Thoughts on MFT/Router Table Combo

[mculik5]

I am a hobbyist woodworker. I am planning to build a router table using the Incra LS Super System.

Lack of space is a major challenge for me at this time. I live in a small house with a one-car garage and a finished basement (not suitable as a work space). Most of my woodworking is done on my driveway.

I already have a MFT/3. As much as I'd love a dedicated router table, I'm not sure where I'd store it.

What are your thoughts on cutting a hole in the MFT/3, inserting a router lift, and using the Precision Plate (http://precisiondogs.us/products/precision-plate-v20) to allow relatively simple installation/removal of the Incra fence?

My thought is that this setup will allow the MFT/3 to do double-duty as general purpose table and a router table, which will save space at the expense of a somewhat time consuming conversion from one purpose to the other.

Any major pitfalls I'm not seeing? Has anyone tried this?

Thanks.

 

[Slartibartfass]

the only pitfall i could see is that you loose some variables in hole alignment if you cut out a piece of the MFT/3 when you would use the table (and rail) and dogs for angle cuts.

Also you loose depth of cut if you want to cut longer dovetails with the incra ls positioner.

 

[Daver]

I think you could give yourself more flexibility if you
a) had enough room and went the CMS-VL route (you could make your own version).
or
b) made a second MFT top that was dedicated as your router base. You could build it with some battens horizontally under the work surface to make the work surface flatter/more rigid.

Either one of these ideas would allow you to preserve your existing MFT top's full capabilities. I find myself using all areas of my MFT top, depending on the work I'm doing.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Perfectly doable. Some people here on this board did it already and posted pictures. A good search should yield some results.

 

[Bohdan]

I did it and found that the weight of the router slightly dipped the table. This was corrected by bolting a steel brace underneath the table between the MTF rails with an adjustment screw to reset the table flat.

I placed the router plate in the middle but I think that if I did it again I would offset it to one side to allow more flexibility in router setups. Having the LS fixed on dogs makes setting up really fast and easy.

 

[mculik5]

Thanks for all the comments. I'm debating between putting the lift in the MFT/3 and attaching it to the end. Glad to hear the Incra plate works well.

 

[mouppe]

You'd be better off using a separate top to cut into for your router module. This will enable you to still use your MFT original top with your TS saw, and all the holes for clamping where necessary. If you remove a large centre section- in reality probably more towards the rear of the top to allow you more space to rout in front of the router fence- you may also interfere with the workings of the mitre gauge and fence on the MFT. You would have to remove the MFT fence to enable the hose to be attached to the router fence- what a pain every time.

I modified an MFT top for use with a CMS router module, but I use the MFT with a different top when I use it as an assembly table. It's just a plain old rectangular piece of thick MDF cut to size and painted.

I would also be concerned with the weight of the plate over time. An MFT/3 top is quite large and sagging is a possibility, particularly if you leave the router in place underneath. My top is unaffected as it is for the older and significantly smaller MFT800.