/2". 25 of these glued together made a nice post of just the right size, which was then faced and routed to receive the side panels.

The neat thing about this is my sister (who the corner shelf was made for) can let people know that part of the shelf "came out of the dumpster".

 

[NewMontanaWorkshop]

Router Table Top #2

Here's the update on the router table top. I bought enough phenolic plastic to make 3 router plates. The top is a single piece of melamine (again a cabinet shop cut-off).

The fence is one that was made a while back for use on the table saw router plate, it will be replaced after the holidays with a better one make from Baltic Birch as the MDF managed to warp and the fences are no longer in the same plane.

This table top has been used to route about 18 picture frames for Christmas gifts and has worked great for everything I've asked from it until I get the vacu-plate -- then it will be time for table top #3.

 

[NewMontanaWorkshop]

Hey Stan I just steped out into the shop to make sure my fence was still there as yours is a dead ringer for the one I made. The vac-u-plate is sooooo coooool. I am obsessive about keeping a clean shop. I don't have a big dust collector but rather a substantial shop vac that follows me around like a puppy. Everything from the biscuit jointer to the planer gets attached. Your will be very pleased with the vac-u-plate.

Heh, a fairly common design I'd say...

Understand what your saying about a clean shop, I'm not obsessive -- but I do prefer to get what dust I can at the source as I don't like having to take the time to clean all the dust up later....

I'll even make some strange looking setups to try and catch what dust I can.