Which table should I buy?

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.

pmspirito said:

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Denise, welcome! Spend some time reviewing all the posts in the table mounted and portable routing sections. You will find a wealth of information on home made tables for your shop as well as portable tables that are easy to move and store. For a first table keep it simple. Buy yourself a table insert, I bought the Rousseau from Woodcraft. It has removeable center rings to allow clearance for different sized bits. Woodcraft sells a template for making the cutout in your table, and a small mounting package which has a centering disk, screws, pin, all that you need to center your router on the plate and attach it. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. You will have to stop at a hardware store and buy a small tap and 4 allen screws to level the plate on the table.(cost about $5) Woodcraft also sells a set of the 10 most commonly used router bits in 1/4" or 1/2" shanks. I suggest the 1/2", more metal = stronger and less vibration. They run these bits on sale all the time, expect to pay about $5 per bit for decent quality. Once you have your router mounted to the plate use the template to make your cutout in a 3/4" piece of MDF, a sink cutout, even an old table works fine. Now you are ready to go. Save the cutout template! When you are ready to build or change to a new table it will be quick and easy.
One nice thing about this forum. There are always people happy to help. Good luck!

Mike