Router Table needed

[Don Nethercott]

I'm sick of trying to do neat routed edges using a hand router - time for a router table.

What do you experts!!!??? out there suggest - I need a router table including router. Don't want to spend a fortune as it will only get occasional use, but enough to warrant spending the money on one.

I do have a Triton 2000 Workcentre so a triton router table could be an option if reasonable quality/reasonable price.

Thanks
Don

[QldWoodie]

Before the experts (more expert than I) contribute and probably say you should do a search of the forum (incidently, also search for spindle moulder - they make for excellent, if expensive, table routers) .....


...... Don't want to spend a fortune as it will only get occasional use, but enough to warrant spending the money on one.


Don ... I'd think hard about whether "it will only get occasional use." Half the time it is best to move the machine over the work using the hand-held. The other half of the time it is best to move the work over the machine in table-mount mode. If you only have one option it perhaps isn't easy to see how you would more efficiently work the other way.

Lately I have been making mostly small things (some trays, shadow boxes) where the work piece is very difficult to hold in place when using a hand-held, but easy to work on the table mount. So I probably use my table router (actually its a spindle moulder that I mostly use with router bits) 60/40 over the hand held.

As you imply in your post ... I'd certainly recommend you don't just get a table with the view of swapping the router between hand-held and table-mount roles. It gets all too hard. Consider a separate router permanently mounted in the table.

Qw

[echnidna]

I have a very small router table setup just for rounding over.
I usually leave a cheap GMC router in it all setup.
Its about 12" square and 10" high.
The top is a piece of old Ally road sign (2 1/2mm thick)
I have homemade feather boards on it
This small router table sits on my benchtop with the front legs secured in my wood vice and back legs sit in the tool well.
When not being used it's kept on a shelf.

[bennylaird]

I have the Triton setup and it works well except for the Makita 3612 having no speed control as yet.

Roger has a simple plan here:

http://www.gifkins.com.au/SimpleRouterTable.pdf

[Gumby]

if you already have a Triton wc2000, the best option is the Triton router table. Try the Hills clearance centre or ebay if youy don't want to go to Bunnings.

[bennylaird]

It's worth considering the base as well so you don't have to keep changing over, but that can come later on your path to an Orange workshop.......

[Don Nethercott]

Thanks for the info so far folks.

I was browsing the web and came across a GMC powered router table. Don't know how much yet. Has anyone had any experience with one of these?
Description can be found at -
http://www.gmcompany.com/index.cfm?ppage=products&pparentcategory_uuid=2B24910F-510A-4B6E-BA182DBAAEE5B171&pproduct_uuid=E8F34A45-4BB1-4767-B4D0007CAA3EF2D9#

So far my experience with GMC has been good. I have one of their thicknessers and it's probably the most used power tool I have, and I have had no problems (apart from feeding a piece of Camphor in with a stone lodged in it).

Don

[bennylaird]

I have seen them but did you realise the size it is?

457 x 600 mm

[8ball]

Don,
For what its worth , I have a router table and dont use it very much... I wish I would have mounted my router into my existing tablesaws wooden table extension and used the tablesaws fence system for it and saved alot of money. I did however buy a Milwaukee 3-1/2 Hp router that has its own deplth adjustment ( not a plunge router ) that mearly takes leaning under that table to adjust. If i did it all over again , id put the same router into use on the tablesaw.
Hopefully I will save you or someone the expenditure of making a stand alone router table when they have good fence systems and a perfectly good place to put it.

8

[Tex B]

My router table is a flat piece of melamine (intended as shelving) mounted to a small stand. It clamps into my B&D workmate (which may be my oldest tool now that I think about it) and when not used it sits on the shelf. Piece of perspex with a hole in the middle sits in a routed rebate on the table, and the router screws into the perspex. Fence is homemade hardwood, bolted to the table at one end (with knob for tightness) and clamped into position on the other end. Generally follows table top design from Patrick Spielman's Router Jigs and Templates book, which your library may have. Router plugs into a switched power point, which plugs into extension cord. Flipping the switch on the power point turns on the router.

It is cheap and effective, and has lasted now for about four years. My next project (unless something else comes up) is to enclose the base with a cabinet type door on the front and a dust port in the back. Routers seem to be incredibly efficient at producing sawdust.

Tex

[Gumby]

Thanks for the info so far folks.

I was browsing the web and came across a GMC powered router table. Don't know how much yet. Has anyone had any experience with one of these?
Description can be found at -
http://www.gmcompany.com/index.cfm?ppage=products&pparentcategory_uuid=2B24910F-510A-4B6E-BA182DBAAEE5B171&pproduct_uuid=E8F34A45-4BB1-4767-B4D0007CAA3EF2D9#

So far my experience with GMC has been good. I have one of their thicknessers and it's probably the most used power tool I have, and I have had no problems (apart from feeding a piece of Camphor in with a stone lodged in it).

