Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Feb 26, 2008 01:48am | #1

   It's amazing what you can spend these days on a router table.

   All the router table/router lift combinations are sturdily made by small companies. The differences in how they are constructed are fairly minor, they all work well in my experience. I would suggest that you do a search here on the FWW site to get a review of the various router table and lift combinations, I haven't tried them all so I can't give you an across the board comparison of all that is currently available.

   For what it is worth, the bells and whistles are nice, but you can do just as good work with an ordinary Porter Cable spiral body router bolted to the underside of a simple MDF top.

   John White

   
   

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   Edited 2/26/2008 11:08 am ET by JohnWW

2. 
   pita | Mar 02, 2008 07:08am | #2

   I would start with the Jessem Mater-R-Lift and make my table around the lift.  As far as router go the Porter Cable is the top of the line.  When it comes to routers I also own a DeWalt and Fien plunge routers.

   I started out by making Norm Abrimse (sp) router table, then upgraded to CMT's table (Bench Dog makes the same table), and finally upgrading to Jessems      Master-R-Lift.  If I was going to start over again, I would start with a Jessem Master-R-Lift and make the table around it.  If you do not want to spend a lot of $$$ purchase Jessems router lift which is pre-drilled for just about any router and what's nice about this is Jessem makes a template.  ONE more thing if you are thinking about purchasing a router table and all ready own a table saw "Bench Dog" makes a table that can be attached to a table saw.

   Once you start going down the router path you will never return - I started down the path and own 8 routers, I love everyone of them.

3. 
   davidah | Mar 06, 2008 09:24am | #3

   Grandman,

    Over the past year I have built a router table that I find unbelievably useful. It cost a bundle and at the outset I did not plan to spend so much money on it but I believe that the investment has proved to be truly worthwhile. A friend who also is trying to build a router table is now into almost as much money (multiple purchases because cheaper tools do not work as well) but still is not happy with what he has purchased so far because of limitations.

    I bought the Porter Cable 7518 router, (3.5 hp I think) and mounted it in the Benchdog router lifter (a behemoth and rock solid). The benefits are that I have all the power I need to handle the heaviest of routing tasks and the Benchdog Lifter allows repeatable adjustments within a couple of a thousandths of an inch. Additionally I can change the bits from above the table without removing the router, an essential feature in my opinion. The router table top is 32"by 48" and is made of "Richlite", reinforced with aluminum angle to keep it flat and solid. The fence, a Jointech Cabinet makers system, is outstanding except that I might consider the Jessem today because it is more solid but lacks the fine degree of adjustment available with the Jointech. The base of the table follows the basic design available from the Jointech company, but considerably larger. Drawers  in the base hold my other two routers (Bosch 1617EVS and Bosch PR20 EVS "Colt") together with all my router bits and routing paraphernalia. The system is on casters and can be wheeled around to get it out of the way in my relatively small shop.

   This system has proven so outstanding that I can highly recommend it if you are willing to spend the time and the money to build it. If you have any questions please fell free to ask.

   davidah