Router table top

[Karl]

Hi all

Having succesfully secured a Triton router from Andy Pullen (cheers Andy) I am now turning my attention to the table into which it will be used.

2 options:

1 - buy a triton router table - £85 at b&q - plus the bracket kit which enables it to be removed quickly. useful as I would like to use the router for work (kitchens etc).

I really like the idea of being able to shim the fence on this router table to clean the edges of boards up - great for the fitted bedrooms i do. I am also about to buy a workcentre 2000, so would be able to mount the table on that. And it will store out of the way easily - my shop space is at a premium.

2 - build my own station. i have a load of bits n pieces (mounting plate, t-track, mitre gauge etc) which i bought a couple of years ago in anticipation of building a table.

I can obviously build this to my own spec, and am tempted to build a "half" station - ie one which fits under the bench, and can be pulled out when required.

I am erring towards the Triton, but would welcome any users experience or advice.

Cheers

Karl

 

[wizer]

Unless your going all out to build a 'Norm Style' router table. Then I'd go with the Triton. It will get you routing straight away with little cost or effort. It's a good system to boot.

 

[harryc]

Hi Karl,

I would second the Triton router table great bit of kit and for some one like me with limited space you can fold the legs and stick it under the Triton work centre

P.S I had my reservations initially about the accuracy of the work centre compared to a dedicated table saw but to my surprise and delight it has been remarkably accurate within 0.5mm I reckon.

KR

Harry

 

[kafkaian]

I've got the Triton system exactly for the reasons WiZeR and harryc suggested, getting me into table routing quickly.

I don't like the standard mdf fence much but the rest of it is nifty and quick to set up. I will get a table made up sooner or later to my own spec, but that could be weeks, months or even years.

So for me the Triton option has been very productive and worthwhile - especially with that cracking router of theirs

 

[andycorleone]

Hi, if you go for "option 1" I'm more than happy to buy you spares (mounting plate, t-track, mitre gauge etc) cause I'm about to make one router table top

 

[martlewis]

The sensible choice is option 1, quick and easy. Myself I would go for option 2 simply because I love using workstations that I've made myself. Made my own portable tabletop router table many years ago and it still survives in the loft to this day. Was only replaced as I made a Norm table when I built the new shop.

Martin

 

[George_N]

I have the Triton Workcentre and I think it is great but I built my own router table. This was mainly because I didn't want to have to switch the Workcentre from saw bench to router table and back every time I wanted to do something eg. cutting drawer parts and then routing the groove for the drawer bottom. I built mine using the plan in "Woodworking with the router" by Bill Hylton and Fred Matlack and by the time you buy a sheet of 18 mm birch ply (up to £40), 6 mm ply for the cabinet back and laminate for the top and castors and drawer knobs and door hinges for the cupboard and....anyway you get the idea. All in I must have spent around £100. It has done everything I have wanted it to do and I get better results the more I use it (practice makes, well in my case good enough). Is it better than the Triton? Well the fence is better (I used Ron Fox's design split fence, Wealden Tools web site) and the top is flatter than the Triton and I have built-in bit storage but I have no mitre gugaugenever been a prproblemor me). The Triton also has built in finger boards for workpiece control but then again fingerboards/featherboards are easy to make and clamp to the fence/table top. All-in-all I'd say make your own.

 

[billybuntus]

Hi there,

Would I be right in thinking the triton router table (£85) requires the triton work centre to sit on?

Thats what put my off as my space REALLY is at a premium and I couldn't have housed the workcentre.

thanks,
steven

 

[harryc]

You don't need the Workcentre for the router table top all you need to get is a seperate stand for the table top.

Harry