Router Table Plans and Router

[Travis]

I am seeking advice on router tables and the accompanying router set up. I would like to build my own router table given the price of the comercial units that I see in all of the catalogs and at the wood working stores. Has anyone used a particular plan that has stood the test of time that they would suggest.

Of course after the router table is built I will need a router. I have a lower end smallish Ryobi that works fine. I am sure that I will need to move to a higher class of equipment because I want to do raised panel doors and the such. I am hoping that I can get buy with a 3 1/2 HP PC or something similiar.

Any information provided would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[McRabbet]

Probably the most popular router table design is from good old Norm Abrams New Yankee Workshop and it is a good unit. I built a Jointech Router Workstation when I bought Jointech's Cabinet Maker's Fence System several years ago (it's shown on top of the workstation; I altered the plan and made the cabinet longer).

I have a Rousseau Router Table Insert (available from Amazon.com) and a Milwaukee 5625-20 3-1/2 HP variable speed router in my table. I like the Milwaukee because it is easy to adjust from above or below the table and has plenty of power for raising panels or any continuous operation.

Rob

[cpowell]

Travis, I stepped piecemeal into the router table game. I initially bought a Benchdog router table top and fence and worked for a few months with it after simply adding a skirt/frame and legs. I then built a Norm-like cabinet to support my Benchdog table.

I love the cabinet - it's perfect. I'd like a larger table surface, precision fence, and router lift. I don't really NEED these things, I'd just LIKE to have them, especially the lift! Oh, and a bigger router - I have a PC 690 series VS router with the plunge and fixed bases...I leave the fixed base in the RT.

At some point I will build my own table and have a few ideas of things to improve over the Benchdog design.

Chuck

[WoodWrangler]

Hey Travis

One of my first projects was to build the Norm table (from New Yankee workshop). It was a great project and taught me some valuable lessons (like measure twice, cut once!).

Then I decked it out with an awesome top from Woodpeckers (www.woodpeck.com), the Incra LS system, and a Uni-lift.

As for a router, I used a Hitachi 3 1/2HP. It works like a champ, but if I had the $$$ at the time I would have gotten the Porter Cable one in the same size.

Let us know what you come out with ...