Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Aug 22, 2006 06:59pm | #1

   Well, since I'm wandering around here getting help from John with my bandsaw, I'll jump in a make an admittedly prejudiced suggestion:  The Veritas table top from Lee Valley.  It is a steel top that you can make a bench-top base for, and then later if you want, make a full-fledged cabinet for, or hang from your table saw or whatever.

   Here is a description of the top.

   And here is a picture of it on their bench-top stand.  Dead simple to make your own.

   This top will always be flat, it has a universal clamp system that lets you put any router into it without having to make a new table insert and you can use magnetic accessories on it.  I love mine!  John may know of some downsides to it, I dunno.  I recently bought the fence and sled.  Needs a few modifications to be really user-friendly (knobs instead of allen screws) but incredibly well made.

   A search at Knots will bring up several others who have this table and have been quite happy with it.  (now, bowing out.........)

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

2. 
   JohnWW | Aug 23, 2006 02:27pm | #2

   It has been many years since the magazine reviewed router tables so I may not be aware of some of what is available.

   I would stay away from the lightweight, usually cast aluminum or stamped steel, tables sold by a number of router manufacturers, they are typically flimsy and have useless fences.

   The Veritas table is well liked by many users, and is an engineering and design marvel, but it is more complex than is necessary in my opinion.  My personal favorite, is the BenchDog portable table, their ProTop Contractor, it is simple, solid, and well thought out.

   John White