Router table plan

[mouppe]

Lots of tips in this thread about good router tables so I will mention my crappy router table which I detest so as to steer you away from anything like it.

It's a Freud portable router table which cost me $200. Portable means small, cheap and rubbish. The fence is awkward, hard to line up, and has very limited "travel." The central insert broke. (Stick with the metal rings from Woodpeckers or Lee Valley.) The table itself is too small to properly balance the wood entering and exiting the router bit.

The dust collection is shocking- most of the chips end up underneath the table.

Changing bits usually means removing the router.

When I use it on the floor it is way too low. When I put it on the table it is way too high. So it's at the wrong height all the time!

Oh, but I DO like the switch box that controls the vac and the router.

I would never buy this table again for even $10, and it is on my list of things to upgrade. But that's a long list and a new table can wait a while.

 

[WoodChuckWoods]

I am about to embark on several cabinet making projects for: shop, business & home. My old router table, the original Freud kit, and old  Makitta router that does not slide or plunge both need replacing.

I have studied these pages and come up with a plan.

The work
The cabinets I make will be simple frames. Our home is Dutch Colonial with plain 2 1/2- 3" trim around doors and on the existing kitchen cabinets. I plan to continue the theme. I think the main use of the router table will be to cut some sort of rails & stiles with one of the router bits designed for the purpose. After I finish the cabinets I am interested in making some matching furniture/bookshelves.

Table parts & construction
I am thinking about buying a good table top, fence & maybe a coping sled. I would then build a cabinet to house the table. I do not think my volume of work justifies a lift for the table I am thinking about purchasing a Triton-Plunge-Router. I would build a cabinet with casters to house the parts and accessories.
http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2080240/Triton-Plunge-Routers.aspx
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2081354/30460/Woodpeckers-24-x-32-Phenolic-Router-Table-Top.aspx
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2020443/28259/36-Inch-Pinnacle-RF3-Router-Table-Fence.aspx
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2081567/30717/Woodpeckers-Coping-Sled.aspx

Any other thoughts on this hardware and plan?

I am finishing my cabinet for my router, and i did a great bit of research before i bought my router and top. i ended up going with the triton with built in lift, loved it so much i got another one so i could set up rail and stile separately. i then got the kreg router table top and fence witch so far i love but i have not spent a whole lot of time with them yet just a few projects. hoped this helped 

 

[Sparktrician]

First, to BonesBR549, great job on the router table.  Your beloved spouse is to be commended for her glasswork. 

I've been using a portable BenchDog router table for years with good success, with a base permanently mounted inside for my Bosch 2 hp router.  The time has come to do something with more capabilities.  I've been considering the larger BenchDog router table, but with a phenolic top from Woodpeckers, along with the PRLv2 to accommodate a 3 1/4 hp Milwaukee or P-C router motor, to be permanently left in the table.  The Woodpeckers, Incra and JessEm fences are being considered.  Still haven't made up my mind yet on the fence.  Since it looks like we won't be seeing the CMS in NA any time soon, it looks like this may be the best alternative, leaving my OF2200 for the operations where the router table won't quite do it well. 

[smile]

 

[RONWEN]

I have the Woodpecker PRL-V2 lift with a Milwaukee 3-1/2 hp. router -- The router is a real workhorse (fairly quiet) & I'm very happy with precise adjustment with the lift.

 

[Michael_MA]

Just found a nice wooden router table, which seems fairly easy to build - and to modify to any need
sorry, the comments are in German, but the Video explains itself the idea behind..

kind regards, Mike

Der mobile Frästisch im Einsatz

 

[mastercabman]

, along with the PRLv2 to accommodate a 3 1/4 hp Milwaukee or P-C router motor, to be permanently left in the table. 

I have the Milwaukee 3.5 hp,and i'm not very pleased with it.It has an overload protection switch that  keeps on tripping too easy.My 2.25 hp Bosch router does a better job !!

