I have no experience with either of the router/plate combinations you
listed, but, as far as the table extension, I built mine a few months ago
and absolutly love it. I have a Delta Contractors saw and added a Vega 50
inch fence, I made my table from the 1/2" laminated particale board that is
laminated on both sides. I doubled it up and used biscuts and glue to
assemble it. Trimmed with some maple i had laying around and installed a
PC690 on a basic aluminium Rockler plate. I made a home made fence cover
with adjustable wings and it works great.

"Bob" wrote in message
oups.com...
Wanting to move beyond the limitations of my old Craftsman tabletop
router table and my trusty PC 690 router, I am looking to move up to a
more substantial router and table. I'd like to put a new router in the
33" wide right-side table extension of my contractor table saw. I
think that the experience of the helpful wReck-ers in this group might
prove valuable.

1. What are folks experience with this strategy vs. a separate router
table? Does the dual use of the table extension real estate cause any
significant conflicts or PITA restrictions? My shop, like many others
is a bit crowded.

2. Does the existing 3/4" particle board need to be reinforced, like
with another 3/4" layer of MDF?

3. I am looking at two router strategies:
a. Milwaukee 6525-20 router with a Woodpeckers aluminum router table
plate
b. PC 7518 router with a router lift (Woodpeckers Precision Router
Lift, Jessem Mast-R-Lift)

On item 2., I'm leaning toward the Milwaukee+plate vs. the PC+lift. My
reasoning is that the Milwaukee seems to be a somewhat better table
router and already has top surface adjustment capability. I am hoping
to avoid going under the table for bit replacement by using offset
wrenches from the top. Will this work? This option is a lot less
expensive, too.

Does anyone have experience with any of these options that they'd like
to share?

Thanks for the help.

Bob