Router table top dimensions

[The Bear]

Hi
Can some of you give me an idea of the size of the tops of your home made router tables so I can get a feel of what is the norm.

Also I have bought an inset plate which is approx 20 x 30 cm. Looking from the front it will be centred left to right. I notice it is not the norm to centre it front to back, so how much table have you in front and behind it?

Hope that makes sense.

Mark

 

[L Harding]

IMO the best advice would be to make it as big as you have room for. The larger the table width wise the more support you have for larger pieces.

And the bigger it is front to back the more scope you have for running a grove (for example) a long way into the depth of a table top.

N.b. obviously there is little point having a nice wide table and then a very short fence. And equally the fence should be able to more all the way up to the router bit and as far as possible towards the back of the table

 

[The Bear]

Thanks i understand that.

What I am after is an idea of actual dimensions people have gone for and whether they have found these OK in general use.

Mark

 

[Mike Wingate]

38 x 24", to suit my Incra Ultra fence, with the plate offset, and 21 x 19". Both for a Jessem Lift. The bit is aligned with one centreline, the plate offset to accompdate this.

 

[OldWood]

27" x 16" for basic router table use. I would be struggling to store (and lift) anything much bigger.

Rob

 

[Mike.C]

When I get around to building my new one it will be between 27"x43" and 32"x53" so that it accepts my Incra equipment.

There is one thing that I would recommend and that is to make it the same height as your table saw so that you can use it as a rear extension table if you need it.

As for your point about "What is the Norm" , I really do not think there is one. It all depends on your needs, but if you think that you might get an Incra fence/equipment in the future, now is the time to allow for it by leaving plenty of room in the rear.
On the other hand after just looking at a half dozen websites of companies who sell ready made table tops the only consistent thing about them all is that the insert plate is between 13" and 14" from the front.

Cheers

Mike

 

[9fingers]

I've still to make my table but there are some commercial ones here with dimensions.

http://www.woodpeck.com/routertopsmain.html

hth

Bob

 

[Mike.C]

I've still to make my table but there are some commercial ones here with dimensions.

http://www.woodpeck.com/routertopsmain.html

hth

Bob

Hi Bob that is where I got my idea on sizes for my Incra Twin Linear.

Cheers

Mike

 

[The Bear]

Wow that's one massive router table you're planning Mike, but I guess that the Incra takes up so much room on the top. My plans are more humble, though I do want a "full size" top. I think 32 by 24 inches looks fairly average comparing the commercial tops from the likes or Woodpecker and Rockler and aim to go for something like that.

I take it the 13 to 14 inches from the front is to the centre of the opening, not the front of the plate? That puts it slightly towards the back, is this normal I would have thought slightly towards the front would have been more useful?

I will build it the same height as my saw but I'm lucky in that I have a 3 x 4 foot commercial roller table hinged on the back of my saw as an out feed table that is fantastic

So, how far back to put the plate if its 24 inch front to back?

Mark

 

[OPJ]

My benchtop model (which is designed to be stored below my mitre saw) is 600mm x 450mm on top, which is probably the absolute minimum you could get away with (possibly 400mm minimum depth).

If you're looking to build a floor-standing table then, I'd suggest at least 900mm x 600mm. If you can afford to make it bigger (look at the surrounding space and layout of your other machines) then, by all means, do so - you'd never regret it! :wink:

 

[Digit]

800 by 900, as it is the top of my table saw.

Roy.