The King of Router Tables. Bench Dog Tools

[SpiritFlutes]

I recently while apprenticing with Luthier in the States had the opportunity to use his BenchDog Tools Protop Contractor Router Table, http://www.benchdog.com/protopcontractor.cfm (http://www.benchdog.com/protopcontractor.cfm)
being the king of Router Tables in the States, needless to say I fell right in love with it's logically designed user friendliness, safety and and compatibility with the work I do.

There was virtually no vibration due to the weight of the cast iron mounting plate, support posts and sturdiness of the whole construction. Then thers this great function they call Pro-Lift, where you wind the router up with a U bar fitted with a socket till the chuck is above the surface of the table. This means you can change bits without having to get under the table dust in the eyes and all that, or move the fence in most cases, so you can keep the center alignment of the workpiece on a multi bit routing job.

I decided I would like to purchace one of these screemers :D and as the're too heavy and there was no option to bring one back in my suit case:?, I searched the net for an Australian supplier with no luck :no: but I did find this...... http://www.woodworksupplies.com.au/prod44.htm (http://www.woodworksupplies.com.au/prod44.htm)
UniLIFT which is better considering it has 3 posts.The price is far greater but is only the plate and lift mechanism you get at over $500 AUD.

I found the BenchDog version on ebay for $289 USD and $140 USD postage for the plate and lift system which still beats UniLIFT hansomly after the currency exchange but I wonder if they're better? Anyone used UniLIFT? Please tell us. I would like to know if there are any woodworkers out there who know of a similar type of table to the one mentioned earlier avilable Down Under that use these great plates and lift systems. I see there is an opportunity if not for someone to manufacture or import these tables.

By the way the Bench Dog Pro Top Contractor sells for $998 Odd USD complete with the biggest porter cable router and many other accessories.

I'd say the UniLIFT is a seriously Pro tool by the look of it and how its made, but a real shame the company dosent produce it inside a just as well built table. I guess thats good for all you guys that work with melamine though as you could custom build your own. I don't like working that toxic stuff and struggle to find the time. There are many things I do better than make router tables not to say I could'nt though.

I must say it was the safest router table I have ever used and made my Triton look like a toy, :o sorry but it's true. I still love my triton though but I'd give it up any day for one of these beauties.

:2tsup:I appreciate any thoughts or comments and stay safe in the shop:2tsup:

[damian]

Well everyone has their own preferences.

The table I'm building at the moment is a lot dearer than any of that but it's got most of the advantages you mention pluse quite a few more.

http://home.exetel.com.au/guzzi/tablesaw

eventually it'll have a incra LS25 super on a tiber extension servicing the saw and router.

Triton make a pair of routers that allow above table tool changes. The larger one is 3 1/4 hp. They have a number of other excellant features for table use.

www.triton.com.au (http://www.triton.com.au)

PWS have an above table height adjustment kit for the larger triton. The smaller one has it built in. In fact there is one for sale second hand in buy and sell right here on the forum. New $100 second hand $60. You can get a tra001 router for $330 - $380 new. PWS have an insert plate to suit the router/lift mechanism. All the companies that make router lifters claim theirs is best. I suspect they all work quite well.

Vibration shouldn't be a problem if your router and bits are good quality. My table saw/router extension wing is cast iron, but my previous table was sheet steel (triton) and vibration wasn't a problem. There shouldn't be that much dust around your tool. If there is it's probably getting into your router in big quantities. The triton has a very good cowling around the tool that hooked up to a vacuum will suck it away before it becomes a problem.

At the risk of self promotion I'll be selling one of these soon:

http://www.carbatec.com.au/machinery-for-wood-and-metal-working/router-tables/router-table-extension-wing-fence

I'm not trying to sell you on triton, I'm just saying there is more than one way to pluck a budgie.

[Big Shed]

Damian, your link to the Carbatec item only shows the Carbatec location map.

To get a usable link, you need to right click on the item to display and select Open in New Window, that way you get a linkable address.

It is to do with the way Carbatecs' website is set up with different states.

BTW, like the pictures of your saw, haven't seen the TTD saw before, nice.

[damian]

Sorry. It's the same router fence that's shown in some of the tablesaw pics. I have the incra so don't need the 2 fences that came with the saw.