Need a top quality router table

[peter halle]

Christmas has come and my wife has told me to start looking for a top quality router table.  I would love to find out that the CMS was coming soon, but I have no more info than the rest.  [dead horse] [dead horse]

So guys, any recommendations.  Currently I have a Bosch portable that is a pain in my derrière.  I want a full size table.  Will be using it to do raised panel doors both with vertical raised panel bits and also the normal 3 1/2 - 5/8 diameter bits. I do not want a shaper.  I will not be using a Festool router.

Any recommendations?

Peter

 

[DKurzweil]

Have you checked out woodpeckers?

I have been looking into tables for a while now myself.  I have not settled on a table, but I am definitely eyeballing the woodpeckers super fence.

http://www.woodpeck.com/superfence.html

To me the table itself is useless without a quality fence and lift.  I am using a porter cable 690 series router which has a feature that allows it to be adjusted from above the table without the need of an additional lift. 

 

[BobKovacs]

I bought one at Rocklerlastyear when they were running a special with a free lift. I think I paid $299 for the top, fence, leg eset,, etc., and got a $200 lift for free.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Just get one of these, I am pretty sure they take router bits and would be better then a router for raising panels.

You can even take it with you places.

 

[peter halle]

Yes I am looking for a table fence stand combo.  A lift of some sort will also be part of it.

Darcy,

That looks like a small shaper.  Is it?  What brand is it?

The reason I want to stay router versus shaper is electrical supply.  My shop has one circuit for lighting and electrical.  I can not get more added.  I fully realize that is less than what is needed, but as a contractor who has had to build cabinets in people's driveways when it is 30 degrees outside, having a roof over my head and a temperature of approximately 60 degrees with lighting and power and 300 sq ft for a measly 200 a month is nice right now.

If things work out I would love to do a building at home.  Profitability first.

Love the suggestions.  Anyone have the Kreg?

Peter

 

[junk731]

Peter, take a look at the new Jeesem router table shown on the home page and mount the 3 1/2 HP Milwaukee router with remote on/off switch and variable speed control. Having the remote on/off with variable speed works great. I'm sure you should be able to find both on your side of the border.

http://www.jessem.com/
http://www.atlas-machinery.com/products/JessEm-Tool-Co.-05626-3-12HP-Router-Table-Motor-by-Milwaukee

John

 

[upscale]

Peter, take a look at the new Jeesem router table shown on the home page and mount the 3 1/2 HP Milwaukee router with remote on/off switch and variable speed control.

I've long considered this router setup, but one thing concerns me. It doesn't allow for those few times you might want to use it as a powerful handheld router. Can you buy shell/casing for this Milwaukee router to turn it into a hand held? And, if you can buy it, would it make more sense to just buy a complete unit and then add the variable speed control afterwards? And finally, does Jessem sell the variable speed controller as a separate unit?

Questions, questions.

 

[PeterK]

After several purchased table combos, I now have one I built. I like a really large top, a lift, an Incra positioner all on a mobile cabinet. Ended up with a 32"x48" top, Incra lift in a dust box, reinforced bracing to prevent sagging, Incra fence, all on a multi drawer cabinet. It is mobile in the heavy duty Jet mobile base. Really love it. My shop is very small so the top gets used for all sorts of stuff.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Yes I am looking for a table fence stand combo.  A lift of some sort will also be part of it.

Darcy,

That looks like a small shaper.  Is it?  What brand is it?

The reason I want to stay router versus shaper is electrical supply.  My shop has one circuit for lighting and electrical.  I can not get more added.  I fully realize that is less than what is needed, but as a contractor who has had to build cabinets in people's driveways when it is 30 degrees outside, having a roof over my head and a temperature of approximately 60 degrees with lighting and power and 300 sq ft for a measly 200 a month is nice right now.

Peter

It is a Delta LD shaper.  I think they all have 110/220 volt single phase motors.  They spin slower then a router and will do a good job making a half dozen raised panels here and there. 

I bet you could pick one up with some tooling for under 150.00 bucks.

With some casters and a simple base, you could roll it around your shop space and even take it with you, if you needed.

 

[erock]

I looked into a Kreg and a Incra table for a long time.

After seeing both tables at a woodworking show, I was sold on the Incra system.

I LOVE.....LOVE the Incra system.  I have a 3 1/4 HP  Porter Cable on a lift.  Bit changing is done from the top. 

If I had to buy a second router table, it would be an Incra system.

 

[tiralie]

I have the Master R Lift Excel (phenolic table) and heavy duty steel stand with the Milwaukee 3-1/2 Max HP fixed-base production router with electronic variable speed motor. Although the price may be closer to a shaper  I bought it because I didn't want to deal with 240volts single and/or triple phase motors just now.
The Paralign feather boards are nice. Adjusting the height is easier than any other type.

