Thread: Building a Router Table

BrettC,

All I can say is "Top Job"

When can i pick mine up?



cheers

Thanks for the words but may be a while before I attempt the next one

All up progress has slowed with the building of the drawers, I've built three 'drawers' - two to hold 1/2 inch bits and one for 1/4 bits. Now just need to build the two other proper small drawers and two large drawers. I've fitted the hinges for the door but need to do some fine tuning. Only a few things

• complete and hang drawers
• fit draught pieces into router space
• complete dust extraction ports / ducting
• add chocks to hold table top in place (while allowing top to be removed)
• apply finish

Probably another week-end or so. So far the tests I've tried routing some offcuts have worked great.

Pics to follow...

You are going great guns, Brett. Looking forward to the pics.
Jill

Brett, I have watched the episode of Norm building this table about 6 times already. Just 1 question if you don't mind. When applying the laminate to the MDF top - does the action of doing so for only 1 side of the top not cause it to warp ie. uneven pressure. I am thinking of the concept ply construction of an uneven number of plys to prevent warping. Does this apply to laminating other products such as this table top?
Regards
Les

Hi Les,

Yes, after carefully checking I have noticed some slight warp at one corner of the table top, luckily this is where it won't impact on routing. I only laminated one side of the MDF, as in the NYW video but would recommend that you definitely do both sides if you can. I have plenty of laminate left but will watch and see for now.

I'm not really sure why plywood is not used for the top construction The idea of using ply is not a bad way to go but I would still give consideration to laminating both sides if a plywood top is used.

.

Brett, I think that generally MDF is flatter than ply. Maybe using marine grade ply would be the go, but expensive. Ply would have an odd number of plys thus laminating both sides would be required to maintain equilibrium. You have done well with your table I must say.
I once laminated a piece of 32mm MDF on one side only and warped due to the uneven pressure. Kitchen tops are only laminated on one side, but then the tops are fixed to the cabinets, minimising warpage and the kitchen tops need not be AS flat as a router table top.
Regards
Les

Les,

Yes MDF being flatter than ply makes sense. A bit more progress on the week-end. Just need to apply some sort of sealer / finish and mount the switch now - on the home straight...

G'Day Brett, I am just starting a new router table, What is the distance from the Centre of the router hole, to the edge nearest the router, of the mitre track. Looking at photos and trying to scale them off, i am guessing it is 150mm. What have you made yours and why. You have done a very nice job on the unit.
My one folds down and slides in under the bench

G'day again, well pretty much finished the table now, have a few last pics to post, have tried it out now and works very well, the dust collection is a great improvement on what I had. I hit it with some shellac, the spotted gum came up very nicely.

Hungry - like the fold down under the bench idea - and you were spot on with that 150mm - I measured it again to check.

Things I would do differently, possibly align the hole in the table a little further toward the centre allowing for a little more work space for larger items (door panels etc...) but overall I'm very happy with it and all the storage.

Cheers,

Congratulations, Brett. Magnificent effort, and a real learning experience for the rest of us, as well as being inspirational. Thanks for taking the trouble of photographing and posting the pictures at the various stages, they really encourage us to have a go.

I think this thread definitely belongs in the "best of the best"

many thanks,

Jill

Very nice job Brett, just the style i'm wanting to build. I don't suppose you have plans you could share for it?

Thanks again Jill was a good project, wouldn't say it was inexpensive but hopefully have a few years of trouble free routing ahead.

Rattrap - the plans were really just thought out from watching a copy of the new router table episode on the NYW - you can watch it here, it's called Deluxe Router Station. Watched it about half a dozen times - SWMBO assures me that she doesn't want to watch it again

No probs thanks Brett, yer i've seen the episode, the wife hasn't yet tho - wonder how many times i can get her to watch it before she hits me with the router. hahahaha