looking for plans to build a router table

[TKOjams]

Hey guys, at some point I'm going to build my own LP but, first I have to aquire the tools to do the job. I picked up a router today but all the tables seem like junk and much smaller than what I'm looking for. Does anyone have any plans for a router table that they would be willing to share?
Thanks,
Ken

['59_Standard]

Jo/Expo posted about a Router Cutter supplier the other day and they had a page or two on building a Table - if its of any use. Someone else may have a link to some other plans.

Wealdon Tools

[TKOjams]

Originally Posted by Standard_59

Jo/Expo posted about a Router Cutter supplier the other day and they had a page or two on building a Table - if its of any use. Someone else may have a link to some other plans.

Wealdon Tools

Thanks for the link, that should be usefull in the future.

[SG Marc]

I think the most famous router table is the one that Norm Abram built. I know I cant build anything close to that, but, there are many plans for it on the net: Norms router table ,, just search "norm abram router table " forums usually have pdfs on similar designs.

[bfcg]

I highly recommend a lift table and get the one that accepts the cylindrical router motor, it gives you more up travel.
Something from this page: http://www.woodpeck.com/liftshome.html

[DRF]

I've been contemplating building or buying a GOOD router table. I have one of those table top ones from Canadian Tire/type thing. Its about as good as a router bolted to a hole in plywood...good for truss rod channel and back roundover and thats it.

I would like to step up to a full blown shaper or a heavy duty table-something that can handle a big long bit so I can rough shape neck profiles with a template.

As the old adage goes...get the best tool you can afford. In the real world that meant to me a $150 table top.

[bfcg]

I have run out of space for any more stationary tools. I thought about a shaper and then I got a pin router instead. 500 square foot addition going on in the spring.

[SG Lou]

Speaking of Pin Routers, has anyone see this?
I was thinking about getting one but i'm not sure of it's quality !

G0587 Bench Top Overarm Router

[bfcg]

It's good for certain things but you would be better off with buying some old heavy duty one that needs work if you plan on pounding out bodies.

[SG Lou]

Originally Posted by bfcg

It's good for certain things but you would be better off with buying some old heavy duty one that needs work if you plan on pounding out bodies.

Bill, I don't compare to you when it comes to "pounding out bodies"
so that why I figured for what I do it would be good enough.

[SG Marc]

Originally Posted by SG Lou

Speaking of Pin Routers, has anyone see this?
I was thinking about getting one but i'm not sure of it's quality !

G0587 Bench Top Overarm Router

Lou, you can build it..theres a bunch of plans for them on the web. check youtube

pin router

pin router

[TKOjams]

Originally Posted by SG Marc

I think the most famous router table is the one that Norm Abram built. I know I cant build anything close to that, but, there are many plans for it on the net: Norms router table ,, just search "norm abram router table " forums usually have pdfs on similar designs.

Norm!!!!!!Norm is awesome, I was pissed when they took the yankee workshop of the air

[TKOjams]

It looks like modding an old dresser would be the way to go I think.
I would just have to work out a way to mount a fence to it.

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by SG Lou

Speaking of Pin Routers, has anyone see this?
I was thinking about getting one but i'm not sure of it's quality !

G0587 Bench Top Overarm Router

Lou, actually I just bought one of those as an X-Mas present for myself. I thought about getting something more heavy duty, but realized that there was no way I'd be able to get a big, heavy piece of equipment into my basement, so I "settled" on the Shop Fox. And so far, so good! I'm really getting a lot of use out of it...in fact, my router table is feeling quite lonely right now. But I have some real good tests coming up this week (hopefully), like pickup routes. I'll report back after I finish those. And one thing I'm really looking forward to trying with this little puppy is fingerboard inlay routes...but I still need to make the templates first.


Frank

[SG Lou]

Originally Posted by pinefd

Lou, actually I just bought one of those as an X-Mas present for myself. I thought about getting something more heavy duty, but realized that there was no way I'd be able to get a big, heavy piece of equipment into my basement, so I "settled" on the Shop Fox. And so far, so good! I'm really getting a lot of use out of it...in fact, my router table is feeling quite lonely right now. But I have some real good tests coming up this week (hopefully), like pickup routes. I'll report back after I finish those. And one thing I'm really looking forward to trying with this little puppy is fingerboard inlay routes...but I still need to make the templates first.


