Yet another homemade router

**dimithri** · 21st January 2009, 06:29 PM

Hey guys,

Long time reader, first time poster. I just got this small table someone was chucking out, and converted it to a basic router table. My gmc router is bolted to the table with 6mm bolts. I find the springs on the router very strong and its difficult for me to push it up through the opening. So I secured a spare car jack to the bottom the table. This gives me good control over the height, as a quarter turn of the jack equals changes the height by about 1mm, which is more than enough accuracy for me.

The fence is a peice of laminated wood attached to a metal L bracket that slides back and forwards. (although I havent found a way to ensure this remains parallel to the bit, or to make it microadjustable)

I am only a beginner and havent used routers that much, so I dont know what I want in a router table. So I consider this a practise table.

Any criticism is welcome.

**watson** · 21st January 2009, 06:45 PM

Bloody Good start!!
The fence doesn't actually have to be parallel, and can swivel at one end and be clamped at the other.

Well done

**Robomanic** · 21st January 2009, 06:53 PM

Good work,

If you keep hitting your shins on the jack, this might help;

https://www.woodworkforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=87086

**Sturdee** · 21st January 2009, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by dimithri

I am only a beginner and havent used routers that much, so I dont know what I want in a router table. So I consider this a practise table.

Any criticism is welcome.

No criticism from me, that's a great start untill you learn what extra details you really learn.

Peter.

**dimithri** · 21st January 2009, 08:02 PM

Thanks for the quick replies. Yes making a decent table is super easy if you have the table already. I been seeing a lot of wooden cabinets and stuff on the side of the road waiting for council pickup, so I been collecting some of the better condition ones. I only paid for the screws and L brackets, so this entire project was almost free.

Originally Posted by Robomanic

Good work,
If you keep hitting your shins on the jack, this might help;
https://www.woodworkforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=87086

Very interesting read. I am considering doing it as I never use the plunge feature. However I dont want to make any irreversible changes to my router (maybe in the future i might need to plunge). If I ever need to make a better table I can always make it larger so that the jack is selfcontained, or even drill a hole in the side of my existing table so only the part where you insert the handle is sticking out.

Originally Posted by watson

Bloody Good start!!
The fence doesn't actually have to be parallel, and can swivel at one end and be clamped at the other.

Well done

It makes sense that it doesnt have to be parallel as the fence is just a line next to a single point. The clamping and pivoting method didnt appeal to me, cause I dont have many clamps, and the hassle of putting it on and taking it off. Instead it slides on tracks and is secured with a wing nut

**watson** · 21st January 2009, 08:14 PM

Yep, that's one way of doing it....and there is no best/better way.
Just what suits you.

And a bloke always needs more clamps!!

**Bob38S** · 22nd January 2009, 11:35 AM

Looking good.

Just a thought, as I have also tried this lifting system in the past, the point of the jack lifts on the plastic portion of the router, should you leave it as extra support after lifting it partially covers the air holes. Consider making a "U" shaped bracket to attach to the jack and the "legs" of the "U" are shaped to fit the handles of your router. You get a more even lift, the air holes remain uncovered and you are using the stronger handles of the router to do the lifting.

I used an old woodworking vice in reverse as my lifter as the original car jack had a dead spot when making fine adjustments. To check out the "U" I'm referring to see pix 3 of my original post.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...482#post228482

Regards,
Bob

**dimithri** · 22nd January 2009, 11:59 AM

Bob38S: I havent used the table yet. After looking at your post I realised that it did put undesirable stress on the vents. I will come up with a bracket system to move the stress to the handles. Its not such a big problem at the moment as after the router is lifted to the right height, I close the depth locking lever, and bring down the jack.

Also I might use your idea for using vices for the next one, as it is much more elegant.

**Bob38S** · 22nd January 2009, 12:15 PM

Your welcome Dimithri.

As you are still in the beginning stages I have added another link below which shows the fence I made for my router as well as a similar idea for my drill press.

The mobile bases have also morphed into more usable tools and I have added this for you also.

- if any of this stuff is of use to you then feel free to use - if you get stuck send me a PM and we'll see if we can't get it sorted.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...291#post388291

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=60835

Regards,
Bob

**dimithri** · 23rd January 2009, 12:08 PM

Bob38S: Thanks to the above message my drill press has a fence now too!

I have a really crappy drill press that I got from aldi, and I rarely use it. When I do I just hold the pieces in place with my hands. Since I am moving into bigger projects I thought I might as well upgrade it. So I put a made a small I-BEAM (so I can clamp) table top for the DP with a fence similar to my router table.

Hopefully now I will use it more.

**Bob38S** · 23rd January 2009, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by dimithri

Bob38S: Thanks to the above message my drill press has a fence now too!

I have a really crappy drill press that I got from aldi, and I rarely use it.

When I do I just hold the pieces in place with my hands.

Since I am moving into bigger projects I thought I might as well upgrade it. So I put a made a small I-BEAM (so I can clamp) table top for the DP with a fence similar to my router table.

Hopefully now I will use it more.

Glad to see it helps.

Except for the red bit above which is

I would suggest that so far you have been lucky - Check out the Safety forum - not to give you a scare but just a little reality check - drill presses are notorious for "catching" a piece being drilled and spinning it like a helicopter blade or perhaps better known as a Chopper blade.

Should / When it happens - to say "Oooops" is too late.

Regards,
Bob

**dimithri** · 23rd January 2009, 01:36 PM

Yeah I knew the risk. For some reason the workpiece never even moved, maybe due to the slow speed I was using or the very light pressure.

Anyway that's in the past, now I can do things properly

**Bob38S** · 24th January 2009, 10:37 AM

Pleased to hear it - we've all been tempted [me included]

- it's only small, it's only one hole, I'm in a hurry etc......

Have fun,
Bob

Thread: Yet another homemade router

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Yet another homemade router

Similar Threads

My Homemade cnc

Homemade CNC Router

My New Homemade Router Table

Homemade Table Saw/router table

Some homemade planes

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions