Router Table – How to Make Your Own

A Router Table quiets a router, helps control wood dust, and adds a little extra safety to routing. It provides a stable platform to do intricate shaping, as well as precise edging. A router table can handle 80% of your routing. It makes good practical sense to have a router table.

You can purchase one through various vendors/catalogs. You will learn more about woodworking if you make your own. Making your own will evolve over time.

Most commercial Router Tables have unused space below the Top. Does it make sense to use this space for your Router Accessories?

If the answer is yes, you can make your own Unique Router Table. Let’s discuss some features you may want.

Features of My Custom Router Table Plans:

  • Router bit storage for 36-48 various size router bits.
  • A Router Lift to adjust the Router easily.
  • The on/off switch is easily accessible.
  • Two drawers for wrenches and accessories.
  • Amble storage for your portable router and accessories.
  • A drop down window for easy access to your fixed base router (the PC 7518).
  • Has casters to move easily.
  • Hardly any dust gets into the cabinet.

What more could you ask?

Router Table Fence

What to look for in a router table fence:

  • Repeatability
  • Zero-deflection
  • Straightness
  • Ability to square it up to the table top
  • Chip/dust collection
  • Easily clamps to table and adjust

Router Table Top

The Top should be flat and stable to do quality work. I prefer a high-pressure laminate top on both sides. It seems better to me than melamine or other types. It makes sense to have a clean top – no miter channel. Those things weaken the top and just collect sawdust. You rarely need them. To use a miter channel, it must be square to the fence. Is it worth the trouble?

It is not hard to make a Top. Or you can find quality tops at a fair price without all the bells and whistles. Try to find one around 24″ wide x 32″ long. If you put the router insert plate towards the back, it will provide more work room for wider boards.

Router Table Insert Plate

There are many router plates available. The snap-out rings for many are not easy. I broke a couple of snap-out rings when trying to take them out. From a user-friendly standpoint, they are difficult. Some of these insert plates tend to sag over time. That will not give you an accurate cut.

You may skimp on this item, but I think you will be sorry in the end. It seems prudent to get a 3/8″ solid aluminum one with inserts that are easy to change. They remain flat, and are easy to exchange the inserts. It is best to have an insert that accepts PC guide bushings. A couple of different size inserts are good for larger router bits. Woodpecker makes a top quality one. Once in awhile you can find them on sale.

You can make your own template to mount a router plate. Put 2-sided sticky tape on the insert plate, and mounted it to 1/4″ tempered hardboard. Then use an inlay bearing kit in reverse. Now you have a template to make a template.

Tape or clamp the template to 3/4″ plywood or MDF. Put the bearing on the inlay kit. Then router the 3/4″ Plywood (MDF). You have an exact copy of your insert plate. You can put the insert plate anywhere that you want. By using a different template guide, you can cut the 1/2″ ledge to support the insert plate. Simple!

For more information on Building Your Own Router Table, including pictures and tips, please visit Router Table Plans

Rabins Sharma Lamichhane

Rabins Sharma Lamichhane is senior ICT professional who talks about #it, #cloud, #servers, #software, and #innovation. Rabins is also the first initiator of Digital Nepal. Facebook: rabinsxp Instagram: rabinsxp

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