Rockler has taken the new breed of powerful compact routers to another level with its new Trim Router Table.

The table clamps to a bench, making it quick to set up. Better yet, the insert plate works as a permanent baseplate for the router, meaning you can use the same router for handheld and table routing, switching modes in seconds. The plate is predrilled to fit the DeWalt 611, the Porter-Cable 450 and 7301, and the Bosch Colt. I tried the unit with an accessory 2-1⁄4-in.-dia. dust port (Rockler item No. 21528; $12) and was very pleased with how little dust landed on the shop floor.

I used the table to build a small shelf unit, and it made it easy to work with all of the small parts, including making rabbets for the back and chamfering and beveling edges. But where it really came in handy was in cutting the sliding dovetails that hold the piece together. I used the router out of the table to cut the dovetail slots with the help of a fence. Then, to cut the dovetail keys, all I had to do was pop the router and baseplate into the table’s recess. There was no need to mess with the bit height because I was already there; I simply adjusted the fence until I had a snug-fitting joint.

The bit opening in the fence is a little large, making the small workpieces want to dive into the bit. I’d recommend screwing or bolting an auxiliary fence to the router table’s fence to create a zero-clearance opening (or to make a taller fence for vertical routing, like the dovetail keys).

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