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5th September 2009, 10:24 AM #1Intermediate Member
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Router table top material pros and cons?
Hi guys. I've just bought an LS 25 positioner and Wonder Fence set up to use with an Incra plate and De Walt DW625E with a Router Raizer on a router table, and will shortly be getting stuck in to building it.
Flatness and high precision will be important, as i want to use it for joint cutting.
Lots of great design ideas and examples of this sort of work here, e.g. https://www.woodworkforums.com/f70/router-table-incra-ls-47602
I'd like to surface the table top with laminate or similar to minimise friction, but am unsure what to do about the core.
There seem to be a number of choices available (each with their own potential isues), i've listed some below.
What do you guys think is best/are the pros and cons?
1. Section of laminated chipboard worktop - will it stay flat over time (chipboard tends to sag), and the possibility of swelling at the exposed edges in presence of even small amounts of moisture must be high?
2. Waterproof WBP grade birch ply, or MDF instead of chipboard - better, but maybe quite heavy in relation to its stifness/
3. Torsion box /lattice type frame in MDF or ply, with MDF or ply skins top and bottom - very stiff if the webs in the lattice are deep, but how flat can it be built?
4. Sheet of 12-15mm polished granite, marble or even thick float glass (could crack or chip if something is dropped on it), laid over a metal frame (bolted up to avoid distortion - maybe from the Item aluminium extrusion system?) - getting expensive, and cutting the hole for the router or your router lift handle might be problematical, but it should stay flat? Perhaps not that expensive if sourced from your local stone fireplace or kitchen manufacturer for whom this is a stock material, they should be able to cut the ope and smooth the edges??
Other options? e.g. something like Lexan polycarbonate sheet over a metal frame?
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5th September 2009 10:24 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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5th September 2009, 07:21 PM #2Originally Posted by ondablade
Originally Posted by ondablade
Originally Posted by ondablade
Originally Posted by ondablade
Ray
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6th September 2009, 02:42 AM #3New Member
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- Feb 2009
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- Georgia USA
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Router Table Top
If you have invested in the LS system and Wonder Fence (as I have recently done), you would be wise to also invest in the Incra table top.
I had what I thought was a good Rockler table top that I was going to use with the LS but it turned out to have taken a "sag" in the middle.
I purchased the Incra table and have been very happy with it. My only regret is not purchasing the whole system as a package and maybe saving a few bucks.
(No connection with Incra - just a satisfied customer)
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6th September 2009, 09:20 AM #4Intermediate Member
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Thanks guys. I guess the chipboard has another disadvantage in that screw holes are likely not to tolerate much use without stripping out.
Much like you say Ray, my concern about a torsion box too is to build it flat and so that it stays together - there's a lot of scope there for problems.
I've been so far consistently very impressed with Incra and the quality and value of their products too Larry, although not having used the LS system yet i'd been witholding comment.
They use 1 1/4 MDF with laminate on both sides on their table top, and it sounds like this is probably a good middle ground and the way to go. Especially with lengths of angle iron screwed to the underneath to prevent any sagging. (they do a bracing kit too)
When I bought my LS i was planning to integrate the table outboard of the jointer on a Robland combo (and so didn't buy the table top as i figured it would need a lot of cutting about/extension) but now i've changed back to a free standing router table and separate Hammer K3 Perform panel saw so the Incra table top becomes an option again.
A 27 X 43 in table top and matching stand from Incra http://www.incrementaltools.com/Articles.asp?ID=138 would it sounds provide a quality top, and at the same time save a lot of poncing about cutting table openings, fitting clamp tracks and the like. The stand looks like a very nice chassis around which to build a cabinet too, not to mention something on which it'd be easy to hang extension tables if needed. KISS...
Thanks for the prompts guys, there's a lot to be said for keeping it simple, and springing some cash when it saves a lot of time on non-paying stuff...
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9th September 2009, 04:37 AM #5Intermediate Member
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Incra router table and stand now ordered....
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