Thread: Router Table Insert

The Carbatec plate is not phenolic, it is acrylic, which is a thermoplastic and deforms with temperature.

The Woodpeckers phenolic plate is thermosetting and is very stable with temperature changes. I have one of them and am very happy with it.

The aluminium plates are very nice, although quite a bit dearer. I haven't used one so can't say how much better they would be.

For the small Triton the Woodpecker Plate is more than ample, I have one of these and the Aluminium and they're both very good. I'd only bother with the Aluminium if you're planning to put a heavier, bigger router in further down the track.

Originally Posted by Dion N

My current thinking is for the Woodpeckers Phenolic plate, but I suppose I might be persuaded to get an aluminium one if there was sufficient advantages to doing so. Any suggestions on which plate to get?

I have the Woodpeckers in a WP extension table and have found the combination excellent.

Additionally, any suggestions for a sub-fence to fit to the TS fence? It is a hollow square section with one T-track on each side and two T-tracks on top (all suitable for 1/4" bolts). I was thinking of a simple hollow square section to allow dust extraction and maybe a second higher fence for routing panels on end. This would use the side T-track.

As for the T-track on top of the fence: the "inner" T-track could be for feather boards and the "outer" track for position stops.

I have used a 50x95 section ally tube I did buy enough for a two tierd fence but never got around to it as the 95mm works OK for most jobs.
I have connected dust extraction via a rotating elbow and a tube to the router I left the other end open as it works better with air volume Added a micro adjuster for fine fence adjusting.

Cheers
Mike

(Big Shed)

Mike

where did you get the ally section from?

Originally Posted by Dion N

Mike

where did you get the ally section from?

Capral Smart Aluminium Centre (previously Alcan) I would think there is an outlet near you. Yep just looked it up here

Cheers
Mike

incremental tools in the US have both their plastic and aluminium plates on sale right now. Email tehm and they will ship to aus. The inserts are top quality, so much so I am somewhat sad my cast iron router extension wing doesn't use one

The plastic is $39US PP and the al as I recall is about $75US. AU$ is 70c just now so even if it's $30US shipping it's still cheap. They come with 3 rings and can be ordered pre drilled for a range of routers.

2c

I really should get round to advertising my router fence.

Originally Posted by damian

incremental tools in the US have both their plastic and aluminium plates on sale right now. Email tehm and they will ship to aus. The inserts are top quality, so much so I am somewhat sad my cast iron router extension wing doesn't use one

The plastic is $39US PP and the al as I recall is about $75US. AU$ is 70c just now so even if it's $30US shipping it's still cheap. They come with 3 rings and can be ordered pre drilled for a range of routers.

2c

I really should get round to advertising my router fence.

I wish you'd posted before I'd ordered from PWS!

Originally Posted by Big Shed

The Carbatec plate is not phenolic, it is acrylic, which is a thermoplastic and deforms with temperature.

The Woodpeckers phenolic plate is thermosetting and is very stable with temperature changes. I have one of them and am very happy with it.

The aluminium plates are very nice, although quite a bit dearer. I haven't used one so can't say how much better they would be.

Just a comment and a caution!!

While the Carbatec plate is not the highest accuracy, the above is completely incorrect as regards material, and is a risky statement to make.

I have the CT plate. It is not perfectly straight. It is $50 straight. I have drilled it, and have checked the shavings. Not acrylic, not thermoplastic, don't burn but char. Definitely a phenol-formaldehyde type thermoset, (ie bakelite)

Possibly the spec or thickness is lower than it should be, as there is a (small) degree of sag under a heavy router, which is exacerbated by the absence of a levelling stud on the long sides, (which I have corrected!).

In my case, the cause of a significant distortion I found to be the quality of the router base casting, which relies on the plastic insert to compensate for its "out of true" Once I shimmed up between the base and the plate, the "bow" virtually disappeared. It is worth checking with a straightedge before and after tightening the securing screws, to see if there is a difference.

