Router users - Update 20.3.10

[afreegreek]

I have the US version, too. It has become my go-to router for small stuff -- anything that takes a 1/4 inch bit under 3/4 diameter. Fine adjustment can be a bit tricky. That's its only fault.

If it's going to be your only router I would recommend something a bit larger; say 1.5HP. Bosch makes a great one in that size that comes with a screw base and a plunge base.

fine adjustment on any trim router is hit and miss at best. I've tried almost every one out there too and the Bosch Colt is about as good as they come. I had one for a while and found the fine adjustment screw kept kicking the motor out of engagement with the threads so I just removed it and went to pure hand adjustment.

[Larwyn]

Looks like you done good........

[Classic Finn]

Looks like you done good........

Thank You Larwyn.. Now Im eager to make a table for it.. have you made one by chance?

[Larwyn]

Looks like you done good........

Thank You Larwyn.. Now Im eager to make a table for it.. have you made one by chance?

No, I have considered it, maybe someday I'll get around to making a real router table. For the now I am getting by with a cheap aluminum router table from Home Depot (a Ryobi). Before that one I had an even smaller aluminum table by Craftsman. I am actually using the 20 year old Craftsman router table fence on the Ryobi table because the one that came with the Ryobi is totally worthless. I could fix it, or make a better one but the old Craftsman works fine. If it was heavier the Ryobi fence might make a decent door stop, but I doubt it.

That fancy router of yours deserves a good router table, I'm sure you will do it justice.....

[Classic Finn]

Larwyn look here. Free Plans for a sturdy router table. Most likely wont cost much either.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/FWNPDFfr ... e_Plan.pdf

I just watched this gentleman,s video.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/skillsan ... x?id=28007

What do you think?

[halfdome, Danny]

Heikki, In my opinion you can't go wrong with anything Bosch , great German engineering.
That ought to route almost anything you will encounter building a teardrop and more.
Here's what I made for a router table. Very simple, sits on my work bench. Danny

[Classic Finn]

Heikki, In my opinion you can't go wrong with anything Bosch , great German engineering.
That ought to route almost anything you will encounter building a teardrop and more.
Here's what I made for a router table. Very simple, sits on my work bench. Danny

Wow Danny nice.. I like your table even better than what I just posted on a Free Plan for a routing Table. Where is that router center plate from? Did you make that as well?

I really want to set this up even though its 23.14 here in Funland. Could you give the dimensions of that table and how you constructed it?

I understand that the round bottom plate has to come off the router in order it to install under the table?

[Classic Finn]

I took a couple of photos for you to show the router and Original Bosch bits that we got with it.

[Larwyn]

Yep, Danny's looks good, and the one in the plans you posted has some good features too. Though mine is just a little bench top unit, I mounted it on a roll around base which brings it up to the same height as my workbench. It comes in handy at times when I need an additional work surface or just need to extend the capacity of my workbench a bit.

[Classic Finn]

Yep, Danny's looks good, and the one in the plans you posted has some good features too. Though mine is just a little bench top unit, I mounted it on a roll around base which brings it up to the same height as my workbench. It comes in handy at times when I need an additional work surface or just need to extend the capacity of my workbench a bit.

Larwyn what did you use for a center plate or how did you mount it?

[Larwyn]

Yep, Danny's looks good, and the one in the plans you posted has some good features too. Though mine is just a little bench top unit, I mounted it on a roll around base which brings it up to the same height as my workbench. It comes in handy at times when I need an additional work surface or just need to extend the capacity of my workbench a bit.

Larwyn what did you use for a center plate or how did you mount it?

Mine does not use a plate at all. The router is bolted directly to the bottom of the table, so basically the table is the plate. This can complicate bit changes and adjustments but keeps the manufacturing cost down and tends to sway people toward using the same brand router so they do not have to drill additional holes in the table top to mount it.

[halfdome, Danny]

Heikki, In my opinion you can't go wrong with anything Bosch , great German engineering.
That ought to route almost anything you will encounter building a teardrop and more.
Here's what I made for a router table. Very simple, sits on my work bench. Danny

Wow Danny nice.. I like your table even better than what I just posted on a Free Plan for a routing Table. Where is that router center plate from? Did you make that as well?

I really want to set this up even though its 23.14 here in Funland. Could you give the dimensions of that table and how you constructed it?

I understand that the round bottom plate has to come off the router in order it to install under the table?

Heikki, I used a piece of 1/4" Plexiglas and I have an extra router base mounted to it.
I routed a shoulder for it to lay inside the opening that it sits on.
You may be able to order an extra base and find some Plexiglas just for this purpose.
It has to be perfectly flush to the top to be effective.
The most important dimension of a router table like mine is to have enough clearance for the router to breathe when it's fully extended.
Sawdust kills electric motors.
The top can be whatever you desire.
Without going out to the shop and doing a measurement I'm guessing mine is about 16" x 24".

I use several homemade fences some straight and some off set when a bit may trim some of the width of my work piece.
I just cut out a notch in the center of my fence and slowly feed the spinning bit into it slightly deeper then needed.
If you do this be extra careful and have a sure grip.

The box itself is just scrap particle board or plywood covered with scrap plam.
I wasn't busy that day so I covered all the surfaces with plam, should last for years.
You may want to drill several pocket screw holes to mount it to the bench as it can slide on you at times. Danny

[afreegreek]

I have a table too but most of the time I don't really need it and just need to turn the router upside down. I made a big base that just has a cleat on it to clamp into a vise. it's 16" x 16" and the hole is at 10" and 10" from the edge so the router is in one corner sort of. lots of base sits on top of the vise and lots sits on the bench. I have a router base permanently attached so I just pop the motor in and clamp it in the vise and I'm ready to go. I didn't make a fence for it because I just use it with bearing equipped bits. personally I'm not a big fan of router tables and try to use some other method to do the job when I can. I could have used a router table to machine this planking but I made this little jig instead and it did more than a router table would have.

[afreegreek]

I took a couple of photos for you to show the router and Original Bosch bits that we got with it.

keep box sets in mind when you go shopping for more bits in the future too. lots of times you can get a set of 5 plus a little box for the price of 2 singles and other deals like that. buy name brand though and stay away from those real cheap sets. they are usually crap.