Thread: Building 2 router tables

Just thought I'd post a few pics to show that I am really doing something constructive again.
I didn't like the initial base construction of this design where the frame was just 'slapped" together with butt joints and a few screws so I've gone with a semi half lap approach by taking 15mm from each leg and rail plus I've mitred the corners as well.
The top of the table has also received it's first lamination too. Started with a 3/4" (it's old ply) piece and added the first layer of 12mm chipboard. The next will come when I buy some more contact adhesive. I used a whole tin just on this one piece, but I did give it two coats before I joined them together. There seemed to be too much soaking in to put them together without a second coat of contact.

Cheers,
Bob

...glad to hear you're chompin at the bit there bloke, nice view outa the winda there...

How can you work in all that bright light?????.

Originally Posted by wolften

...glad to hear you're chompin at the bit there bloke, nice view outa the winda there...

Thanks G....I couldn't have done it without your help. Yeah it isn't a bad view when the dust finally settles. That's a view I didn't initially have until the renos were finally finished on the old joint. When I start posting pics of how my old shed developed from a run down shack into a run down shed you'll see what I mean. From that window you can see down to the creek that forms part of the boundary of my property.
There's so much room to spare here and good wood laying around, I just wish some more people would drop in for a chat and a cuppa, then they could either make use of my stuff or take some logs home and make their own sawdust with it. I don't want to brag about the place cause it's nothing special, I just like to share. That's the way my mother brought me up.


jw2170

How can you work in all that bright light?????.

I squint a lot.

Ok, I have another view of this table from what I've gotten on line. I know it's from a magazine, but the pics I got were from a free source. Besides, I've learned my lesson and I ain't saying where it's from....so there.

Here's another aspect of the usefullness of this type of router table design.
Again, I am just using this basic design plus ideas from other versions I've seen on line to achieve the ultimate version I aim to build and of course I have my own views of ways I want to improve on this router table.
Any thoughts on this guys, especially direction of feed in the various positions the router is in?

Sorry, no pics tonight, my server must be slow...such is life in the bush. I'll try again tomorrow morning when the air is clearer.

Cheers,
Bob

Originally Posted by Glenrob

I know it's from a magazine, but the pics I got were from a free source. Besides, I've learned my lesson and I ain't saying where it's from....so there.

I can vouch for that. I found the article on open source.

Cheers

Doug

Here's that pic I promised.

G'day People,

Not much progress to report today unfortunately. I think I'll have spent a week longer just getting the timber up to scratch before I get to drill one hole.
Unlike the timber used in the original article where I've gotten the ideas from for this horizontal router table, I have to use whatever I have laying around. This guy had nice new clear 4x2s to play with when he built his table. My frame is built using very old and weather beaten bits of oregon that I have to de-nail first before I can even see if it's useable. Just like most of us here do. Even if we did have the money for new wood, I'm sure I'd be safe in saying that pretty much all of us would rather use good old reclaimed timber for our projects than start off with pretty new over the counter stuff.
There's just a certain amount of self satisfaction in spending the time and effort in giving an old piece of wood a second chance and having someone like us bringing it back to life again. Many would consider this a waste of time and effort reusing tired old wood then de-nailing, planing, sanding and filling it before you even know whether it's going to be useable at all. That's what makes us the type of people we are......Australian Woodies.

So today I spent my time filling nail holes with old matches and PVA glue mixed with sawdust. Then I took the time to round over all the leading edges on the router table so that along with the half lapped and mitred joints, it should come up looking better and being a stronger frame than just using 4x2s butt jointed and relying on screws to hold it all together.

Ok, it's time I got off my soap box now and have a last cuppa before heading off to bed. At least the leccy blanket should be warm enough by now.

Nite nite,
Bob

Here is the pic of what I was referring to in my last post. This is what I'm basing my design upon, but with very obvious changes to both its design and construction. I just can't believe that someone who presents an article for a prominent American magazine would go to the trouble of constructing a frame with 4x2s and only secure the uprights to the rails with a ONE single screw on each face! The construction techniques used here leave a hell of a lot to be desired; butt joints, no rebates or even glue to support the screwed frame. Anyhow, I'll leave it at that for now and just post the pic I have and let the comments come as they may.

Okie dokie.... I'm sure you're all sick and tired of listening to me waffling on and ragging this design for bad jointing practices. So to put an end to it all plus show what I have been rabbiting on about, I was finally able to get one joint temporarily screwed together this arvo.
Mind you that while I pretty well got it together the way I was hoping for, it's still got to come apart for some last minute fan-dangling before I'm happy with it, also there are probably still a few little nail holes that need plugging and some detail sanding of the edges yet to do before I can say it's ready for screwin' and gluin'.
And now......drum roll please maestro ...... I give you a joint!

No you can't smoke it, but you're welcome to try!

I am braced and ready for any and all flack, so let me have it ladies and gents.

Fussy old Bugger,
Bob

Ok, so I don't have the pics I wanted to post yet...tomorrow , I promise.
I've finally finished the basic frame to where it now stands on its own. I finished too late to get anything else done, but I'm not working from my own plans and the ones I'm basing my table off are merely a stepping stone to what I hope will be a better design.
At least it's straight and square so I guess I should be thankful for small mercies.
I'm now deciding whether to install a set of drawers now or at least set up for them before I go too far and find it too hard down the track.

I guess you could call me strange, but I actually enjoy the sanding stage where I get to make it all come together and look like it was meant to be. Secretly though, I supposed it could be said that I'm using this as a way to cover up my boo boos, but either way, I get to see it develop into my vision and, yes, I do use the final sanding to cover up any lumps or bumps and mismatched joints, but if I let it go and didn't sand it to death, there'd always be that nagging something that would haunt me forever. Making me never completely happy with the finished article. So, I'll just keep on sanding and finessing until I'm happy, but isn't that what makes us woodies in the first place?

Bob.......the man with no finger prints.

Originally Posted by Glenrob

Okie dokie.... I'm sure you're all sick and tired of listening to me waffling on and ragging this design for bad jointing practices. So to put an end to it all plus show what I have been rabbiting on about, I was finally able to get one joint temporarily screwed together this arvo.
Mind you that while I pretty well got it together the way I was hoping for, it's still got to come apart for some last minute fan-dangling before I'm happy with it, also there are probably still a few little nail holes that need plugging and some detail sanding of the edges yet to do before I can say it's ready for screwin' and gluin'.
And now......drum roll please maestro ...... I give you a joint!

No you can't smoke it, but you're welcome to try!

I am braced and ready for any and all flack, so let me have it ladies and gents.

Fussy old Bugger,
Bob

Bob, that is a very pretty joint

Felvo

Firstly thank you Felvo for your encouraging comment. It always helps to know at east one person thinks you're doing it right.

I've started working on the table top now getting it ready for its nice white covering of 3mm melamine veneered MDF. I wanted to do it in laminex, but there was none to be had locally, but for the next table that will be made for the Incra positioner, you can be sure I'll find the good gear for that one.
Anyhow here are the pics of the frame so far. Still a little bit of finessing to do, but that shouldn't take too much longer.

Cheers,
Bob

seems solid enough

was wondering what an overhead router setup would be good for ... but now I understand