On a whim’ I thought I would make a Horizontal Router Table to supplement my BenchDog I just got for my TS..
Here is what it looks like.. Sorry for ALL the pictures but had to show the KEY points..
NO.. Nothing fancy.. I just used Popular and ASH fer the strong parts…
I found that the center slide MADE or BROKE the table.. You need a EXACT X/Y movement of the tables…
By the way.. I made it to tilt the Router so I could use it that way.. Hardly ever but you can make some interesting cuts that way…
I show the bit BELOW the stick.. BUT I usually do it on top! Well, I think is wrong but I got good hold downs!
The file attached is my ‘sort of’ rendering of what I did… Geee I’m old and.. Well
The H-Router.vsd file is a Visio file so you may need a reader to use it.. I did the drawings really quick so may be some errors.. I sure hope not!
I think if you got to the MS pages you can get a reader to download if you want it..
I have the Visio from a few years ago so not the latest MS tries to push on you!
2003?? I forgets! EDIT:
DANG.. I can not open my own VSD FILE! Damn Bill Gates!
Edited 6/7/2005 3:21 pm ET by Will George
Replies
Real nice table Will! I'd like to build one but I'm too laz....busy right now. Anyhow thanks for posting it.
I am very impressed (does not happem often) how much did this project cost? If you do not mind me asking. Thanks
Cost: I have no idea of the exact cost.
The wood used was leftovers I saved. Actually all the wood and 3/4 inch MDF for the table tops was what I had available from other projects. The maple base was a 'hunk' of old bowling alley Maple (full of metal!) but straight and TRUE! I started with 2 inch S2S poplar and some 3/4 inch Ash I had. I have ALOT of Ash and Poplar in all sizes.
By the way.. I check it often and the MDF is still as flat as the day I made it. Liberal Shellac soaked into the edges. Sliding table tops are just waxed over a wash coat of shellac. The fixture is in my 'so called shop'.. Unheated in winter and unconditioned in summer!
The only real cost for the fixture itself was for the hardware. 'T' Bolts, Knobs and the full extension slides. As I stated (I think) success or failure all boils down to using quality slides. The CENTER slide under each table is the KEY to success! My first 'GO' at the project I use some linear bearing slides.. VERY Expensive! But I had them from my metal working days. I thought I'd need them someday! (I haven't!) so I tried the slides. As I recall, without looking at my old notes, they were 18 inch full extensions rated at 100 pounds or so. I believe I used Accuride series 3832 Slides, Zinc, 18'' length. I 'think' they cost about $18.00 a pair these days. Maybe $10.00 then. As an old metal worker I found it amazing just how 'Accuride' they were with good support and well mounted! Quality I'd say!
Of course you need a router and some kind of plate to mount it and onto the fixture.
I have several router tables. In fact I use routers more than any other tool. I had a project (yes a freebie for somebody else which is most of my work) that I found hard to do. (Well at least without loosing several fingers!). I needed to tip the router or the stock at different angles to make the profile I wanted so I came up with my little fixture.
In one picture you will see a clamp holding the router when it is tipped. I found that the 'T' bolts and Knobs were just not up to the task alone!
Not perfect, but I could have done worser! I think the concept is sound and works well. What you make is based around your router and it's mounting plate. Thinking back, the 18 inch full travel for both of the tables was a bit over kill for what I needed at the time and for what I use it for these days. I used a threaded rod and a knob of the router height adjustments.. I COULD HAVE DONE BETTER ON THAT ONE!
And I 'almost' went for a Z Axis but talked myself out of it.
I had fun making it and it does the job! All that counts.
OH, and thanks fer' the "I am very impressed ". I was also!
And a PDF of of my 'hen scratchings' when I made it.. Copied from the Visio which you probably do not have a reader for.
OK, SO I can do 'pro' technical drawings.. BUT I did not at the time! Just me..
Will,
Ohhhhhh, drooly stuff!
DANG.. I can not open my own VSD FILE! Damn Bill Gates!
Well now, ye might want to check this out: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3fb3bd5c-fed1-46cf-bd53-da23635ab2df&displaylang=en It's Visio Viewer from Microsoft.
It seems that Visio can be purchased from MS and/or also bundled into MS Office 2007. I believe Internet Explorer calls the viewer when you open a .VSD file.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Bob..
I will think on it and come back if I remembers I should do it.
Maybe in MS word pages?
I would think as smart as you are (with the wifes help) you can do it from just the pictures! Ask the wife first for help!
And maybe this from Bill Gates..free stuff!
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d88e4542-b174-4198-ae31-6884e9edd524&displaylang=en
I am sad and delighted today at the same time.. Both of my China Dolls will be in school next year... No baby sitting and time in the shop but I wonder if my shop time is better than my China Dolls!
I will post..
Edited 6/4/2009 8:00 am by WillGeorge
A picture of them..
And then I received
Sorry, WILLGEORG1, you've exceeded your personal document space allocation.
There is an altenative to Visio. It is called Kivio and is available for Windows, Mac and Linux.I have used it to prepare charts at home (Linux) for use at work (Windows). There is a free and Open Source version and a paid-for version with more stencils.http://www.thekompany.com/projects/kivio/I have no connection with the company but am an Open Source evangelist.Unfortunately Kivio cannot open Visio files. The Visio format is closed and nobody has hacked it open yet.
A company called ConceptDraw apparently owns a product from Computer Systems Odessa that offers a service to convert Visio files into Visio XML format, which I understand is/was in MS Visio 2007.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
but am an Open Source evangelist.....
YES! I evangelize Also.. but you would be baptized in beer or a sort of good wine...
I have all sorts of Software collected over the years. Some of the BEST is FREE Open Sourced In my Opinion.
Gimp is one of my favorites... It CAN do almost anything the so called BIG-BOYS can do and then some. I love but have some problems with InkScape on my MS Vista Ultimate?
And I like (love?), although not free.. My old Fireworks and FreeHand from Macromedia!
Adobe messed it up I think....
Never tried it but I think.. MS has a reader you can download..
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d88e4542-b174-4198-ae31-6884e9edd524&displaylang=en
EDIT: What did I do? 2005 showed up here? Not my thoughts at the time I assume..
Sorry...
Edited 6/5/2009 11:25 pm by WillGeorge
Edited 6/5/2009 11:28 pm by WillGeorge
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