Thread: New router table build - no really!

Pics, we need to see pics.

I'm in on this one.

I'm subscribed. Good luck.

First hurdle is to get the ply out of the van, it's not an easy job for one old man

Actually the first job will be to clean up a bit so I've got somewhere to work.

Went out to clean up but one look at the mess made me think that a bit of Sketchup work in a nice warm office was a much better idea. Perhaps tomorrow ...

At least I've got a shelf under the long bench so all I have to do is move the clutter down a bit

This is the tassie oak I got the other day. I'd have preferred to get more matching colours but I'll just have to pick and choose where I use each bit.

And just to show I AM building a router table, a gratuitous shot of the MDF/laminex top.

Remember... it is going to be a working table, not a work of art.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Remember... it is going to be a working table, not a work of art.

The plan is to approach it as a piece of fine furniture and if when I stuff it up, I can just say 'well it's a working table, not a work of art'
The tassie oak was cheap enough, the only real extravagance is the tassie oak ply and even that was only $25 more than standard CD ply sheet.

I've got some off-cuts of sassafras, huon, celery top and even a bit of king billy which would make for some nice trim or drawer knobs - now that would be extravagant, and a little pointless.

Did get a it of a clean up done but didn't actually cut anything.
Truth be told, the ply is still in the back of the van and starting it up just to go down the driveway and reverse back up, seemed a waste so I'll unload tomorrow after some shopping.

I did get a good start on the design. The main plan is from Crestonwood, all I've done is to add a top of my own dimensions along with some Incra t-track.
I plan to produce a cutting list (not sure how) before I turn on the saw.

Looks good. A few thoughts - you've got the track going the whole depth of the cabinet - I can't think of a reason to bring the fence in front of the router, so you might like to consider stopping the track around level with with hole for the router. That would save you buying an extra length of track.

While on track (excuse the bad pun), you're picture is of the tape track, not normal track. Were you planning to use tapes in the tracks?

Apart from that, it looks good. I'm keen to see how it progresses.

Trav

Trav,

All suggestions welcome, it's easier to change things now before I wreak havoc with the track saw!

I was copying ideas from this router table (German language video)


It has the full length tape track each side. I have a couple of 1200mm lengths of this- still trying to find the tapes and
I'd rather use a piece of this than buy some more track.

The plans of the router table show side and rear panels joined as per the attached image.
While I appreciate that this is the back of the cabinet and won't normally be seen, I'd like to have a mitre style joint as it looks a lot neater.

I've looked at lock mitre joints but given they're finicky to set up and I'd be working with large (870mm x 800mm) panels and only have the aging Triton router table to use, I don't think this would be practical.

A mitre joint with a biscuit is an option - don't have a biscuit joiner but I'm sure I could find one.

One other opion is to do a mitre joint at 45 ° and screw a strip of 25mm aluminium angle down the inside of the joint for support.

I'm using the build of the router table to try out things I haven't done before and learning to make this sort of joint could be useful.
I'm quite happy to make the joint as per the plans if that's the best way but thought I'd run this idea past people with more experience than me to see what's suggested.

I went up to town for my weekly Hackerspace meeting and decided to drop into Bunnings, which is just around the corner.
Somehow this ended up in the shopping trolley (along with a few other insignificant bits and pieces)

To make the timber edges for the router table, I'll need one of these.

I do have access to the thicknesser down at the Living Boat Trust but it's not always convenient or available.
Not that the purchase of a new shed toy needs justification.

I've been spending a bit of time redrawing the router table plan as a way to learn Sketchup.
I made a minor change to the design to add an extra drawer. All finished, ready to cut - or so I thought.

Dropped into the timber supplier today to get some MGP studs to make a pair of sawhorses and noticed the price of the tassie oak plywood had changed by a couple of $$.
The other thing I noticed is that it was labelled as 18mm not the 17mm that I had bought. I asked and was told, 'No mate, we've never had 17mm tassie oak ply'

Got home and measured the boards I have and sure enough, they are 18mm.
Back to the drawing board.

The redraw didn't take too long, must be getting better at Sketchup.
I did make one change and that we to add a third drawer.

I just have to do a layout of all the panels so I can get a cutting list before I attack the very expensive plywood.