Thread: Overhead router mobile stand build

I am not a cabinet maker!

By now, some of you may have come to that conclusion by my choice of building materials, LVLs. It is about to get worse.

Like all good builds, I had a plan, then made it up as I went, as the build necessitated.

Requirements. It needs to be strong, really strong, to avoid flex and to counter the affects of fulcrum on a metal arm 900mm long, supporting the weight of the router.
I need to be able to wheel into my dirty work area, through 810mm doorways.
I will also add turning blanks to the base area for storage, but also adding to stabilising weight.
The top needs to be smooth to allow a carriage to slide of it, and wooden so I can secure burls to the surface.

Final dimensions. 1600 long, 760 wide and 1400 high, same as my other work benches and tables.

All joints secure with 75mm hex head screws and copious amounts of polyurethane glue, fills the gaps, and is strong!

The carcass or frame was built first in stages, glued, screwed and clamped.

You will get greater maneuverability with all wheels swiveling.

Is 1400mm high correct? It doesn't look like that and it seems inordinately high.

Originally Posted by aldav

Is 1400mm high correct? It doesn't look like that and it seems inordinately high.

Hmmm, not sure what happened there, correct height is 970mm. This was chosen to match the heights of other mobile work benches and bandsaw. Mea Culpa

I scored some 25mm plywood awhile ago from another job, was only about 500 mm wide, but approximately 2000 long. I was hoping to be able to just glue it down, using polyurethane glue, would have preferred the liquid nails, but that would mean a special trip to Bunnings. Anyhoo, the plywood was slightly cupped, so I used 35mm screws and clamped it.
once dry, I added the other plywood board, waited for the glue to set then cut the table top down to final size.

i routed the edges over to a nice chamfer and sanded the top to 240 grit.

Lastly, I needed to fit the overhead router

I had made a slight error when gluing the table top. The bolts of the router base were meant to straddle the frame LVLs, but I forgot to add the overhang when I glued the top. Therefore, I had to use two screws into the table top and then frame, whilst two bolts went through the table top only. The region of the router base was reinforced to stiffen up the area and prevent any wobble which would affect the accuracy of the router.

The router was bolt on, everything checked, then wheeled through the doors (it fits, yaaaaay) and into the dusty, dirty area of the workshop.

All fittings on the router were checked, lubed and tightened. The router bit is a 6 bit TCT cutter which looked blunt. I thought my diamond files would sharpen the bit, but they didn’t. I reassembled the router.

I made some sacrificial wedges and a sacrificial table which I clamped to my table top.

First burl. Being a smart guy, I chose Wandoo to be the first burl I would try the router on. Wandoo is tough.

Anyhoo, the router worked really well, except it needs sharpening, lots of burn marks. I ordered a couple of new ones of Aliexpress. A mate of mine reckons he can sharpen my bit so give that another go.

Summary. The mobile workbench is superb, the router meets all my expectations and does a fantastic job which will only get better once I have sharp bits. Overall I am very pleased with the operation and setup. I have managed to do approximately 10 burls with it so far.

Cheers
Willy
Jarrahland

Originally Posted by rod1949

You will get greater maneuverability with all wheels swiveling.

Yes, that would be correct. However, where I used to work, all trolleys had two wheels fixed and two swivel. The trolleys were used to reansport explosive components around the facility.

So, thinking someone smarter than me decided two swivels was sufficient, I thought I would do the same, plus......

Went to bunnings, they had one pack of 4 wheels left, two swivel, two fixed for $38!!!!!!!! rated to 120 kg each!!!!! Individually, the wheels sold for $18 each. Very happy to only pay $38

Willy