Thread: New router table project

Ok, so in the garage I took out a straight edge, circular saw and a few squares.

But I had a few things to sort out:

1. was my straight edge straight (I was fairly confident it would be)
2. were my squares square (I wasn't so sure this would be the case)
3. was my blade still sharp after 7 years in storage
4. was the blade flat
5. was the blade perpendicular to the base of the saw (luckily with my Triton, it's adjustable):



Net result was:

1. straight edge was straight
2. two squares were ok and one wasn't (it's been retired now)
3. saw blade was ok which surprised me and the saw just needed a bit of tuning to make sure everything was square.

While Triton have been through the ringer during my expat period, I don't have any complaints about the tools I've purchased over the years and the built in adjustments made the tuning a breeze:

Now I knew I had a good straight edge, a couple of squares and a tuned saw.

Only problem was I needed to rip sheets longer than my straight edge and deeper than the attachable fence on my saw would allow. In my old workshop this would have been easy, but as I'm just putting it all together again, the only option was to build a ripping guide out of mdf.

Fairly simple setup and construction:

1. secured a sheet of mdf to a cheap workbench I picked up at Bunnings
2. ripped off a piece
3. established a straight line as a guide about 5" in on the remainder of the sheet
4. using my straight edge as a guide, I glued and nailed the ripped piece along the line so that I had an 8' straight edge
5. ripped the guide on either side of the edge with the table saw





That allowed me to establish a reference edge along the 18mm ply sheets I'm using for the table:



So the first cut in preparing the carcass gave me a nice straight and square edge on the sheets for the sides:

Next up was just the process of cutting all the pieces, though cross-cutting was interesting with such a limited set of tools and equipment (a bit of a jerry-rig involving a milk crate and pelicase as a support):



With most of the pieces sized, I switched over to the Workcentre to size the remaining pieces (you can see most of the sized material sitting on the wooden box at the bottom of this next shot):



With all of the stock sized, I switched to the router to cut the rabbets and dados. Mostly I secured pieces together to make sure the channels lined up perfectly:



Then dry-fitting:



and after glueing and adding a pine face frame, the drawer runners were added:



which as of 1 1/2 days work this weekend, gave me this:



The drawers a pretty straight forward with no sides and once an additional piece is drilled and added, these will hold my router bits.

The joinery of the drawer faces is a simple rabbet:



So tonight I'll be building and fitting two large drawers for the bottom and fitting a door on the right-hand side.

Still some hardware to be purchased, including a switch I can fit on the right side, but so far going OK.

Will be making the top by laminating 2 pieces of 18mm ply with a plastic laminate added on top of that. Hoping to have it all finished by this Saturday.

Will post some more updated images tonight.

Interesting build so far. Will be watching this one.

Progress as of now (not a great photo):



The stain went on this morning after I sealed all surfaces (carcass only) with shellac last night.

Made the drawers this evening, but still have to attach the false fronts made of pine and the runners (sitting on the centre shelf).

Tomorrow night the plan is to finish the drawer fronts (all drawers) and the door for the right side, together with sealing and staining.

Should also be able to start on the table top with at least laminating the ply sheets together.

Will post an update (with some closer shots as well) tomorrow night.

Thanks for looking.

Originally Posted by peterst6906

Progress as of now (not a great photo):



The stain went on this morning after I sealed all surfaces (carcass only) with shellac last night.

Made the drawers this evening, but still have to attach the false fronts made of pine and the runners (sitting on the centre shelf).

Tomorrow night the plan is to finish the drawer fronts (all drawers) and the door for the right side, together with sealing and staining.

Should also be able to start on the table top with at least laminating the ply sheets together.

Will post an update (with some closer shots as well) tomorrow night.

Thanks for looking.

nice work.
I'm watching with interest .
I will have to made one my self but more simple table .
have funs
Peter

Nice work Peter

I'll watch the rest of this with interest. A couple of questions - what switch are you thinking of? I am building a modular router/drop saw/thicknesser table and am contemplating a switch like that.

And are you using a router plate?

Trav

Looks like you are doing a great progress! What sort of ply do you use for the table (and where did you get it in Canberra)?

Nice work.