Router table 2015 #1: Treadmill router table top

Time for a new router table, the old Rockler with the really old Jessum router lift that was not up to heavy work, had to go. The other no name table top table was too narrow, and the MDF table had serious bracing underneath to try and keep it from dipping in the center. The fence and the newer Jessem router lift on this unit were keepers.

I used a piece of old growth clear pine for the trestle, loose 1/2” double tenons glued in and double bolted stretchers between, the nuts and rod ends are hidden in deep holes in ash end caps so as to not scar my shins when I walk by. Home Depot supplied the locking castors, I have them on a lot of the tools in my shop.

I made the 40” by 28” top from a treadmill walking platform. This material is slick and robust, The top was basically free so this is an experiment to see what hidden bad things there are (if any). Because the top was 3/4” thick I stiffened it with a piece of 1/2” B/Birch ply.
The slightly worn side of the top was scuffed and contact glued to the baltic ply, The unused side where gravity pulled the treadmill belt away from the surface was pristine, this became my new top.
I then glued Ipe around the edge.

Did the usual make your own template, and routed the hole for the lift and the T- Slots and the Miter slot. All the aluminum was bolted down with 6-32 screws and nuts.

The dust port on the round bucket exits tangentially at the bottom so as to swirl the air exiting and this in turn will hurl the chips to the sides of the bucket. The purpose of this is to try and keep chips from being sucked into the cooling air intakes of the router motor, I don’t mind dust going through the motor but chips clog and build up on the router motor and this I don’t like. Using a piece of A/C foam I sealed the bucket to the underside of the top held the bucket on with drywall screws.

I used a new product (for me) goes by the name “Bend A Drain” found it at Lowes about 12 bucks for ten feet. That’s the black crinkly pipe in the photos.

The biggest expense was the Woodpeckers micro adjust gadget, which attaches to my old fence. This item works like a charm. I am quite impressed with it.

-- Love thy neighbour as thyself