Xact Router Table

[Marineboy]

Hi all. Does anyone have any experience of this sold by Rutlands?

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+rtx2000-xa ... le+RTX2000

It looks like a bargain but that, of course, is only the case if it's any good.

Nick

 

[Stanleymonkey]

Looks good

All four and 5 star reviews

Router lift that can fit in to the table is 200 quid!! Is that normal? Seems like a big disparity in price

Featherboards are shown as an extra - I'm guessing the only featherboards that will work with this are t-track ones. Are you going to need to shell out for new featherboards, stops etc? All bumps the price up.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Hi all. Does anyone have any experience of this sold by Rutlands?

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+rtx2000-xa ... le+RTX2000

It looks like a bargain but that, of course, is only the case if it's any good.

Nick

A few thoughts

1. why don't the pictures show the back of the fence? if the two sides are adjustable individually (for in-out position, as opposed to the gap between them) walk away. It'll be a nightmare in use.

2. If your router is lightweight it'll be OK, possibly, but a dished router plate will make many tasks impossible (read the reviews).

3. It is a real nuisance not having an NVR switch fitted. I note Rutlands' "classic" pricing in operation. Good NVR switches can be had from Axminster, amongst other places...

4. It'll be loud and messy, probably. Hard to fit containment for noise and dust to a stand with that sort of arrangement.

5. I had a similar top to that (from another company). The MDF wasn't waterproof and the melamine surface was thin - resulting in swelling, warping and general annoyance in my damp workshop (and the table wasn't good, either). Now, after some years of light use I have worn away the surface of the table, at the sides where the stock runs.

6. If there's no melamine coating on the underside, it'll never stay flat if there's any damp.

7. The Chinese make mainly for the US market. Expect the sizing of bolts, etc to be awkward Imperial sizes (DAMHIKT!). It will matter if you want to make jigs, or additional fences, clamps, etc. You can file flats onto metric coachbolt heads - it works, but you often have to take the crown off too, to get them to fit the track slots. It's annoying, and they're no longer rustproof either.

Check it on receipt, too, with a straightedge - any sign of warping, just send it straight back as unfit for porpoise.*
I would be VERY wary of anything getting such wonderful reviews on the seller's site, too.

E.

(*other Cetaceans are available).

 

[Marineboy]

Thanks for those thoughts fellas. I too am suspicious of the good reviews and would really want to see it in the flesh before committing to buy. It's also a bit much I think to ask nearly as much again for what should be standard kit i.e. NVR switch and featherboards.

 

[Glynne]

I have the earlier version of this and use a NVR from an old router table that I've passed on.
I have to say I've been quite pleased with this given the price although I have made a few modifications.
The 2 part fence slides sideways i.e. together or apart but doesn't allow independent forwards and backwards adjustments. The fence is generally OK and the only thing to be aware of is that it is completely flat across the join - occasionally you might have to put in a thin shim (piece of paper) just to make sure it is absolutely flat.
I've added a DIY micro adjuster (Heath Robinson style) which works well.
The phenolic plate is pretty standard and did deflect slightly with myTrend T9 router (older version of the T11). I've replaced this with a thicker plate. I have also boxed in the stand to contain some of the dust / shavings.
I use a Router Raizer rather than a router lift and have also added an Xtreme extension - both from Peter Sefton (Woodworkers Workshop).
The latest modification is covering the whole table with low friction acetyl sheet (idea from Ian Hawthorne boxmaker) and this again works really well.
So to summarise, I have made a lot of modifications but for £99 you're getting a pretty solid table on a metal stand and with an insert plate - so you could use this as the foundation for building your own.

 

[sunnybob]

If this is going to be your first router table, and if you admit that you are going to want to move on in the very near future to a better router table. then its fine.

if you have enough skills to build your own router table, then you can do a dam sight better for the same kind of money.

 

[Marineboy]

Thanks Glynne for that mini review - v useful. If the basic setup is pretty solid I would be happy to do some mods along the lines you suggest.

Sunnybob - valid point. I did make a table several years back but did not take much care over the materials. I used bog standard 18mm MDF which wasn't substantial enough and warped in the dampish environment where I kept it.

I have some thinking to do, but thanks again everyone for your input

Nick