If you have the $$$$, by all means opt for the more expensive options, as they are no doubt better quality, (and should be given the prices), but IMHO, as with a lot of other lower end tools and accessories, provided you are aware that you are buying economy, this was a purchase I could make at the price, and with some effort, get a good result, wheras I would never have been able to justify the premium required for the name brand.

regards

Originally Posted by Alastair

While the Carbatec plate is not the highest accuracy, the above is completely incorrect as regards material, and is a risky statement to make.

Alastair, always happy to be "corrected", however your "correction" is incorrect.

I was certainly wrong by saying that the Carbatec plate was made from acrylic, Carbatec's own website states that is made from ABS, however I was correct in saying that it was made from a thermoplastic as ABS is

Extract from Wikipedia's entry on ABS:

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) (chemical formula (C₈H₈· C₄H₆·C₃H₃N)_n) is a common thermoplastic used to make light, rigid, molded products such as piping

Therefore, what I said re deforming stands, as it is not made from a thermosetting material. Whether it burns or doesn't burn is not the determining factor to distuingish a thermoplastic from a thermosetting material. A thermoplastic material can be re-melted a thermosetting material cannot.

I'm glad you're happy with your Carbatec router plate, at the end of the day that is all that matters.

Some other aspects to consider asa well regarding the CT vis a vis the Woodpeckers plate.

Recently I looked at both and bought the Woodpeckers because the plate came complete with holes drilled and bolts for the big Triton router ( presume the holes are the same as for the baby Triton), the opening rings for router bits are bigger and better, and it comes with instructions for making your own opening in your own table top.


Nearly finished making a template to help making a new router top to replace my Triton top.


Peter.

Originally Posted by Sturdee

Some other aspects to consider asa well regarding the CT vis a vis the Woodpeckers plate.

Recently I looked at both and bought the Woodpeckers because the plate came complete with holes drilled and bolts for the big Triton router ( presume the holes are the same as for the baby Triton), the opening rings for router bits are bigger and better, and it comes with instructions for making your own opening in your own table top.


Nearly finished making a template to help making a new router top to replace my Triton top.


Peter.

Peter, also insert rings in the Woodpecker plate sit absolutely flush and you can buy extra ones as well.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Alastair, always happy to be "corrected", however your "correction" is incorrect.

I was certainly wrong by saying that the Carbatec plate was made from acrylic, Carbatec's own website states that is made from ABS, however I was correct in saying that it was made from a thermoplastic as ABS is

Extract from Wikipedia's entry on ABS:

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) (chemical formula (C<SUB>8</SUB>H<SUB>8</SUB>· C<SUB>4</SUB>H<SUB>6</SUB>·C<SUB>3</SUB>H<SUB>3</SUB>N)<SUB>n</SUB>) is a common thermoplastic used to make light, rigid, molded products such as piping

Therefore, what I said re deforming stands, as it is not made from a thermosetting material. Whether it burns or doesn't burn is not the determining factor to distuingish a thermoplastic from a thermosetting material. A thermoplastic material can be re-melted a thermosetting material cannot.

I'm glad you're happy with your Carbatec router plate, at the end of the day that is all that matters.

Let me be more specific:

I am not aware of the statement regarding ABS on the CT website, so cannot comment on the veracity.
I do have a working knowledge of plastics, from years in the food industry, and where ABS is a common packaging material, and indeed a thermoplastic as said.

However, I have tested the drillings from my own plate, and they neither melt nor burn when flame tested, nor show the characteristic smoke or smell. They char and glow under flame, and the smell is the characteristic "burning electric" of phenol formaldehyde.

Bottom line is the plate I bought from CT Sydney in November is NOT ABS.
It does not soften nor melt, so is not thermoplastic.
I cannot comment on other persons experience!

regards

Alastair, see attached print out from CT website, if that is not the router plate you have bought than perhaps yours is different? It is however the one my original statement, the one you subsequently "corrected", referred to.

I am only a simple industrial chemist, but I do know the difference between thermosplastic and thermosetting, and even Wikipedia knows that ABS is a thermoplastic.