Jessem versus Benchdog

[Steve Blackdog]

Hi Folks

After bidding and failing to win anything of value on Flea Bay, I have decided to buy a brand new router table.

I want something with a bit of longevity. I currently don't need a very big one - making guitar bodies etc - but I want to get something that will have a wide use in the future. So I reckon that I should steer away from the 600x400 tables. Do you agree?

I naturally went to Axminster, but I am not blown away with anything they have (apart from the Kreg, which is outside my budget).

I am interested in either the Jessem

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/power-tools-& ... ble-system

or the Benchdog, which is slightly smaller (and I can't find in the Benchdog catalogue!

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/power-tools-& ... uter-table

They are priced virtually the same, so it's hard to decide.

I like the idea of a free standing table as I can take the fence off, clamp a piece of MDF to it and use it as a spare bench when not in its intended use. Any reason I shouldn't do that?

Another alternative is the smaller benchtop model of the same two manufacturers.

I don't really want to spend as much as £250, and don't have the confidence in my ability to make a precise enough top if I build one myself.

Any thoughts or advice welcome. If anyone has a better recommendation I'm all ears

All the best
Steve

 

[Gary]

I have the Jessum it's a good table, I upgraded from the Trend Craftsman. You could always make your own to your exact requirements.

 

[Steve Blackdog]

I have the Jessum it's a good table, I upgraded from the Trend Craftsman. You could always make your own to your exact requirements.

Cheers, Gary

I have thought about building one myself, but I can press the "order now" button and have a decent one within a week :lol:

If your Jessem was stolen and you had to buy a new table (but weren't allowed to build your own!!), would go for the Jessem again?

ATB

Steve

 

[MickCheese]

How about this one from Axminster? I don't have one but like the look of it.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-axminster-cast-iron-router-table-prod833058/

Mick

 

[Gary]

Yeah Steve I'd buy one again, it's a good piece of kit.

 

[Steve Blackdog]

How about this one from Axminster? I don't have one but like the look of it.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-axminster-cast-iron-router-table-prod833058/

Mick

Mmm. That does look pretty good value.

Does anyone know how the "clamp set allows easy router mounting" works?

 

[wizer]

Steve. The Wood Whisperer recently bought the Jessem that you linked to along with their router lift. In one of the guild meetings he said he was very pleased with it.

It seems a lot of money to me, but I know what you mean about just clicking the buy button and it's done.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[merlin]

Hello Steve,
I have had my Jessem for about a year, it is a great piece of kit and one of the best quality made things I have bought for years, I haven't used any of the others but would be surprised if the quality of build was any better. Their after sales in Canada is also very good.
Merlin.

 

[Steve Blackdog]

Thank you for your various helpful answers. In the end my wallet made the decision for me. I was leaning to the Jessem, but ended up with the Bench Dog.

Rutlands have put the Bench Dog in "clearance" and reduced the price by £50, down to £189 against the list price of £369.

The BD Pro fence gets good reviews, so let's see if it proves itself in the shop.

The price puts clear blue water between it and the others I was looking at. Let's hope I don't live to regret it.

All the best
Steve

 

[Steve Blackdog]

Well, the Bench Dog Pro router table and stand arrived this morning and I've had a look at all the parts in the box. Everything certainly looks very well made. I'm particularly impressed with the solid fence, which looks like it will last a lifetime. The phenolic router plate is pretty solid as well and I'd be very suprised if it were to sag.

All in all very pleased.

I'll post again when everything is assembled and I may even work out how to upload some pics.

All the best

Steve

 

[Eric The Viking]

How about this one from Axminster? I don't have one but like the look of it.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-axminster-cast-iron-router-table-prod833058/

Mick

Mmm. That does look pretty good value.

Does anyone know how the "clamp set allows easy router mounting" works?

It looks identical to the Record Power one. If so, it's the mark II version.


I'm convinced Record and Axminster source from the same places, as several of their workshop items are similar/identical-bar-the-paint.

I don't have one, but it was high on my list before I bought this one.

.

The Axy 'professional' one I bought (above) has gone up a bit (it was <£200). As I'm woodworking on a very low budget, the Record one was beyond me (a table is no good without a router!).

I like the idea of the Record (cast table, sliding section), but the design has a few issues that you'll find if you Google a bit. One of the original problems (that they seem to have fixed) was that the router was mounted about 1" below the surface of the table, rather than the 1/4" of traditional designs. This meant a collet extension was mandatory (ISTR Record sold one with it). The other major thing was that the sliding section was a couple of mm above the iron bed. That's probably why the Axminster pictures show it being used from either side for different tasks. OK if you have room to get at both sides, probably a nuisance if it has to stand next to a wall. I've no opinion about how good it really is, as I've only looked at it.

Regarding the other Axminster table that I've got:

It's not beautifully made, but it does work well for the price.

The fence is better than the comments would have you believe. I use it for surface planing (up to 75mm wide stock), and have got good results. It needs shimming to true it, but that needs a whole sheet of printer paper, and the micro adjustment is helpful. You can't easily have that with the standard arrangement of T-tracks near the ends of the fence, although there are lots of quick alternatives, and you probably only ever need it split for planing (or weird mouldings) anyway. I do use it a lot that way though. It would have saved effort to have the fence about an inch taller though, and given the added cost is tiny, that's a shame. A rebuild is on the to-do list.

The mitre fence has sideways slop in the T-track, which isn't good, but could be shimmed tight. It does have adjustable pre-set angles though, which is helpful. I don't use it for mitre-ing though, and it's OK for skimming tenon cheeks.

I like the shelves. I'll probably stick some damping on the end panels to reduce noise, but I don't think they're contributing much. The frame is very rigid once the bolts are tight, and has levelling feet (I don't think the cast iron type does). This is good on the rough screed of my gara-er-workshop, and when set up is very stable.

One major snag: I've had two from Axminster. The first one was returned because of significant damage to the table surface. The current one isn't flat: it bows down in the centre about 1mm. This is not good, but it's responded well to shimming under the supporting steel angle brackets. The design means the MDF is weakened in the middle (router plate hole and two T-tracks). I intend a new home-made top when I can, thicker but using the original hardware. That will be good.

HTH,

E.

PS Forgot to mention that the Axy one comes with a nice NVR switch, and you can choose where you mount it (DIY task). I've put mine roughly where the Record one is, and it's ideal for me.