New router table.....the final one!

[REN]

This is the third router table I’ve made over ten years. The first one was made with MDF , Formica faced with a variety of fences ,both home made and purchased. Didn’t quite work out right. Either the fence was too low making it difficult to run router large vertical panels, or chip extraction was very poor. The second one ,also MDF, with taller fence and a sliding sledge for cutting tenons etc. A much better design but it’s home was a garage and not as dry as I would have wished. The MDF developed slight swelling ,not a lot but enough to give problems with the sledge and hence accuracy. Time for another.
Now I live in a house with an attached garage (heated) . No MDF this time but birch ply, 18mm, expensive but loverly to work with and stable. Using all that I’ve learnt overtime here is my latest effort. So far it performs very well. Not quite finished, yet to build the adjustable mitre fence for the sledge. Apart from the tee slots , dust extractor pipes and the plywood very little extra expense. The height adjuster is a lab jack (car boot sale).

 

[Val]

Lovely router table, it looks class!
Did you follow some third party blueprints or is it your design?

 

[REN]

Thank you ,
No plans really , looked at lots of different designs over the years and just picked out what I thought was the best and most versatile . Wanted to keep the costs low, hence hold downs, guides etc. are homemade. The most expensive parts were the dust extraction plumbing. When asked by children ( all middle aged now) “what would you like for Christmas “ ,a voucher from Axminster would be the answer. I remember asking one year for 5 meters of flexible 100mm tubing. This was really so good ,just more it from one machine to another rather than the kitty dust extractor on wheels.
Must say the box cutting jig is so easy to use example below.

 

[Lancashire Wood Studio]

Mice design.

 

[Philw]

.... So when are you going to release your blueprints?!?

 

[Yojevol]

Mice design.

It could be 'MOUSE' if he did on CAD or may be MICE if it was a collaborative effort

 

[REN]

Unfortunately I don’t use a computer for drawings (no CAD) just sort of build as I go. Have sketches with ideas and maybe change things as I go. As mentioned I have built two router tables before, so pretty much know what I need. The sturdy bench that the table is mounted was built many years ago and re used.
I do find that a router table pretty much does all the woodwork techniques I need , together with my kitty table saw, kitty bandsaw , kitty thicknesses/planer and kitty dust extractor . For large sawing jobs I have a triton table saw which is very powerful. Also have a wood rat but never use it. I thought it would be good for dovetails, which it does well, but I prefer to cut these by hand.