Alrighty then... I have to say I have been suitably impressed with some of
the table extensions for contractor size table saws that incorporate a mount
for a router. There are some nice cast iron extensions like the Benchdog,
and if you do a simple image search via Yahoo or Google for table saw
extension you will find dozens of home shop built ones.

Now, my wife already gave me the go ahead to just buy the Benchdog, but I
could certainly make my own.

If you have used such a contraption what would you saw are their biggest
issues, other than not being a full on shaper. I considered having multiple
drop in plates, so I could pre-setup two or three routers for different jobs
or even different parts of the same job. Even if I bought a Benchdog or
similar unit I could easily make additional plates including close fit
plates on my bigger CNC mill. What else?

I saw the quick adjust setup BenchDog sells, but if you can lift the plate
out easily (which you can) its not that hard to depth set a decent router
before you set it in the extension table.

I was thinking maybe a tilted floor cabinet below for vacuuming chips that
fall below the table instead of being sucked up thru the fence.

What else?

On 4/8/2014 2:48 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
Alrighty then... I have to say I have been suitably impressed with some
of the table extensions for contractor size table saws that incorporate
a mount for a router. There are some nice cast iron extensions like the
Benchdog, and if you do a simple image search via Yahoo or Google for
table saw extension you will find dozens of home shop built ones.

Now, my wife already gave me the go ahead to just buy the Benchdog, but
I could certainly make my own.

If you have used such a contraption what would you saw are their biggest
issues, other than not being a full on shaper. I considered having
multiple drop in plates, so I could pre-setup two or three routers for
different jobs or even different parts of the same job. Even if I
bought a Benchdog or similar unit I could easily make additional plates
including close fit plates on my bigger CNC mill. What else?

I saw the quick adjust setup BenchDog sells, but if you can lift the
plate out easily (which you can) its not that hard to depth set a decent
router before you set it in the extension table.

I was thinking maybe a tilted floor cabinet below for vacuuming chips
that fall below the table instead of being sucked up thru the fence.
Fence suction is very important, when you are using the fence for edge
stuff, it catches quite a bit.

I recommend you do not enclose the router and use dust collection on the
closed router .. motors send air from the head to the bit, if you use a
closed cabinet, and suck the air down, you can starve the router.

Instead come up with collection right below the bit.


What else?





--
Jeff

On 4/8/14, 1:48 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
Alrighty then... I have to say I have been suitably impressed with some
of the table extensions for contractor size table saws that incorporate
a mount for a router. There are some nice cast iron extensions like the
Benchdog, and if you do a simple image search via Yahoo or Google for
table saw extension you will find dozens of home shop built ones.

Now, my wife already gave me the go ahead to just buy the Benchdog, but
I could certainly make my own.

If you have used such a contraption what would you saw are their biggest
issues, other than not being a full on shaper. I considered having
multiple drop in plates, so I could pre-setup two or three routers for
different jobs or even different parts of the same job. Even if I
bought a Benchdog or similar unit I could easily make additional plates
including close fit plates on my bigger CNC mill. What else?

I saw the quick adjust setup BenchDog sells, but if you can lift the
plate out easily (which you can) its not that hard to depth set a decent
router before you set it in the extension table.

I was thinking maybe a tilted floor cabinet below for vacuuming chips
that fall below the table instead of being sucked up thru the fence.

What else?


Here's a link to the pictures of the one I did recently.
Maybe it'll give you some ideas.

http://goo.gl/mS7BJL


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On Tue, 8 Apr 2014 11:48:38 -0700, "Bob La Londe"
wrote:

What else?

I bought one from Rockler, attached to the Unisaw. This is not a metal
one but MDF and Laminate. Gives a nice big work surface. My guess on a
contractor saw maintaining balance is more important. I could not use
the tables mounting screws though, so I have to run my hand over it
and maybe tap it down a hair.

Mark

"Markem" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 8 Apr 2014 11:48:38 -0700, "Bob La Londe"
wrote:

What else?

I bought one from Rockler, attached to the Unisaw. This is not a metal
one but MDF and Laminate. Gives a nice big work surface. My guess on a
contractor saw maintaining balance is more important.

I figured if need be I'ld add an adjustable foot drop leg or two.

I could not use
the tables mounting screws though, so I have to run my hand over it
and maybe tap it down a hair.

