Rousseau - Router Table
A free-standing router table with fence accessories.
Oct 01, 1999
For the small shop, a table-mounted router can do all that a shaper can and maybe more. Raised panels, box joints, dovetails, mortises, tenons and moldings are but some of the operations possible with a router.
It’s not too difficult to cobble together a workable shopmade router table. But it may lack some features available from a commercially made table. There are many tables to choose from, everything from basic units costing about $50 to setups costing $500 or more, depending on the options. I looked at 15 tables for this article.
All router tables operate on the same basic concept. A router is mounted upside down, usually on a removable baseplate, although a few mount directly to the tabletop. For many operations, the router table is used in conjunction with a fence.
Most router tables are mounted to a stand, either a short one for benchtop use or a table-height one for freestanding units. Some router tables can be attached directly to the extension wing of a tablesaw. A benchtop model is good for its portability and small footprint. But the best of the freestanding units have larger tabletops and provide a more stable work surface.
The Rousseau has a heavy-duty welded stand. The top could be kept flatter by adding more mounting screws from underneath. The fence is among the best.
Additional items:
Model No. RM 3508 Table
Model No. RM 3301 Fence
Model No. RM 3509 Baseplate
Model No. LS 3310 Leg set
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Starrett 12-in. combination square
Veritas Micro-Adjust Wheel Marking Gauge
3M Blue Tape
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