 

[MacMitch]

So Ken got me interested in the JessEm's. I like junk's JessEm setup. The more I think about it, the more I like the JessEm Mite-R-Slide vs a Coping Sled. For some reason I was not even thinking about presenting a piece of work to the router at an angle until Ken mentioned it. The flip up fence attachment looks like it would be very handy.

I am having trouble figuring out what, if any, features the Mast-R-Lift II might have that would benefit me over the Rout-R-Lift II? Equally I am pondering whether or not the Mast-R-Fence II has features I might want vs the  Rout-R-Fence? I do not see significant advantages to the higher priced items from studying the pictures or features lists. It appears that the Mite-R-Slide will work with either fence & lift. I was hoping to save a little money on the fence and lift to put into a Mite-R-Slide. I have a friend who lost the tip of a finger to a router mounted in a table. The frightening thing for him was he is not even sure how he managed to do it. I would certainly feel more comfortable having a Mite-R-Slide to hold on to instead of trying to balance a piece of work against router bits by hand. I am thinking that a Mite-R-Slide and my Grr-Ripper would keep my fingers relatively safe. Looks like I could easily add hold downs etc. to the Mite-R-Slide fence. Since many point to the fact that a plain wooden fence works well and many get along without any lift....

I am a little confused by the Milwaukee router package that junk pointed out. The switch that comes with the package has the speed dial which seems like a nice feature. What I do not understand is the switch appears to be a JessEm part, but I do not find it on their web site. That package costs $549. Wow JessEm is offering a Rout-R-Lift II Complete Table System for $499.99. The Milwaukee model 5616 is available for $168.99.

The JessEm Complete Table Package seems hard to pass up. I want to make my own stand but it would be nice to have a metal stand to start. I imagine it would be easy to build around the steel stand. I am wondering what JesssEm is about to come out with that Ken is waiting on?

http://www.jessemdirect.com/Rout_R_Lift_II_Complete_Router_Table_Package_p/rout-r-lift%20ii%20kit-1.htm

I am wondering about router bits now. This might actually be where I should have started, but I don't think I will have any trouble running any of the small-medium size bits I am thinking about with the components of a Rout-R-Lift II Complete Package and a Milwaukee 5616 router. Maybe I will start a new thread on router bits....

 

[Sparktrician]

You can't go wrong with Whiteside or Amana router bits. 

[smile]

 

[junk731]

I know that JessEm doesn't sell the Milwaukee package anymore, a friend phoned them looking for it and they told him to try on-line dealers. The switch you see on the JessEm site is their own on/off.

Here's an Amazon link to the router:  http://www.amazon.com/JessEm-05626-Milwaukee-Rout-R-Table-Variable/dp/B000W3O3GM

The main difference between the Masterlift 2 and the Routerlift 2 is the Masterlift will fit a variety of routers while the Routerlift 2 is router specific. The Masterlift was the only unit available when I purchased my setup. Also if you checkout Incra you will see their Routerlift is of Jessem manufacture with a different locking ring.

The  main difference I notice between the 2 fences are the scales, I personally use them all the time but its a spot where you can save some money.

Just a personal note, when I started looking for router table setups, being in Canada, we didn`t have great access to a lot of products available to you that live in the US. Then JessEm came along and we had a great product without the hassle of crossborder shopping. A lot of manufactures have really stepped up to the plate with router products but Jessem still has some unique offerings. I have no connection to JessEm just enjoy using their products.

John

 

[MacMitch]

John,

Thanks for following the post, again. I saw that link before. The picture of the switch in that link is what makes me curious as the switch in the picture, with variable speed, has what looks like a JessEm label on it. Maybe JessEm makes it specifically for Milwaukee?

