"mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net" "mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net" wrote
in message ...
After reviewing a variety of router table designs, I noticed that the
position in which the router plate goes varies greatly. Some people place
it fairly close to the front, whereas others place it back quite a ways.

I presume that positioning the router "back" a ways allows for more room
in front for the object being routed. Putting the router more up front
makes is easier to work with but takes away from the front space.

However, I've even seen it with the router WAY up front and a LONG fence
reach capability - here I assume that the person intends to feed the wood
Left-to-Right "behind" the router. Can't think of any other reason to
have the table that deep.

Anyway - is there some optimal distance that people use for positioning
the router? I am assuming for my purposes that the back of the router
table will normally be butted up against the wall. And so of course, you
can assume that the router table is stand-alone (ie, not an extension of a
saw table).

Consider first that a router bit does not have a front or back side relative
to the router table. If you position the router closer to the front of the
table you can always turn the fence around and use the back side if you need
more room.
95% of my routing on the router table is narrow stock. The router being
closer to the front keeps me from having to lean over as much. If I need to
do a round over on a large panel I use a hand held router or flip the fence
and use the larger back side of the router table.