The author evaluated 13 router tables for the sturdiness of their tables and fences, for dust collection, and for ease of operation and setup. A good router table is flat and has a stout base and a fence able to support jigs and hold-downs.

The Bench Dog combines an easy-to-assemble cabinet with a versatile fence to create a first-class router table. Bench Dog’s fence ties with JessEm’s for ease of use and versatility. The 3/4-in.-thick sacrificial faces can be replaced easily with commonly available MDF or shop lumber, and the fence operation is toolless. Rocker-arm clamps hold the fence securely, and T-tracks at the top front and top back of the aluminum fence provide for jigs and featherboards. An aluminum extrusion extends the length of the plastic-laminated-MDF table’s front edge. It features both a T-track and a miter-gauge slot, providing a versatile location for jigs, featherboards, or a miter gauge. The miter slot can be fine-tuned for accurate fitting of miter-gauge bars.

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