On 3/5/2010 10:08 AM, graham wrote:
Hello all,
I'm about to buy a router primarily for table use, plus a table!
I don't have a lot to spend, so...
I've pretty much decided on the larger Triton (TRB001) because it looks
like the height adjustment will work reasonably well under the table and
the bits can be changed above the table - this way I can avoid any fancy
raisers or tilting table tops etc.
I know Triton went bust a while back but it looks like they're back in
business - does anyone know if they're still being msde in Oz and if the
quality is still there?
The table is a bigger problem - it seems they easily cost more than the
router. Oh dear.
My initial plan was some cobbled together birch ply thing, but at the
least I'd have to get some kind of inset plate, and I'd probably always
struggle to get the thing flat. And if it's not flat it's going to be a
total pain to use!
So I thought maybe I should buy the top, and a fence, and just build the
base. Maybe the veritas top, though it's pricey and small.
But if I'm going to do that wouldn't it make sense to just buy a large
cast iron top, because that would be, and stay, reliably flat?
Here in the UK the choices seem to be:
Record Power -
http://www.recordpower.co.uk/index.p...LIDING%20TABLE
for around £300
Charnwood -
http://www.charnwood.net/ProductDesc...&stockref=W015 for around
£280
I wonder if anyone has any experience of these, and whether they're
worth bothering with. I have the Record Power drill press and it's
pretty rubbish, and even though a flat bit of cast iron shouldn't be too
much to ask my guess is that the rest of it will probably be fairly ropey.
All opinions gratefully received.
First, read through everything on http://www.patwarner.com. Pat's one
of the good guys and he knows his stuff with regard to routers.
That said:
Make your own top. Getting it flat enough from two pieces of 1/2 or 3/4
ply or MDF is no trick at all. You can buy an insert plate or make one
from acrylic or polycarbonate or phenolic that will work fine. It's
just not that hard to do and it's a good exercise in using the router.
A sheet of melamine on top gives you a nice smooth working surface.
New Yankee Workshop has plans and a howto video for a very nice router
table http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?0301.
"Woodworking with the Router"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Woodworking-Router-Professional-Techniques-Woodworker/dp/1565234391/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267809827&sr=8-1
has plans for a very similar design and IIRC for a couple of simpler ones.
Pat's site refers you to an issue of Fine Woodworking with a howto on
his quite excellent fence, which is a thing of beauty--that article is
available online but you have to have a subscription to Fine Woodworking
Online Edition. If you want something with more range of adjustment an
Incra or Jointech would be a good bet--you'd do better to spend there
than on a top IMO.
graham.