Frank

ALRIGHT FRANKIE.....Keep us Posted and take a couple of pictures !

[SG Lou]

Here's a couple you might want to check out.

http://www.bobsplans.com/FreePlans/DNLD/RouterTable.pdf

https://www.lowesrealtorbenefits.com...Mag/7.pdf?pg=5

and this link has several different designs you can choose from.

'table router free' woodworking search results at WoodworkersWorkshop.com
http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2007/03...r-table-plans/

[TKOjams]

Here's what I've come up with.
I'm going to pick up an inexpensive bathroom vanity, knock off the back splash and mount the router where the sink would normally set, (hopefully the hole for the sink isn't cut yet) leaving room underneath for a small shop vac for the dust port. Mount it on locking casters and......good to go..

Home Depot run!!!

[bfcg]

Do you have a table saw with rails that extend out on the right side?
I built mine right onto those rails and it allows me to use the ripfence.
Have a look at this:
Router table for the table saw

[bfcg]

Originally Posted by pinefd

Lou, actually I just bought one of those as an X-Mas present for myself. I thought about getting something more heavy duty, but realized that there was no way I'd be able to get a big, heavy piece of equipment into my basement, so I "settled" on the Shop Fox. And so far, so good! I'm really getting a lot of use out of it...in fact, my router table is feeling quite lonely right now. But I have some real good tests coming up this week (hopefully), like pickup routes. I'll report back after I finish those. And one thing I'm really looking forward to trying with this little puppy is fingerboard inlay routes...but I still need to make the templates first.


Frank

Did you get that beast PC 7518 router for it? It is an animal.
Santa has been pretty good to you for the last couple if x-mases.
Didn't he bring you a carvewright last year?

Are you going to place the body on a ramp for the pup cavs?
You would some how have to prevent from rotating the body while routing. x y rails?
Sorry to sidetrack, I promise to get back on track.

[alk-3]

Originally Posted by bfcg

Did you get that beast PC 7518 router for it? It is an animal.
Santa has been pretty good to you for the last couple if x-mases.
Didn't he bring you a carvewright last year?

Are you going to place the body on a ramp for the pup cavs?
You would some how have to prevent from rotating the body while routing. x y rails?
Sorry to sidetrack, I promise to get back on track.

No need for rails, as long as the table itself doesnt tilt. I made some jigs for those angles, and they lock the whole body in place very well.
Of course tilting the table allows for infinite angles depending on the job, so some sort of rail setup might be worth while anyway.

[SG Lou]

Originally Posted by bfcg

Did you get that beast PC 7518 router for it? It is an animal.
Santa has been pretty good to you for the last couple if x-mases.
Didn't he bring you a carvewright last year?

Are you going to place the body on a ramp for the pup cavs?
You would some how have to prevent from rotating the body while routing. x y rails?
Sorry to sidetrack, I promise to get back on track.

I too was looking at the PC 7518.............As a matter of fact, I know a guy in my wifes Church who's a B & D, PC, etc, etc, tool rep. he told me he can get me what i want at cost so i think I'll take him up on the offer

Originally Posted by TKOjams

Here's what I've come up with.
I'm going to pick up an inexpensive bathroom vanity, knock off the back splash and mount the router where the sink would normally set, (hopefully the hole for the sink isn't cut yet) leaving room underneath for a small shop vac for the dust port. Mount it on locking casters and......good to go..

Home Depot run!!!

Becareful of those inexpensive bathroom vanities The majority of them are constructed of cheap ass partical board

[bfcg]

Originally Posted by alk-3

No need for rails, as long as the table itself doesnt tilt. I made some jigs for those angles, and they lock the whole body in place very well.
Of course tilting the table allows for infinite angles depending on the job, so some sort of rail setup might be worth while anyway.

As long as you can slide the jig foward and back perfectly straight you won't end up with wigley lines as the stock pins are crap.
That is another thing with that Shopfox is that the pins suck. I turned all new pins for mine with much, much, much tighter tolerances.
The last negative thing I'll say is the foot control does not allow for variable pressure, either it is on or off. you can't adjust the plunge speed with the foot control.
All in all though for the money and a few tweeks, it's a great maching for what it could do.

