Thread: Router Table advice

Originally Posted by shrek

I have a router, non Triton, but when it comes to shaping edges etc. they usually come out crap. My question is, will the Triton Router table make much of a difference and make using the router easier and more successful?

Hi shrek, i recently upgraded to a triton router having previoulsy run a good old makita br3600 in my triton router table. i did this to get a variable speed router so i could use larger bits suchas stile and rain and panel raising bits that you cant use on a single speed router (Persuasive argument for wife no 1).

it also allowed me to get the makita back as a dedicated hand held router and not have to put it in and out of the table all the time, increasing productivity of workshop time (persuasive argument 2)

the system of mounting a non-troton router into the router mounting plate is really nowhere near as strong, accurate and quick as mounting the triton router (persuasive argument 3) [i bolted my makita directly to the mounting plate and did away with the clamps supplied by triton so this wasnt a problem for me - dont tell wife you can do this]

(All of the above assumes that the results with current router is because router is crap and not because woodworker is crap, by the way.)

Hope this is some help to you, shrek. what model router do you currently have? if we know this we might be able to provide more persuasive arguments. good luck mate

Thanks Doug

The Router I have at the moment is a Ryobi 1hp command force. I dont have a table at all and have been routing by hand so results are more that woodworker is crap, but hopefully getting better. All of the information I have read states that a router table makes life easier. I really want to know how much easier, i.e. is it a lot easier to make decent looking edges and will I stop wasting so much timber if I can get a router table?

Shrek

Welcome from another Canberran.

The difference is massive, IMHO. It is easy to get good edges with a router table as the work is supported. I have a triton router and table and I think it is a great combo. Plenty of people will tell you to make your own table - this may be an option if you want to save some $$. But for ease and practicality, you can be happily routing very quickly with the router table.

You can also get the finger jointer, biscuit jointer etc for the router table.

I reckon it is well worth the effort.

I'd also suggest that you might want to look at upgrading your router at some point. The triton router is widely considered on this board to be extremely good and worth every $$.

Hope that is useful.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers

Trav

Originally Posted by shrek

All of the information I have read states that a router table makes life easier. I really want to know how much easier, i.e. is it a lot easier to make decent looking edges and will I stop wasting so much timber if I can get a router table?

a bigger more powerful router like the triton (about 3 times the power of your currrent machine) mounted in a table would definitely make a big difference to the quality of any work that can be done on the table, eg, you arent going to turn an eight seater dining table over and rout the edges on a router table. common sense must prevail. i would also suggest that to get teh best results, you need to increase your skills as well as upgrade the equipment. keep on reading, and maybe look for a dvd or video, there are a lot of good ones about.
If you are keen to continue, the triton router would make a lovely birtthday present.
Also, good quality bits are essential, if you are paying $40 for 10 bits, use them with caution cos thats what you should be paying for one middle of the range bit that will produce satisfactory results and last a while.

Dont know why but I'm in the good books.

Had a chat to the wife and not only am I able to get a router table and new router for my birthday, but I'm able to get them early. So I'm off to Magnet Mart tomorrow. This is even after I bought a planer thicknesser at the wood show last weekend. The proviso is that she has a list of things she wants me to make.

I also got a brochure from the Canberra Institute of Technology today that lists a woodworking course starting next month and I will be signing up for that. Hopefully it will go ahead this time. I've signed up twice in the past six months but they have had to cancel.

Thanks for your help with my questions. Very much appreciated.

You won't regret it shrek, that router is the best by a mile for table work and it's easy to change bits as well. The table will make a huge difference too.

I'd suggest a small investment as well. Get the 'Router Joinery' DVD from Taunton Press. Not expensive and absolutelty brilliant for showing how you can use a good router in a table.

http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/061018.asp

while you're at it, the Table saw DVD is good too

have fun

Thanks Gumby
Do you know if that DVD will play on a PAL format DVD player

The Triton Woodworkers Club bought about 4 or 5 of these and they work fine. Later model DVD players will play all different intertnational region formats.

Originally Posted by Gumby

I'd suggest a small investment as well. Get the 'Router Joinery' DVD from Taunton Press. Not expensive and absolutelty brilliant for showing how you can use a good router in a table.

Shrek, gumby has recommended a great dvd. when you see wat th bloke on it does with a sheet of mdf, a straight piece of wood and a couple of clamps you will be amazed. dont let wife watch it or there goes the router table!!!!

Hey SHrek, wanna swap wives, permanently.
I'm in the dogouse, I ain't gettin' nuthin' for me birthday, and there's no guarantee when I'm gettin' it.

Originally Posted by outback

Hey SHrek, wanna swap wives, permanently.
I'm in the dogouse, I ain't gettin' nuthin' for me birthday, and there's no guarantee when I'm gettin' it.

dont get too excited outback, dont forget shrek mentioned a list of projects his wife will be expecting in exchange for this birthday present. i dont know the details but be cautious before jumping in on what may appear on the surface to be a good deal

Just joining in for the conversation, I agree that the best thing to do to a router is to mount it upside down in a table, your work quality improves dramatically and if you have a lump or small bit that you missed you simply feed it again along your fence, perfect. The only thing I disagree with is I wouldnt buy the triton finger joint system, there are better alternatives, I would personally recommend the incra jig setup which doubles as a guide fence with a single latching system compared to the standard 2 screws and tapping with a block of wood currently used on your fence, the other thing it allows you to do is dovetails, box joints all sizes galore, you have no idea the quality and simplicity. Now please note this is not a dig at the triton finger jointer but simply identifying a better priced alternative
Simso

Originally Posted by simso

I agree that the best thing to do to a router is to mount it upside down in a table

sure , simso, i agree provided its a good, powerful router. in most cases mounting an inadequate router in a table is just inviting the owner to to put even more stress on it than it can handle. the moral of the story is if you buy a tool tha tcant do the job in the first place no number of accessories will make it do it

Well I've done it. I'm now the owner of a Triton router and router table. I've put an order in for the Router Joinery DVD and I've had a look on the web at the incra jigs but these will have to wait till Christmas.

Thanks everyone for all of your help and advice. Very much appreciated.

Now I'm off to the shed to set it all up and start practising

Thanks once again.