Bench Top Router Table - Page 4

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Bench Top Router Table

Finishing Table

While I was working on the fence I was also finishing off the table. To mount the router to the table, I needed to cut a hole in table to fit router. I used a piece of 1/4 inch plexiglass to hold the router so a depression in round the router hole must also be cut. I did not cut this exactly to depth, instead I set my router to just short of the depth of the plexiglass and used sand paper to bring it to final depth. After that was done I drilled holes for mounting screws and finish whole table off with 3 coats poly-acrilic. I sanded with 600 grit between coats and did a final sand with steel wool.

 

Finishing

 
     
img_1043 Adjusting placement of router on bottom of top. It should be neard back for most table area in front.
 
img_1045 I used my router to cut out a groove around hole. You could also drill holes and use a chisel, or a jig saw. The boards are set up to provide a guide for cutting.
 
img_1046 Cutting finished, now I need to clean it up.
 
img_1049 Hole now cleaned up with chisel and file to be nice and straight.
 
img_1050 Top set up to route a 3/4 inch wide trought. This should be set just a bit shorter then the depth of the plexiglass, the final flush fit can be made with sandpaper.
 
img_1052 All cut and cleaned up. Ready to fit plexiglass router support.
 
img_1053 Plexiglass fitted in place. I had to sand the ledge down so the top of plexiglass was flush with top of table. Don't want to snag on anything.
 
img_1061 Close up of the top showing how the plexiglass router mount is held down. The outer screws are #10-32 1inch machine screws, that are held underneath with nuts and star washers. All holes are countersunk, to give smooth surface. The router mounts are #8-32 by 1/2inch (use what ever your router uses). Also I recommend drilling the plexiglass with a bit and brace instead of a power drill. I cracked my plate in a few places becuase of this.
 
img_1068 Shot of table after finish has been applied.
 
img_1069 Close up of top after finish has been applied.
 
img_1070 Finished router table with fence in place.
 
img_1071 Side view.
 
img_1072 Back view.
 
img_1073 Front view.
 

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