[SG Lou]

Originally Posted by bfcg

another thing with that Shopfox is that the pins suck. I turned all new pins for mine with much, much, much tighter tolerances.

Thats good to know............Thanks Bill

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by bfcg

Did you get that beast PC 7518 router for it? It is an animal.
Santa has been pretty good to you for the last couple if x-mases.
Didn't he bring you a carvewright last year?

Are you going to place the body on a ramp for the pup cavs?
You would some how have to prevent from rotating the body while routing. x y rails?
Sorry to sidetrack, I promise to get back on track.

Originally Posted by bfcg

As long as you can slide the jig foward and back perfectly straight you won't end up with wigley lines as the stock pins are crap.
That is another thing with that Shopfox is that the pins suck. I turned all new pins for mine with much, much, much tighter tolerances.
The last negative thing I'll say is the foot control does not allow for variable pressure, either it is on or off. you can't adjust the plunge speed with the foot control.
All in all though for the money and a few tweeks, it's a great maching for what it could do.

Bill, the router I'm using currently is my old trusty PC 690 that I pulled out of my Marlin. And you're right, last year was the Carvewright, and this year the overarm router...good memory!

And for the pup cavities, I made a jig that I attach the body to that I can angle at whatever # degrees I want, and then attach the template to the base of the jig. It may, in fact, be the ramp you're referring to, but I'm not sure. I'll have to shoot some pics of the jig when I get a chance, so you can see what I'm talking about.

And thanks for the heads up on the pins. I didn't realize they weren't too accurate, but so far I hadn't noticed anyway, so they must not be too bad (or I'm just not that picky). For more precise work, like fingerboard inlay routes, I was planning on making myself my own pins anyway, especially since the smallest pin they have is too large for what I'd want.


Frank

[bfcg]

I make a hardwood dowel that fits perfectly in the hole where the pin drops in, then I plunge the bit into the dowel and turn a pin on the metal lathe the exact size of the bit.
That pin gets glued into the hardwood dowel. Note: once I drop that wooden dowel into the hole, I snug it up to prevent it from rotating and never remove it or allow it to rotate, I place the pin into it while it is still in the hole.

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by bfcg

I make a hardwood dowel that fits perfectly in the hole where the pin drops in, then I plunge the bit into the dowel and turn a pin on the metal lathe the exact size of the bit.
That pin gets glued into the hardwood dowel. Note: once I drop that wooden dowel into the hole, I snug it up to prevent it from rotating and never remove it or allow it to rotate, I place the pin into it while it is still in the hole.

Thanks for the suggestion, Bill! A side benefit of doing it that way, I suppose, is that you're guaranteed that the bit will be in perfect alignment with the pin. The only difficulty I had in setting up the machine was the pin alignment; but your method eliminates that problem.


Frank

[alk-3]

Originally Posted by bfcg

I make a hardwood dowel that fits perfectly in the hole where the pin drops in, then I plunge the bit into the dowel and turn a pin on the metal lathe the exact size of the bit.
That pin gets glued into the hardwood dowel. Note: once I drop that wooden dowel into the hole, I snug it up to prevent it from rotating and never remove it or allow it to rotate, I place the pin into it while it is still in the hole.

Wow, great thinking!
The pin in mine seats in ball bearings so it turns as you move the template past it. I was actually very surprised that mine remains so accurate even when adjusting the hight with the hand crank.

[Ole'Lefty]

A piece of tubing with close ID tolerance to pin and bit will align nicely. O'L

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by Ole'Lefty

A piece of tubing with close ID tolerance to pin and bit will align nicely. O'L

Thanks for the tip, Mike!


Frank

[bfcg]

Originally Posted by alk-3

Wow, great thinking!
The pin in mine seats in ball bearings so it turns as you move the template past it. I was actually very surprised that mine remains so accurate even when adjusting the hight with the hand crank.

There is an Idea! You are using bits that have a much wider cutting diameter than I usually use so you are able to get a bearing to fit on your pin.
Eventually when I use larger bits in my machine I am going to use your ball bearing method.
I have used larger bits but I have not use them with the pin in the table. I used them with the bearing mounted to the tip of the bit.