An old tool - reborn

[tgiro]

About 9 years ago, I built a router table. Then, before it was finished, I had to start using it. And I have used it over the years. A couple of months ago, While I was contemplating cleaning, I looked at the machine and decided to finish it off. I started with the router table top. I edged it with some maple and added a miter slot to it. Then I sorta went overboard and upgraded the router motor to a Bosch 1617EVS mounted in a Kreg Max-lift mount.

When I first built it, in a moment of abject stupidity, I mounted the power receptacle inside the router box. You can see, in one of the photos, how sawdust was building up inside the receptacle box – scary.

I had to put the table back together to make the box joints for the cabinet drawers. But you can see the new safety switch and the power receptacle tucked away from sawdust.

Then I finished the cabinet. It's made from sanded pine plywood and trimmed with strips of yellow pine heartwood I cut from a 2X4. The drawers are 1/2” cabinet ply and faced with the best piece of #2 pine I could find at work.

[jollyred]

That's a good one.  Mine is a piece of plywood on the rails of my table saw.  The fence is a 1X clamped to the top.   I don't do a lot of routing.

Tom

[Bill WIlson]

That's a beaut!  Very nice!

I always admire and even envy those who have these lovely, furniture quality router tables.  I wanted to build one for years, but never got around to it.  My first router table was a Craftsman, like this...

I used that thing for years, even though it had some very significant limitations.  I still have it.  After many years of lusting after a nice, shop made table, I settled for this one;

It's light years better than the Craftsman and will probably serve me the rest of my woodworking days, but I still would love to build a really nice router table like yours.  Good job.

[Scrappile]

Very nice set up, Tony.  I have a router cabinet, not as nice looking as yours.  I made mine from a discarded kitchen cabinet...  I has served me well for many years.... Last year I broke down and bought a router lift for it.... Why oh why, did I wait so long.... I is great to have and I find I look for different ways to use my router now...

[amazingkevin]

Wow it would be an honor to work with some of your shops set-ups you've made!!!

[Hawk]

Very nice, this is a project that's been on my list for years, maybe this year?

Chris 

[oldhudson]

It reminds me of the one Norm Abrams made on his show. And it certainly looks like a practical set-up. One of the things I've come to expect in woodworking is changes to the shop. Adding, repositioning, modifying tools and accessories. The shop grows with you, so well done and thanks for sharing.

[teachnlearn]

4 hours ago, oldhudson said:

It reminds me of the one Norm Abrams made on his show. And it certainly looks like a practical set-up. One of the things I've come to expect in woodworking is changes to the shop. Adding, repositioning, modifying tools and accessories. The shop grows with you, so well done and thanks for sharing.

One shop trick you can use, as you add more machines you will need more space. A little known shop trick.

Get 2 sets of pipe clamps and 2 sixteen foot 2x4s. Put each 2 x 4 along the middle of each outside wall. Extend the pipe clamps so they fit across the shop, touching the 2 x 4s on each side of the shop.

Now start cranking the pipe clamps so the push out against the 2 x 4s and pushes the outside walls.

Keep crankng the pipe clamps til they move the walls. You can keep doing this til you get the additioal space you need. RJF

[Heli_av8tor]

Here's my version built from Norm's plans.

[teachnlearn]

Watched everything Norm did and got a few books. Now I need a house to put in a shop. News keeps coming out no one is selling. Been one year in a hotel with Covid lock down. I'm starting to eye the lobby to set up a shop. Check in get a custom key chain. RJF