Questions Re: DIY Router Tables
Hi Folks,
So i've been googling, but I'm struggling to find what i'm after so thought i'd ask the educated folk here instead... I'm thinking of building a router table (not right now, but hopefully sooner rather than later) and I'm trying to get an understanding of some basics before i start putting pen to paper and designing the thing.
Now I'm new to routing, but i want to be able to cat Dado's, Rabbets etc and i'll need to acquire a router for this purpose as my planned TS can't accommodate a dado set...
So I have a couple of questions;
1. Based on my understanding, Plunge Routers are problematic to use in a router table because the springs make it hard to adjust the height, is that correct? Does that mean i should go for a Trim Router? Or is there another category entirely that i'm missing here?
2. Now to the router table, I want to build my own because its fun to build things and usually cheaper... Now a lot of the DIY router tables i've seen have router plates installed, but i can't seem to find the reasoning behind it... is it to make height adjustment easier? To accommodate for different sized router bits? A combination of both?
I was thinking for my first attempt, i'd go without the plate and just use smaller bits and repeated passes for thicker Dados as required... If i get enough use out of the table i'd look to "upgrade" the table to include a router plate or simply make an interchangable table top with a wider hole for larger bits...
Thanks in advance for your help.
Dibs