router table advice?

[morty]

I am planning on outfitting a new home shop space, and I would like to include a router table for working acrylic. I've heard of kits that can be mounted to an existing table saw, would anyone recommend these? If so, is there a brand/name to consider (for both table saw and router)? Or would a dedicated table router be preferable? I don't plan on doing really huge projects (at this point ), and the shop space is about a single garage stall. Any advice appreciated...

 

[wooddood]

go with a seperate router table, there cheap or you could make your own. this way you dont have to keep moving the router to use the table saw.







dave.:smokin:

 

[Donw]

The router goes under the table so no need to move the router. If you want to buy one instead of diy. The rockler is a good value, and the plates are always flat. The woodpecker is also nice but is designed for the incra. The benchdog is real nice but not worth all the extra bucks. I have all three and the bench dog is the only one I would not repurchase due to being overpriced.

Don

 

[wooddood]

what i meant was adjusting the router bit up and down when using the tablesaw with a large peice of plywood being cut, just a pain to mess with all the time. good luck to you.



dave.:smokin:

 

[mpomfret]

I suggest building a separate router table. The commercially available ones are typically underbuilt and overpriced. I built one that functions as an assembly table, router table, tool storage, and outfeed table for my table saw. It's on wheels and has a drop leaf that gives me a 4'x4' work surface. It works great.

As for the router itself, the Porter Cable 693 is fantastic. If you watch for sales you can get a kit that comes with the router, a fixed base, a plunge base, and an edge guide for around $200.

Matt

 

[hahnmeister]

If you dont have a table saw either, then a combo table saw / router lift is the way to go....but like the opinions stated above...you need to get a good one. I use a powermatic table saw with an attached router lift. This allows me to use the dead-accurate fence that comes with the saw as my fence for the router as well.

Here's mine...the powermatic 1791271K
http://www.nextag.com/buyer/product...6380a1c050e-FCE06B64C970A7A3&product=62602291

the powermatic is the high-end of the same company that makes jet...also top-notch. The only other brand I would consider would be delta's contractor or pro grade....not the commercial crap.

 

[morty]

thanks very much guys,

at this point I don't have the router OR table saw, so I am pretty flexible in my options. If a combo unit will work (with the required inconvenience of moving the router into and out of place) I think this is the best arrangement for me space-wise. I'll look into the brands you cited. Any other advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Palancar]

I would spend the money investing in the best table saw you can afford and maybe a little more than you can afford. There is nothing better than a great table saw and nothing worse than a cheapo one. You can easily build you own router table and attach it to your table saw on hinges so it can swing down out of the way when you don't need it. You can share the table saw fence. And the few times when working with a large piece of lumber on the table saw, you can drop the router bit down and have one large surface area. Building a router table is nothing to be afraid of. They are pretty easy. They do not have to be so perfect like a table saw. Table saws have to be dead accurate. Not so with router tables at least for the common tasks you will probably be doing.

 

[gmatt]

I've been borrowing a friends semi portable table saw. Home depot Ridgid 10" seems to do a pretty good job. I can't keep indoors so I cant use all cast iron table. Any suggestions? But now I'm looking for a router table. any build plans out there?

 

[hahnmeister]

That powermatic I suggested is perhaps one of the best units you can buy...just short of a stationary cabinet setup with a 220v+ motor...but thats for pros who have a full shop. The router lift is very flexible and not a PITA at all...it just snaps into place when needed...and folds away when not.

 

[bassnman11]

I bought a Ryobi table saw that has a router table built in. It is a great little saw. The top is actually 3 moveable sections that you can put on either side of the blade and the fence rails can be adjusted to the side to give you a 36 inch table span. The stand has wheels on one end so you can move it when necessary. Got mine at HD for less than $300.

 

[hahnmeister]

The main diff between a $300 and $1200 table saw that will mean something to you on a day-to-day basis is the precision. The accu-fence that powermatic has is hard to beat. The Ryobi? Well...I suppose expectations vary from one user to another. If you want 100% precision, get a good saw...not a cheap one. Just like a protein skimmer, you will end up spending it in the end if you buy a cheaper one and end up aggrivated with it.

 

[ErikS]

saw that will mean something to you on a day-to-day basis is the precision.

Sorry but that's really an inaccurate statement.

What you get with the cabinet saw is the ability to do heavy cutting day in & day out - indefinately.

What you do NOT get is a more accurate saw, in fact it may not be as accurate. That particular saw is as accurate as anything under $2000 - it's easily capable of greater than 1/128".

What it cannot do & was not designed for was day in & day out production work it would choke on this work load.

Think I'm full of it? Check this link David in Cairns works exclusively with that particular Ryobi saw - he uses it because it's so accurate (given he level of work is "art" production is not an issue for him).

Also has two safety features that are good for the "weekend warrior" - that being a riving knife & a sliding miter table. FWIW - you can't even buy a US style splitter in Europe as they're considered un-safe, they require riving knives.

