I’m hoping someone can be kind enough to offer some advice. I just recently bought a General International 10″ contractor TS. It came with a cast iron router extension wing. I also just recently bought a Porter Cable router. Looking at the underside of the router wing, I can’t figure out how to mount the router.
There are no predrilled holes in the extension table, but a few groves that you might be able to slide a hex nut head into. Please see attached photo and see if you can offer any help or ideas.
Thanks in advance!
Replies
I would guess you need to drill it for your router but doesn't the manual give any directions for mounting the router?
FireB, Obviously,the router must be narrow enough to pass through the table's opening. Also, the center line of the router's collet AND the
insert plate's center should be aligned accurately.
To mark out the location for attaching mounting screws on the insert, there are two ways to do that. One, is to chuck up a 1/4" drill rod in the collet and fit a 'Doughnut' (Made of wood with a holesaw )to the insert's hole.
With the insert attached with carpet tape to the work bench (with it's bottom facing up, remove two opposing screws of the router base BUT, leave the other two in place.
Lower the router down to engage the centering pin into the 1/4" hole in the doughnut. If you carefully scribe through the router base and plate.s holes,( I use a 90°bent icepick, ) you'll 'spot' two of the centers to be centerpunched for drilling the holes..
(At the same time, try to scribe a circular outline around most of the router.s base plate. (Or. Square?)
In the event you can't scribe all four of the holes on the insert, that outline will help to spot any missed holes later..
Drill out the holes first with a small drill bit, then,increase boring the holes with even larger sized bits, 'till the screws just fit the holes loosely.
The other way is quicker. Just remove the factory attached base plate lay the plate's top on the insert's botton and 'eyeball'both of the centers as accurately as you can. Hold the two in place with C clamps.
Scribe the four holes with a sharp awl or,scriber. Drill as above
The inser top holes must be countersunk (or, counter bored)depending on which type screws came with the router
Good luck, Steinmetz.
Edited 4/9/2007 3:06 am ET by Steinmetz
Looks to me like the four T slots are to be used for router attachment, I would use them. Ask a tech Rep from General for info on those T slots. Normal T slots will accept standard 1/4-20 bolt leads.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
You can slide square nuts into the grooves which will give you some flexibility in lining up the router base but you will probably have to drill some holes in the base to get things to line up and to get clearance for the bolt size required for the nuts.
John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking magazine
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