The lift is accurate and you can really dial it in and fine tune it, particularly for door/window stile and rail. I will add a digital readout. It can be time consuming to set up repeat cuts without it.

I do like the Bench dog cast iron top although I have never used one.

Tim

 

[Alan m]

you wont go far wrong with an incra top ,fence and lift. thats what i have(lift not yet but on the list). amazing kit. the best about it is that you can add on to it as you need it

 

[semenza]

I have the Incra Wonder Fence, A Woodpeckers PRL, and home built temporary table.  The temporary build must be too good because I am still using it  four years later  :

In any case the Incra Fence system is reeeaally nice. Other good ones  can do much of what it will but not everything. It may seem overkill to use the Incra positioner for  regular routing tasks, but the repeatable setting  and quick release adjustment are just great  even for simple stuff. The micro adjustment is especially useful and easy for fine tuning  a cut.

I think the PRL lift that I have is discontinued ,  but one of the current crop from Woodpeckers will do  just as well. What ever lift you get make sure it is easy to  make fine height adjustments and has some type of  display or read out. The PRL is so accurate with its dial once it is zeroed , no more guessing. Want to raise it a 128th?  Just give it an 1/8 of a turn. Nice  [smile]

I am using the PC 7518 (?) (the big one).  

I have used the set up for vertical raised panels, frame and panel sets,  some other big bits (1" radius round over), edge jointing, and all the small stuff.

Seth

 

[DKurzweil]

I know the woodpeckers fence can be adjusted to have an offset fence on the out feed.  Does the Incra fence have this capability?

Thanks

 

[Corwin]

I know the woodpeckers fence can be adjusted to have an offset fence on the out feed.  Does the Incra fence have this capability?

The Wonder Fence add-on to the Incra Positioner does, and a much easier and more precise adjustment than the Woodpecker fence allows. 

I don't have the Wonder Fence, but I do have both the standard fence on the LS Positioner and the Woodpecker's Fence.

 

[whitesys]

I mounted a Woodpeckers 27x43 table on an old MFT800 (extended to 44.5" long with MFT extrusions).
Using a Woodpeckers PRL with a PC 7518 and a Woodpeckers Super Fence.

The table is braced separately from the MFT so that is can be removed and stored.
I needed a table that was portable and could be broken down and stored as I am limited on workshop space.

I set it up so that I can also use the 27x43 Incra table and LS17 Incra Fence.

Dave

 

[peter halle]

Thanks Guys!

Any issues with keeping a 7518 or other heavy router installed and warpage?  Mounting plate and insert rings not being flat with the tables or mounting plate?  The reason I ask is that I have always had issues like these with other lesser expensive (cheap) tables.  My current table (portable table) has the nasty habit of lowering the mounting plate while the table is in use.  That is not fun.

Peter

 

[Kev]

Thanks Guys!

Any issues with keeping a 7518 or other heavy router installed and warpage?  Mounting plate and insert rings not being flat with the tables or mounting plate?  The reason I ask is that I have always had issues like these with other lesser expensive (cheap) tables.  My current table (portable table) has the nasty habit of lowering the mounting plate while the table is in use.  That is not fun.

Peter

Not a Triton is it? Route the wavy line ...

 

[ShawnRussell]

I had the Kreg top and fence and did not like it.  The Kreg had a bit of lateral slack to it that I felt introduced too much slop. I returned both and purchased the Incra system. They have not arrived yet, but I will let you know what I think.

I still have the Kreg lift, so I will have to see how all that works with the Incra top. I am sure I am gonna have to do some routing of the routing table. Hopefully, the Kreg lift is larger than the opening for the Incra lift.

 

[wnagle]

Peter, 

I have 4 different router table setups and a shaper.  I use my router tables for most work and only use my shaper occasionally.  the router table fences set up quicker and adjust easier and have better dust collection.  Porter cable 7518 routers have handeled anything I've needed.  I keep a large rabbiting bit in my shaper most of the time.  It is definitely underutilized.

My favorite top is benchdogs cast iron top.  I also have several interchangeable fence systems for that table.  Mostly I use the bench dog fence on that table and a freud fence when I need a fence that offsets the in feed and out feed.  I use a woodpeckers lift with a digital readout added. 

My favorite lift is jointec's digital, but it doesn't fit in Bench dogs table.  The jointec is in my favorite cabinet.  It is home made based on Norm Abrams design with a home made top.  Top is 2 layers of 3/4 mdf with formica laminate.  My favorite router is the pc 7518 but if I had no lift I like the bosch 1617evs best for a smaller set up.