Thread: Steel Inserts

I have been using a steel insert in my router table for over 12 months with no hint of rust, although mine has a ground finish on it.

I was very lucky in that i have a friend who is a fitter/turner. I gave him a drawing of what i wanted and he gave it to an apprentice to make as a one off. It was good practice as it involved marking, cutting, milling, turning and grinding. The pics below show the finished product.

It's 8mm thick steel ground parallel top & bottom with a 90mm hole in the centre. He then made me 2 reducing rings for it, one 60mm & one 30mm so it gives me 3 options of holes.

When i got it home i drilled it to suit my Triton router and my table. I drilled and tapped two 4mm holes to hold the reducing rings in place (and for easy changing) and in pic 4 you may be able to see 4 set screws that i drilled and tapped to ensure the reducing rings are perfectly flat to the insert.

To say i was happy with the job the apprentice did for me is an understatement and i pinch myself every time i use it. I guess some people are lucky in that they find great timber for free, i happen to have a great router table insert for free.

If you have the opportunity or the skills to get a steel insert made similar to the one i had made, i would highly recommend it. Flat, solid and great to use.

Steven.