🏅 10 Best Router Table – [Reviews & Guide] - Updated Mar

It incorporates all the best features foundin those store-bought systems at half the cost! At AW weve had the opportunity to study and use most of the router-table systems on the market. From that experience weve designed our own fully featured, easy-to-build router table. Youll save enough to buy yourself a new router!

The All-Important Fence At the heart of any great router-table system lies a well-designed fence. Ours offers all the best features identified in our router table tool test AW 92, February : An easy-to-use, tool-free fence can be set and adjusted in an instant Photo 1.

Easy-to-make sacrificial subfences can be adjusted for any size bit or used to create zero-clearance openings Photo 2. Quick, rock-solid fence settings are made possible byT-tracks in the table Photo 3.

For fine adjustments, leave one hold-down tight to create a pivot point for the fence. Fence-mounted T-track for attaching accessories Photo 3. A dust port for picking up the debris that routers kick out. The Sag-Free Top In this article well show you how to build flatness into your top and keep it there.

Our tops features include: A dead-flat top that will never sag because its supported by weekend woodworker router table zero built into the cabinet Fig. A, below. A versatile offset router mount puts the router near the front edge for easy access and easy stock feeding. This is where youll do 90 percent of your routing.

The other 10 percent will be at the back of the table, which offers more table support for routing large stock, such as door panels Photo 4. Plastic laminate for a weekend woodworker router table zero, durable top. We put the laminate on both surfaces to protect and stiffen the top. Theres plenty of storage plus the following features: The capacity to handle the largest routers on the market for a router table that approaches the capabilities of a shaper.

A pair of doors on the front and back cut weekend woodworker router table zero while giving you access to the router from either side of the table. An external power switch no wiring required makes routing easier and safer. Easier because theres no fumbling under the table to turn on your router. Safer because who wants to be opening doors and groping for the power switch in an emergency? A Host of Great Accessories Even if you already own a router table, youll want to build these accessories.

Theyre designed to increase safety and improve results. Here they are: Featherboards are like having an extra pair of hands Photo 5. Theyre easy to make Fig. C, Detail 1, below and probably the most used router-table accessory. Easy-to-make, sacrificial subfences allow you to make a zero-clearance opening for super-clean, super-safe cuts. Simply slide the infeed fence slowly into the spinning bit. T-tracks provide slide-and-lock adjustments for maximum versatility.

They make for super-smooth fence adjustments and convenient attachment points for accessories. You can work at the back of the table to take advantage of the large setback to support big stock, like this door panel.

That way youre not having to divide your attention between feeding the stock and keeping it from falling off the table. C, Detail 2, below. The router-table sled eliminates the need for a miter track Photo 7 and Fig. C, Detail 3, below. A free-hand guard for safe routing when a fence wont work Photo 8 and Fig.

C, Detail 4, below. The guard attaches to the T-track at the front of the table. Routing is done from the back of the table utilizing the large table space for support of the panel stock. The guard is adjustable to allow for stock thickness of? A tall fence is provides extra support for vertical routing Photo 9 and Fig. C, Detail 5, below. Youll need a tablesaw, router, jigsaw, belt sander, drill and drill press to build this table.

Well build from the bottom up, starting with the cabinet. It serves as a solid foundation for the working parts of weekend woodworker router table zero table. Here we go: Build the Cabinet 1. Start by cutting the cabinet and top parts according to the Cutting List, below. Assemble the cabinet with butt joints and screws Fig. Use the toe-kick F as weekend woodworker router table zero spacer for setting the bottom shelf Photo 1.

Check for square as you weekend woodworker router table zero. Add the braces E and G to support the top. The narrow brace G at the front of the cabinet makes it easier to adjust the router. Cleats R are glued at right angles to the support beams to provide a flange for screwing the top down onto the cabinet. Hang the doors with self-closing, surface-mount hinges.

Build the Top 5. Then, trim the substrate flush and square Photo 3. Glue on the two short pieces of hardwood edging Q. Trim to finished width on the tablesaw leaving the hardwood flush with the front and back of the substrate Photo 4.

Glue the long hardwood edge P to the front and back of the top. Trim and sand the hardwood edges flush with the MDF. Then, round the corners with the belt sander.

Now youre ready for the plastic laminate. Glue the plastic laminate S to the top and bottom of the substrate with contact cement Photo 5. Trim the laminate flush with the weekend woodworker router table zero using a flush-trim bit. File a slight bevel along the laminate edge to remove the sharp edge and prevent chipping. Cut the recess for the mounting plate with a router Photo 6.

Cut the hole for the router with a jigsaw. For greater detail on cutting the opening for your mounting plate, see AW 85, February. Photo 1: Assemble the cabinet with butt joints and screws. Use the toe-kick as a spacer for locating the bottom shelf. Spring clamps are like having a third hand for supporting cabinet parts during assembly. Photo 2: Glue together the two top pieces on a flat surface, such as your tablesaw.

Sandbags wrapped in plastic to avoid spills provide the clamping pressure. This will give you two clean edges to place against your tablesaw fence as you cut the top to final dimensions see Photo 3. Photo 3: Trim the built-up top on the tablesaw using the two offset edges against the fence. Youll have to make four cuts to get the whole top square with flush edges. Perfectly, page Rout the channels for the T-tracks Photo 7.

Build the Fence Carefully lay out the location of the supports, cutouts and slots on the base and face pieces. Rout the slots in the fence face Photo 8 and at the ends of the base. The slots in the face allow the subfence to slide back and forth to create the adjustable opening.

The slots in the base allow weekend woodworker router table zero fence to skew and pivot for fine adjustments.

They also facilitate attaching and removing the fence from the top. Cut out the bit opening in the face and base of the fence Photo 9.

A 45degree bevel at the back of the cutout on the base Fig. C helps weekend woodworker router table zero dust collection. Assemble the fence with screws Photo Drill your pilot holes a little deeper than the screws to prevent splitting the small support blocks. Drill and weekend woodworker router table zero holes for each weekend woodworker router table zero. Photo 4: Cut the top to final width with the hardwood edging glued onto the sides.

The hardwood is placed just shy of one edge weekend woodworker router table zero the MDF core. This leaves a clean edge to reference against the tablesaw fence for the first cut. The second cut is made to final width and leaves the hardwood perfectly flush with the edges of the MDF.

Tip:As long as you're making two subfences, you may as well make a dozen. That way you'll always have a fresh one when you need it and you won't be tempted to "make-do".

Grizzly Industrial, Inc. is a national retail and internet company providing a wide variety of high-quality woodworking and metalworking machinery, power tools, hand tools and accessories. By selling directly to end users we provide the best quality products at the best price to professionals and hobbyists. The Ultimate U-Turn Table System features the U‑Turn Router Lift ®, X1 Fence, Phenolic Table Top, 3‑1/4 HP Router Motor, Premium Router Plate and our Pro Stand. "Bench Top" Heavy Duty Router Table. Here is my take for a Ridgid R Table Saw Zero Clearance Insert. Why spend 40 bucks when you can make one in 30 Mins. Best part is you can use your riving knife with this insert! You will need a CNC Router for this project, or a steady hand.

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