Don

One word Don't!

And I have some GMC tools I'm very happy with. But that piece of crap should be taken from the shelves and burnt. :mad: Mine went back for a full refund, even after the 30 days. It takes 3 hours just to wind the height mechanism once it's got a bit of dust in it. :mad:

[Cliff Rogers]

Derek has one for sale.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=25568

[Just George]

What a shame you don't live in Brisbane, I have a spare 2000 Router Table at the moment.

[aiwoz]

Our local Home Hardware is selling a GMC Router Table bundled with the GMC 1200 Router for $159.:)

[bennylaird]

Save the $159 as it will be the best money not spent?

[derekcohen]

I'm sick of trying to do neat routed edges using a hand router - time for a router table.

Don

Before you go and splurge on a router table ....

Describe the difficulty/problem you are having. Perhaps you do not need a router table. It may be technique, the absence of a support for the router when hand-held, the wrong cutter, etc, etc.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Shedhand]

I built a router table from Roger Gifkins' plan and whacked an el cheapo Maktec (handyman Makita) 12mm router in it. The Maktec is a one spanner changeover which is really good. (no skinned knuckles). I keep the big Makita for hand held.
Cheers

[Bodgy]

Don

Do not buy the GMC router table. I have one and its probably the worst tool to exit the GMC warehouse.

Incidentally I think, in general, GMC stuff is great. Terrif value for occasional use. The router table is a lemon (but not their routers)

When/if I get a bigger shed I will make one - don't seem to be brain surgery.

[Shedhand]

Don

Do not buy the GMC router table. I have one and its probably the worst tool to exit the GMC warehouse.

Incidentally I think, in general, GMC stuff is great. Terrif value for occasional use. The router table is a lemon (but not their routers)

When/if I get a bigger shed I will make one - don't seem to be brain surgery.Anyone with half a brain can make one Bodgy so you'll be right..:D:D:D:D:D

[inferno6688]

I'd suggest making ur own router table. there are plenty of people who have done it, so there are plenty of ideas on this frum and on the net. U can also build a nice height adjustment set up for it too.

[Just George]

What a shame you don't live in Brisbane, I have a spare 2000 Router Table at the moment.

As it turns out, he was in Brisbane and dropped by and bought my soare table.

[Don Nethercott]

Talked to the Bunnies bloke and he agreed with the forum sentiment - don't touch the GMC table with a 40 foot pole.

Thanks to George I now have a second hand Triton table - wasn't it lucky I was going to Brisbane just at that time.

Now looking at the Ryobi 1400 watt router from Bunnies - $89 but I'm waiting for the grand opening of the new Bunnies warehouse in Grafton on the 18 February - hoping to get a better deal.

Thanks for all the suggestions folk.

Derek, the immediate problem in 4 pieces of Tassie Oak about 25mm square that will be the edge of a coffee table made of Blue Gum. Trying to hold them down while I route is a problem, as well as the fact that I need a lot more practice using a hand held router.

Don

[derekcohen]

Derek, the immediate problem in 4 pieces of Tassie Oak about 25mm square that will be the edge of a coffee table made of Blue Gum. Trying to hold them down while I route is a problem

Don

What shape are you looking for?

Something like this?

<div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Woodworking/Bevel1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />

Routing anyrthing as small as 25mm is tricky, if not dangerous. The above was done with a block plane. Perhaps another method may work better.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Don Nethercott]

Derek,
The edge will be the full length of each piece (about 900mm each) and will be one of those fancy edges, ie small 1 or 2 mm drop, then a concave bit.

I did the edge you showed in the piccie on the bottoms of the legs using a block plane.

Don

[Don Nethercott]

Well I now have a router table thanks to Just George. It's a Triton 2000.

Haven't got a new router for it yet (looking at the Ryobi 1400w) but decided to try my fabulously expensive (joke) NRG 600w router - with variable speed.

Routered the edge for my coffee table with absolute ease, and with very few blemishes, nothing a little sanding won't fix.

To answer Derekcowen's question - "Before you go and splurge on a router table" - I'm definately glad I got it.

The NRG may be slow, and has no fine adjustment, but I can use it much better in the table than free hand. Additionally there is little sawdust thanks to the dust chute on the Triton.

Will probably need a more powerful router and will get the Ryobi at $89. (yes, looked at the new Triton but at $288 not worth it)

Thanks for all the ideas
Don

[Wild Dingo]

NOW!!... Go get ye the orange big birtha TRITON router!! ;)

Hint... ITS WORTH THE MONEY!! Beautiful peice of machinery and destined to be one of my favorites in the new shed :cool:

[Jack52]

were the comments about the GMC router table about the little table they put out or the table with the built in router?

