Which Router Table ?

**JackG** · 20th June 2004, 08:39 PM

I am looking at upgrading my old model Triton router table, after reading many posts here I am still very uncertain.

I was quite interested in the MS-R table with the sliding table that can be handy to clamp the piece you work on but I have read a couple of posts with not very favorable feedback about the fence. Is that the general concensus ? is there anyone out there who owns the same model and is happy with it ?

I had a look at the RT-660 and it does look a lot better on photo than in real life, the unit was not made very precisely and I consider it as not suitable for my purpose.

Another option is a small spindle moulder sold by H&F SP-150 it seems fairly compact (I dont have much room) outside of the one for sale s/h I havent any post mentioning it. At $799 it makes the router tables look expensive, any drawbacks I am missing ?

Cheers

**Justin** · 20th June 2004, 09:53 PM

Don't get the MSR ! I have it, and have had to modify the fence just to make it perform acceptably. I have a bunch more modifications in mind that are on the waiting list, when I have the time for less important things.

If it was cheap I would have trashed it by now, but it wasn't, so I'm going to do some major surgery on it and hopefully turn it in to something that's as usable as all the other machine tools in my workshop. Mods that I'm thinking about are :

- Toss the open steel framed base and make a fully enclosed cabinet with drawers for bits and acessories, and wheels
- Enhance the fence, add rigidity and put some kind of markings or measurements on the table to aid fence setting
- Change the mounting system for the router, because the studs holding it obstruct the collet wrench when changing bits.
- Change the hinging arrangement of the table, so that it's easy to lift up, less heavy and more safe. Possibly relieve some of the under side of the cast iron section of the table to make it less heavy.

A spindle moulder might be a good fit for some types of work, but remember that they generally aren't able to spin up to the necessary rpm's that a lot of router bits need to work properly. So the moulder won't be a direct replacement for the router table.

Apart from the CMT door making sets from Carbatec, I haven't priced cutterheads for spindle moulders. I do imagine though that they would be a fair bit dearer than an equivalent large sized 1/4" shank router bit for use with a decent 3hp router.

I saw a nice router table at Carbatec in melb, I think it was a CMT. It had a nice fence, a track for a sliding mitre fence, and was fitted with a router raiser mechanism for easy bit height adjustment. Didn't see the price though - I reckon it wouldn't be cheap.

If I was in your shoes I'd think seriously about making my own table. I think there was a big thread here a while ago about doing so, you might want to do a search.

Cheers,

Justin.

**JackG** · 25th June 2004, 06:18 PM

Thanks for the info Justin, now I am definitely out of the MS-R. I also did not think of the rotation speed of the moulder being a lot slower than a router.
Looks like I may have to make one myself, I'll read the posts about it on the board.
Thanks again

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