Thread: Les's new router table - built

Hi guy's,
To answer spokeshaves question about the holes in the front I to have built one of these tables and I made red cedar rasied panel doors . While I was making the doors I used the table with a piece of 3mm ply over the router section held there just by the suction of the dust extractor when turned of it dropped away and there was dust and shavings still in the front and corners of the cabinet which does not happen with the doors fitted with holes in the front. I didn't drill holes in my raised panel because I wanted to keep the look of the panel so I cut away a section of the bottom edge of the molded panel and then assembled the door and it draws very well. Hope that makes sense.
Regards Rod.

I too three have built this table. Nothing as flash as this though and I haven't got drawer fronts on yet either, so still pretty rough looking. With the dust extraction, as has already been said, enough air has to come in to replace what the dusty takes out.
If you starve the dusty it wont pick up all the dust as efficiently and you could also starve your router of cooling air and burn it out.

I believe the original idea here was to create a cross flow of air for cooling and dust pick up as well. Personally I think that putting holes for air in the back of the table would be a poor choice for good dust extraction.
Mine will have the air inlet of some sort in the front door.
just my 2c
Cheers, Ian

Hi Les,

I AM jealous !!!

I noticed your dust extraction set up in one of your photos. Can you briefly describe your system which appears perfect for a small w/shop.
Much appreciated!

Yvan

A clear case of effort = results, bloody nice job and a credit to your craftsmanship.

Originally Posted by yvan

Hi Les,

I AM jealous !!!

I noticed your dust extraction set up in one of your photos. Can you briefly describe your system which appears perfect for a small w/shop.
Much appreciated!

Yvan

Hi Yvan, I will take some more detailed photos of the dust collection system and post. As some other have said, to have good extraction, there needs to be a flow of air. I put the holes in the door because that is what Norm from NYW did and many others have also done. I did not care much about the looks being spoilt by the holes. I am happy with the whole build and because the dust extraction works so well I am more keen to use the table (also the flat top is great and the fence although expensive is really good).
Regards
Les

Originally Posted by yvan

Hi Les,

I AM jealous !!!

I noticed your dust extraction set up in one of your photos. Can you briefly describe your system which appears perfect for a small w/shop.
Much appreciated!

Yvan

Sorry Les, you already had answered my Q in you earlier post. It obviously pays to read things s l o w l y....

Yvan

That table is far too pretty Les! Make sure the missus doesn't see it or I can see it becoming re-purposed in the house. A beautiful job.

Rod Gilbert - "red cedar raised panel doors". Is that Australian red cedar Rod, on a router table!!! Sacrilege.

Lovely cabinet Les, well done.

If this is the quality you put into your router table I'd like to see the rest of your furniture.

Lovely job Les. I will get around to my table one day. If it comes up half as well as yours i will be well pleased.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Rod Gilbert

Hi guy's,
To answer spokeshaves question about the holes in the front I to have built one of these tables and I made red cedar rasied panel doors . While I was making the doors I used the table with a piece of 3mm ply over the router section held there just by the suction of the dust extractor when turned of it dropped away and there was dust and shavings still in the front and corners of the cabinet which does not happen with the doors fitted with holes in the front. I didn't drill holes in my raised panel because I wanted to keep the look of the panel so I cut away a section of the bottom edge of the molded panel and then assembled the door and it draws very well. Hope that makes sense.
Regards Rod.

Hi all.

Well my new router table is coming along nicely. Will post some pics in another thread when it's done.

Just wanted to get back to the topic of the holes in the front of the router access door. I was able to connect the dusty and run some timber over it today and everything that Rod has pointed out in his post (by the way, thanks for your post Rod) is exactly what i experienced with mine as I have yet to drill holes in my door yet.

I had some serious suction happening at the router insert plate hole (depending what size insert ring i had fitted, there was actually quite an annoying whistling sound coming from here) and good suction at the fence and as Rod pointed out, I was unable to open the router door without really reefing it. Compared to my old router table, this is awesome!!!

But i also had quite a few chips left over in the bottom front corners. I was able to pick them up and they were quite easily sucked away down the dust port. So I guess there is some merit in drilling these hole after all!!! I will get round to drilling these holes next up.

My door (and most of my table really) is made from 18mm melamine coated MDF that i was able to source cheaply and then painted so I need to find a neat way of drilling these holes without making a mess of it all. I want a neat clean appearance as the rest of the table has come out pretty well so don't want to spoil it with messy holes in the front. Will have to keep a look out for something to use.

Will post some more details of my new table soon.

Steven

I think the best way for you to drill you're doors and get a clean finish to the cut would be with a forstner bit in a drill press or hand held with a steady hand or a spade bit drilled from both sides drill a small hole through the door to locate the centre on both faces to drill from both with sharp spade bit to get the clean faces you are after.
Regards Rod.