Mark

Making more holes and drilling, tapping, and slotting as needed doesn't
scare me in the least, but it is a good point. One of the reviews I read
mentioned that holes in the BD extension don't line up right with the
t-slots on his Ridgid (later version of the Ridgid I have) fence rails. I
figured I was going to put it on the "wrong" side and drill and tap anyway.
If I drill and tap for the table I might as well drill for t-nuts.

Thank you. Feedback like that helps me think through a project.

"woodchucker" wrote in message
...
On 4/8/2014 2:48 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
Alrighty then... I have to say I have been suitably impressed with some
of the table extensions for contractor size table saws that incorporate
a mount for a router. There are some nice cast iron extensions like the
Benchdog, and if you do a simple image search via Yahoo or Google for
table saw extension you will find dozens of home shop built ones.

Now, my wife already gave me the go ahead to just buy the Benchdog, but
I could certainly make my own.

If you have used such a contraption what would you saw are their biggest
issues, other than not being a full on shaper. I considered having
multiple drop in plates, so I could pre-setup two or three routers for
different jobs or even different parts of the same job. Even if I
bought a Benchdog or similar unit I could easily make additional plates
including close fit plates on my bigger CNC mill. What else?

I saw the quick adjust setup BenchDog sells, but if you can lift the
plate out easily (which you can) its not that hard to depth set a decent
router before you set it in the extension table.

I was thinking maybe a tilted floor cabinet below for vacuuming chips
that fall below the table instead of being sucked up thru the fence.
Fence suction is very important, when you are using the fence for edge
stuff, it catches quite a bit.

I recommend you do not enclose the router and use dust collection on the
closed router .. motors send air from the head to the bit, if you use a
closed cabinet, and suck the air down, you can starve the router.

Very very good point. Thank you. I kind of knew that, but wasn't
registering it for this project. Thanks again. I've gotten away from air
cooled spindles for my CNC machines and gone more with liquid cooled. I
have to remember where I started. LOL.

"-MIKE-" wrote in message
...
On 4/8/14, 1:48 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
Alrighty then... I have to say I have been suitably impressed with some
of the table extensions for contractor size table saws that incorporate
a mount for a router. There are some nice cast iron extensions like the
Benchdog, and if you do a simple image search via Yahoo or Google for
table saw extension you will find dozens of home shop built ones.

Now, my wife already gave me the go ahead to just buy the Benchdog, but
I could certainly make my own.

If you have used such a contraption what would you saw are their biggest
issues, other than not being a full on shaper. I considered having
multiple drop in plates, so I could pre-setup two or three routers for
different jobs or even different parts of the same job. Even if I
bought a Benchdog or similar unit I could easily make additional plates
including close fit plates on my bigger CNC mill. What else?

I saw the quick adjust setup BenchDog sells, but if you can lift the
plate out easily (which you can) its not that hard to depth set a decent
router before you set it in the extension table.

I was thinking maybe a tilted floor cabinet below for vacuuming chips
that fall below the table instead of being sucked up thru the fence.

What else?


Here's a link to the pictures of the one I did recently.
Maybe it'll give you some ideas.

http://goo.gl/mS7BJL


Simpley elegant. Thank you.

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
Alrighty then... I have to say I have been suitably impressed with some
of the table extensions for contractor size table saws that incorporate a
mount for a router. There are some nice cast iron extensions like the
Benchdog, and if you do a simple image search via Yahoo or Google for
table saw extension you will find dozens of home shop built ones.

Now, my wife already gave me the go ahead to just buy the Benchdog, but I
could certainly make my own.

If you have used such a contraption what would you saw are their biggest
issues, other than not being a full on shaper. I considered having
multiple drop in plates, so I could pre-setup two or three routers for
different jobs or even different parts of the same job. Even if I bought
a Benchdog or similar unit I could easily make additional plates including
close fit plates on my bigger CNC mill. What else?

I saw the quick adjust setup BenchDog sells, but if you can lift the plate
out easily (which you can) its not that hard to depth set a decent router
before you set it in the extension table.

I was thinking maybe a tilted floor cabinet below for vacuuming chips that
fall below the table instead of being sucked up thru the fence.

What else?

Well, I had some paying work to do today so I ordered one instead. I went
with the MLCS 2397 cast iron table. The only thing it seems to be lacking
compared to the BenchDog is the extra slots to make it easy to use finger
boards. That would bother some folks I guess, but if it's a real issue for
me I'll just cut some small slots between the webs for that.

I was considering adding an extension for the blade tilt, but I can't
remember the last time I needed to tilt the blade. I just don't seem to use
it that way, and I can reach the handle from the front if I have to.