Anyone used a Bench Dog router table..?

[Mac]

Hi guys,

Am thinking of picking up a router table and can get the Bench Dog Pro table for a good price. Anyone used one or have any comments about this company's stuff in general?  

Thanks in advance,
Rick

 

[raiderone]

Don't know which Bench Dog model I bought, but it was not flat with the Bench Dog router lift.  The particle board fence did not inspire accuracy.  I ordered mine from Amazon based on the reviews.  Had I seen it in person I probably would have passed.  I really like the Incra table and the various fences they offer.

 

[GPowers]

Nope, Bought the Kreg Router table setup. very happy.

 

[Tim Morris]

Rick,
Don't know which model you're are looking at but I've had the contractor pro top for about 5 years. I use it on site for small project and have been very happy with it overall. I just have a 1 1/2 hp router in it but it works well. Someone mentioned a worthless fence this model actually has an aluminum fence with sacrificial MDF faces that can be adjusted in and out for zero clearance. It keeps the fence very straight and vertical to the table.

 

[John Stevens]

Hi, Mac.  For more opinions, you might want to search the archives over at sawmillcreek.org.  Hope this helps.

Regards,

John

 

[Ken Nagrod]

If I remember correctly, the problems that people were posting with the Bench Dog products occurred after the company was sold off and manufacturing went to China.  If you can find the older stuff, that's what people had high praise for.

I believe Brice had told me he has a Bench Dog router table.  Rick, you might want to ask him questions.

 

[robtonya]

I've got the older one right before they sold it to Rockler. Mine is very nice, heavy too. I had recently ordered a new router plate from Rockler, and it is definetly not the same quality. I had ordered one to fit my Triton, and the plate I received did not match any holes. Had any of then actually matched up, the plate needed more machining to taper the holes, otherwise the screws would not of countersunk. I paid a priority shipping, and paid retern shipping, probably close to $30 lost in shipping it to and from. Rockler did refund my purchase price, and I wasn't going to chance it on another one. If i was to start over again, I think I would do an Incra table.

 

[Neill]

Hi Rick,

Now that tax season is over, I am back among the living.  I have the contractors top that I bought about 12 years ago.  It still works well and Bench Dog themselves have been very good in supporting this product.

The only problem I have had is that the insert plate is not the same size used by practically every other router table manufacturer.  So if you want to get a router table lift it is hard to get in the right size.  When I wanted to buy an attachment to be able to use my Porter Cable portable oscillating spindle as a bench top unit in my router table, I could not use it be because of the size.

Anyhow hope you are all well.  Let's talk soon.

Neill

 

[Mac]

Just wanted to thank you all for your comments, very useful as always. I might take a look at the kreg stuff too before I decide where I'm going.

Neill,  glad things are a bit quieter for you at last, I'll missed your posts. I'll drop you an email to catch up.

Cheers,
Rick

 

[Deke]

I have the Benchdog table saw extension table. As far as those extensions go, I think it has no competition. They do use odd size plates, but if you want iron too, it might be the one to get. If I were going stand alone, I think the Kreg would be top on my list. I think that fence is killer.