My point is not that the Ryobi is a better saw (not) just that it's very accurate & it may be an excellent choice for the a given application.

Oops - almost forgot, the router fence that comes with the Ryobi is fair (& I'm being kind) - build one is better.

 

[gobygoby]

yes its possible to have a router and table saw combo....

myself and sumphead(rc member) did just that. he bought a delta table saw with table extension and larger guide. similar to the one below

his came with the extension to the right. we cout out a hole, mounted the router to a plate and can drop in the router. when we dont want to use it, it can be lowered below the table so any other materail on top wont catch it.

he built a seperat oufeed table similar to the one on the top. except he built it using 4 x 4 posts and a 4x 8 pice of ply for the top. we also mounted a router on one end so we could cut larger pieces of acrylic.

give sumphead a pm, he may be able to hook you up with some pics.

hth
GOby

 

[morty]

thanks again!

Sounds like a good option would be to go kick some tires on these things. Theres a new Acme outlet store here in the twin cities and I'm hoping they have some table saws on display featuring routers. I've got quite a bit of experience with my dad's Delta table saw, its similar to the one in the photo, but it has a flip-up roller style outfeed table, and a sliding miter table attached to the left, and no router. He's a little afraid of routers for some reason he only has a seldom used hand-held Bosch plunge style. He's also got his table saw connected to a central dust collector, something i'm considering too. (advice on this would be appreciated as well! ) Maybe i'll go take a look at some models and bump this thread with better educated questions...

 

[ErikS]

He's a little afraid of routers for some reason

Maybe because a table saw removes digits cleanly = a hope of re-attachment where a router mangles them?

Seriously, some tools just bother folks - maybe he had a bad experience (I'm leery of band saws because in HS I had a blade break & the teacher left the cover open = blade danced all around me).

Dust collection? Mandatory IMHO - you'd be amazed how much they catch & how bad it is w/o it.

If you really want accurate do a google on Jointech - some serious TS/router systems.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

If you can, also take a look at a Grizzly. I've got one of their older model contractor saws and love it. Some magazines have rated it better than the delta and jet. I've also built a router table into my extension for the saw. I've now got aportable work station thats 7' long and holds both my router and table saw. For acuracey on the router table end, I use a Incra fence that can be removed very easy by removing 4 screw in handles. But it's positioned far enough away from the saw blade that i rarerly have to remove it. The design was originally in wood magazine. I modified it a little as I wanted a longer top for mine. Pic's of it can be found here.

http://community.webshots.com/album/176808421MeJbMd

 

[mpomfret]

I'm with blown63chevy. I have a 3hp Grizzly cabinet saw that I love. I liked it so much I wound up buying their 14" band saw sight unseen. Their contractor saws are very price competetive. Delta, Jet, Powermatic, etc make good equipment, but, IMO, Grizzly gives a little more bang for the $. I've heard some good things about Ryobi and Ridgid, but don't have 1st hand knowledge. Whichever saw you choose, don't skimp on the rip fence. Some of the manufacturers offer the same saw with different fences. Make sure you get a good one: shopfox, for example.

In your first post you said your space is limited to a single garage stall. That's pretty tight. I suggest that all the gear you buy should be on wheels. That way you can park your saw while working on the assemble table, etc.

gmatt:

Why can't you keep your saw indoors ? (maybe this is another thread ?) You don't actually park your CAR in the garage, do you ? Cars have paint on them for a reason :^).

Matt

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Yep, put everything on wheels. That's the way mine is. Just rool it out when you need it, push it away when you don't. ALL of my tools are on wheels, tablesaw/router, Band saw, jointer, etc. If you look at the link I posted, you'll also see some cabinets that the front opens down to make a work bench. When your done, fold it up and you've got a lot more room. These are not my ideas, they came from some of the books I have. I'd be more than happy to share them, I've done it in the past.

 

[8BALL_99]

I have to agree I WOULD not buy a Ryobi.. I've got a heavy duty Delta and I have a Ryobi from homedepot.. Got the Ryobi cause its light and portable. It blows man.. Cheap.. Cheap.. I use my Delta when I ever I can.. I've even loaded it up once or twice lol.. The Ryobi is just a cheap skill saw mounted under a table..The Fence is cheap.. The saw is so loud its crazy.. I would buy pretty much anyother saw but that one.. JMO ... BTW That Powermatic looks awesome.. Like I said I've got a pretty decent Delta not sure what model.. Wouldnt' help anyway cause its about 12 years old lol. I might have to upgrade now after seeing some of these

I also vote for the built on router table.. I added one to mine and it works pretty good.. But For Acrylic you need it to be VERY accurate.. Mine works pretty good and I can use the fence on my table saw for my router.. But I wish I had a nice heavy duty router table built on by the factory...