Thread: Router Table recommendation - Sherwood vs Kreg vs Carbatec

The Carbatec and Sherwood models are essentially the same; although as the Carbatec is cheaper and has the micro-adjusters it is better value. I built my own router table using the same Sherwood components but my Triton is mounted in a older style Jessem router lift; the plate is much larger than can be accommodated in the cast iron tables so I bought the melamine one and enlarged the cut out to suit. The Bundy Woodworkers Guild bought the cast iron Carbetec model and I mounted an old Makita 3612 in it. It pretty much performs flawlessly but the insert rings are an extra cost; they screw in anti-clockwise which is counter-intuitive and they don’t really lock in very tightly.

I personally would go for the Kreg; the plate is much better quality than the Carba-wood ones and can be supplied pre-drilled for the Triton. And the insert rings come in a greater range of sizes. The lower price means you can buy extra bits with the money you save!

I don’t have any experience with the Sherwood or the Carbatec but
I have a Kreg with the same Triton router, I use it for a multiple applications and it’s excellent. Not sure if it comes with micro adjuster, if not it well worth the extra to add to the purchase.
Overall a great combination

Welcome to the forum

Hi Chief Tiff and dinosaur,

many thanks for your replies.

If you can indulge me I have a some follow up questions about build quality and dust extraction.

Build Quality
- Have read some comments online about the Kreg stand being a bit flimsy, has this been an issue at all?
- Also, any concern about the laminated table top of the Kreg compared to the cast iron of the other two options?

Dust Extraction:

Do you just have the bench fence extraction or under table as well?

Do you have them connected to a shop vac (low volume, high pressure) or a Dust extractor (high volume, low pressure)?

I can't comment on the quality of the Kreg table but I do know their mounting plates are FLAT. The cast iron tables on the other two coupled with the own-brand alloy plates aren't as flat as I would like them to be; whether it's the plate or the iron table I'm not sure but levelling the one at the guild couldn't be made perfect and became a compromise.

For extraction I just use a 30L Aldi shop-vac sucking from both the fence and the router base; this works extremely well. I have a small cyclone that I keep meaning to hook into the system.... round tuit area I'm afraid. I don't worry so much about fine dust because I use all my machines outside under the carport where the prevailing breeze comes from behind me. Living on a 1-1/2 acre property means neighbours are too far away to be adversely affected by pretty much anything I do during the day!

I now have the Kreg router plate (pre-drilled for TRA001B). I've used Kreg router plates before. I live near a beach and I keep the router on the router plate in my tool cupboard to avoid rust so have never had an issue of sagging (table or plate). I'm making a table that is the same size as the Kreg benchtop router table.

Hi Schudy,
The triton router has a point for connection of dust collector so I have a hose off that and a 4inch y piece which picks up the fence connection and goes to a nominal 2hp dusty.
My Kreg stand is as solid as you would want, I lock the four casters and have run 6to 7 meter lengths of timber over the cutter and no movement at all

One thing that isn't quite apparent from the Timbecon website, is the ability to customise your router table up or down.

My Shed purchased the Sherwood Industrial model some years ago, which is essentially the base version with various goodies added one by one.

https://www.timbecon.com.au/sherwood...l-router-table

We have their round router inserted and being enclosed in the below the table box, makes for quite efficient dust extraction. Coupled with the above the table dust extraction port it is reasonably good at dust minimisation.

The Industrial model shown, is fitted with micro adjustment; which can be very handy for really precise work if required. Look at the table in the above link, you can see two vertical knobs. The front knob is for the fence, the rear (lower) knob is for micro adjustment.

Basically you can order the components you wish for, or deem to be necessary for your type of routing. I know this because as the order was being put into the system in front of me at the Melbourne store, they started with the basic table, then added bit by bit to make up the Industrial model. The model you had a link too, would in all probability, be built exactly the same. They just put pieces together to make a low end and a high end kit. I'm not sure if they include a slight discount for the kit as opposed to buying piece by piece.

Mick.

I have the Sherwood router lift, round body router and small(?) cast iron top with the slots cut out of it in the table for the fence. Have the Sherwood fence as well.

Picked it up in the black Friday sales back in 2019 for a tad under $1300. You could easily build your own base if needed. I have mine as a wing on the TS. Overall I am very happy with it. I had some reservations going with Timbecons own in house brand but I can fault it. The table and insert plate are flat enough. If there are 1000th's of a millimetre or inch difference in the top across it's length then it has affected any piece of stock that has ran across it in that time.

The only annoyance that has surfaced that i cant seem to get rid of is a high pitch squeak every now and then when raising or lowering a bit. No amount of cleaning or PTFE lubricant works. Minor nuisance, really.