In addition to the greater variety of routers the Mast-R-Lift II can handle I think it has an anodized aluminum top with maybe improved locking. I can't tell for sure but the picture of the Rout-R-Lift II looks to have a phenolic insert. JessEm also has a Rout-R-Lift FX, which mentions having the anodized aluminum top, which is priced between the Rout-R and Mast-R. I think the Rout-R will serve my needs, as I want be using multiple routers in my table. I got a PM about the Hitachi M12VC 2 1/4 HP router, which fits the Rout-R-Lift II Kit-1-12. It apparently is very quiet but powerful. I have read of people using it for raised panels which leads me to believe it will handle anything I have planned.

I agree on the fence, the only difference I see between the Mast-R and Rout-R is the measuring devise on the Mast-R. The fences seem to both have the same place to locate a measuring tape so I assume I could add one to the Rout-R, although getting the tape placed correctly might be a challenge.

I believe all the other features of the Mast-R & Rout-R Complete Table Systems are the same, making the $350 savings on the Rout-R more than enough to cover a Mite-R-Slide. Almost enough to cover the Mite-R-Slide and the Hitachi M12VC 2 1/4 HP router.

Unless someone knows something about the soon to be released JessEm router table gear that I might want to consider I may just jump on this deal.

 

[mishle]

Just found a nice wooden router table, which seems fairly easy to build - and to modify to any need
sorry, the comments are in German, but the Video explains itself the idea behind..

kind regards, Mike

I have been wanting to buy a router table but I think for my needs right now this would be perfect.

Think I will take this idea also to mount my jigsaw under

 

[Ken Nagrod]

MacMitch,

I've been investigating the parts to make a new super router table for myself.  While it might not be what you need, JessEm has a lot of options that with help from the company, I think you'll be very happy.  Try calling them tomorrow.  I'm not positive they'll be open between the holidays, but it doesn't hurt to try.  They know their products better than all of us.

The table setup I'm waiting on is the new Mast-R-Lift Excel.  I don't know what the new name will be yet.  It's a solid phenolic top without any plate insert so there's no possibilty of the wood catching the edge of the plate as your routing it and the sawdust won't collect in the plate gap plus you don't have to deal with plate leveling.  Their new top of the line Mast-R-Lift is mounted directly under the top with the addition of a vacuum pickup right where the lift is underneath to keep sawdust out of the router as well as the vacuum connection at the fence.  The new lift mounts any router motor they say and has a brake mechanism to prevent a height change while routing.  The top has the ring inserts around the bit area.  The fence is the new version as well, Maste-R-Fence 2, that has the scale on top and extra track for mounting hold downs plus the new 1/16" & 1/32" combo insert for offsetting the outfeed fence for jointing work.  I will try to insert a link to the older version of this setup so you get an idea of it.  It's not on their current website because it's been out of production for about a year.   www.jessem.com/MAST-R-LIFT_EXCEL.html

The specials JessEm has on their router table packages include 4 of their great featherboards if you didn't notice.

 

[MacMitch]

Ken,
Very interesting info.. I like the idea of a top without an insert. The whole thing looks great. I'm not sure I will want to invest what I am thinking they will want for it, thanks to you, I am sold on the Mite-R-Slide which is helping to drain my budget ;-) I will certainly be checking into those items tomorrow though.

Thanks very much for the hot tip and link. The link BTW works just fine.

I saw the specials include featherboards. The Complete Packages include a stand and the featherboards for almost nothing an outstanding deal IMHO.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Good luck to you in your future router table use and keep us posted on what you selected and what you think of it.  Thanks!

 

[Pete Pedisich]

Just found a nice wooden router table, which seems fairly easy to build - and to modify to any need
sorry, the comments are in German, but the Video explains itself the idea behind..

kind regards, Mike

Der mobile Frästisch im Einsatz

Michael, thanks for sharing this great video!

 

[MacMitch]

Apparently JessEm is closed until after Jan 3, guess I have to wait until then.

 

[Texastutt]

IMHO if you are doing it as a hobby, or you have lot's of spare time in your shop (2009 for me, but no shop). that wooden set up in the german video looks fantastic, you could build a cabinet around it easily nuff, Or leave it small and flat if space is a premium.