Router table question

[VW mick]

Morning guys

I'm building a router table wich is the traditional cabinet design with a central box for the router wich is a porter cable 3 1/2 horse. It will be in a home made lift

The question is this. I will have extraction at the bottom of the box and behind the fence do I need to make a cover for the top of the router as it looks like there are air vents there and any dust will just fall into the top of the router

Any advice will be appreciated

Thanks Mick

 

[charley1968]

Which way is the airflow of the vents? If the air goes into the machine, i'd say yes.

 

[VW mick]

Charley

I've just plugged it in and tried. It blows air out the top

So does that mean I still need a shield to stop it blowing dust out the top of the table ? Suppose I will find out soon enough

Mick

 

[charley1968]

I think the DE behind the fence will catch most of it. That said: the OF1400 does sport a dust shroud that is to be used on and off the router table. Would building a 3rd point of extraction be feasible without 2 vacs or splitters?

 

[JimD]

I had a router table setup once that pulled from below the router.  I thought it made the router run hot.  The DC is trying to move air down while the router fan is pushing it up.  Seems like that reduces airflow through the router.  So I changed the pickup in the router compartment to up around the chuck of the router.  Used some flex hose.  That lets the DC help the router fan.  I think it's a better setup. 

 

[grbmds]

I have an Incra table/lift/fence/under table dust collection combination. I have occasionally taken router out by lifting the plate out and cleaned it up a little bit. There hasn't been too much to clean except where the dust kind of cakes up as it mixes with lubricants on the router. I don't believe that it's a problem as long as your dust collection is effective enough to pull most or all of the dust out. It's important that you make sure there is sufficient air flow from the top of the table down past the router and into the hose. If not dust collection won't be effective.

 

[VW mick]

Ok

Nice one thanks guys

I will let you know how I get on

Thanks Mick