The reason I ask is that I also need a router table but haven't really got the time available to go and build one and can't afford a more expensive option.

Jack

[Bodgy]

Jack, my comments were about the little GMC router table. It does have a power supply, but thats it.

The problems are:

The milled and channelled alloy top is not flat
Due to above the work catches on the edges of the channels as you feed across.
The fence is woeful, doesn't slide freely, fine adjustment impossible, the adjustable lateral fence doesn't seat correctly and got junked immediately, et al. Awful.
No height adjuster, which, in my view, is essential. I had to make one.
The inserts aroung the router head are lower than the table, hence work catches
Whilst it does have a 50mm dust port, the table is not enclosed, hence dust goes everywhere. I enclosed mine and added a 100mm dust port for the DC.

To sum up, I only keep it due to lack of space in shed. It's better than nothing. $50 is probably a fair price, but be prepared for frustration.

[Jack52]

Thanks Bodgy

I wasn't really interested in the little table but thought that the 'Powered Router Table" with the inbuilt 1050W router looks like a more reasonable buy.

Has anyone had experience with this product?


Cheers
Jack

[Zoot]

Thanks for the info so far folks.

I was browsing the web and came across a GMC powered router table. Don't know how much yet. Has anyone had any experience with one of these?
Description can be found at -
http://www.gmcompany.com/index.cfm?ppage=products&pparentcategory_uuid=2B24910F-510A-4B6E-BA182DBAAEE5B171&pproduct_uuid=E8F34A45-4BB1-4767-B4D0007CAA3EF2D9#

So far my experience with GMC has been good. I have one of their thicknessers and it's probably the most used power tool I have, and I have had no problems (apart from feeding a piece of Camphor in with a stone lodged in it).

Don

Don't ... Bought one a year or so ago and the big problem is that the table top is not flat and the ring around the router is proud of the table itself & this is apart from the height adjustment mechanism is clumsy and slow.

I am just finishing a double router table similar to Roger Gifkins design and will post some picies in a day or so ... I have my old Makita and a new Triton 1400 mounted and I just love the new Triton ... winder for height adjustment and bit changing above the table!

Cheers,
Zoot Esq.

[Zoot]

NOW!!... Go get ye the orange big birtha TRITON router!! ;)

Hint... ITS WORTH THE MONEY!! Beautiful peice of machinery and destined to be one of my favorites in the new shed :cool:

SORRY ... can't agree!! Have used the big Triton at Roger Gifkin's Sturt Boxmaking course and have since bought the Triton 1400 and it is just brilliant. The through the table height adjuster is definitely worth the money, altough it is very simple and our more resourseful woodies would have no trouble in replicating it!!

Cheers,
Zoot Esq.

[Bodgy]

Don't ... Bought one a year or so ago and the big problem is that the table top is not flat and the ring around the router is proud of the table itself
Zoot Esq.

Great QA, yours is proud and mine is recessed.

There's a message here!

[Jack52]

Thanks for the advice.

At the moment my needs are fairly simple as are my skills and experience. All I need for now (and probably for some time) is the ability to run a rebate and an attractive edge on reasonably long boards too narrow to do by free hand.

If not the GMC, can you suggest anything else; bearing in mind that I can't afford any more than about $200 and it would be unrealistic for me to attempt to build my own table at this point.

I can't see any alternative other than a router table for the project I have to tackle but I any advice you can give me would be really appreciated.

Cheers
Jack

[doug the slug]

add $1000 to thetool budget and get a woodrathttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Bodgy]

Jack

Get the GMC table, chuck the adjustable bit of the fence and screw on a replacement single, long board - waxed or siliconed. Assuming you're using the same bit for all this project, move the new fence back into the bit for a zero clearance aperture.

In my experience, GMC routers are great, just have a funeral service for their table when you're thru.

$200 should easy get you table and router. Don't get the powered table, buy the individual items and keep the router.

[Flint]

I'm sick of trying to do neat routed edges using a hand router - time for a router table.

What do you experts!!!??? out there suggest - I need a router table including router. Don't want to spend a fortune as it will only get occasional use, but enough to warrant spending the money on one.

I do have a Triton 2000 Workcentre so a triton router table could be an option if reasonable quality/reasonable price.

Thanks
Don
Hi Carbatec Sydney have a delta shaper on special for $439. I have not used one, but it looks sturdy. I have had a Delta thicknesser for 7 years and been totally happy

[Carry Pine]

Let me sugest you contact Woodpeckers (Now called Woodworkers) and ask for a catalogue. This will give you lots to drool over but will give you a very good idea of what is available apart from Triton, GMC and Ryobi packages. The costs are a bit pricey but you may be able to do some of the things yourself ( the fence, hold-downs etc). I have been using a Triton table for 5+ years and now have been using a Woodpecker-type setup and I'm thrilled with it. The thing feels so solid.