| Project by NCTurner | posted 08-01-2016 02:34 PM | 4509 views | 30 times favorited | 29 comments |  |
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I’ve been reading and admiring the work here for quite a while, but this is my first post/project. I love woodturning and have been doing that for nearly 20 years. However, about 18 months ago, a home project came up, and I needed to use a router for it. As I was looking at all of the router tables, especially those based on Norm Abram’s design, I decided I did want to build a router table. I bought a table saw, dado blades, and my wife got the Jessem router lift for me. I ran across the plans that Dan Phalen has on his website (www.crestonwood.com) and knew that I wanted I build that design. I built the top (2 pieces of 3/4” MDF) last year, but after that, my wife had surgery, and then I had surgery a few months after her, so I didn’t return to the shop (aka my garage) until a couple of months ago.) The top got dinged up in the garage somewhat over the last year since it didn’t have a “home.” Long story short, I finally got this completed. The top border is red oak, and the carcass is 3/4” maple plywood. The trim/handles are all walnut. I made the handles myself.
Nothing seemed like it came easy on this. I had gotten a huge chunk of walnut from a neighbor a couple of years ago. It was about 8’ long by 18” wide by 2.5” deep. It was not really a board, so I had to figure out how to mill using my tools that I have. It took about 6 hours but I got it cut down/usable. The walnut was very old and very checked but I did find some nice solid wood in it.
I decided to not use all 7 top drawers as bit drawers, as I doubt I’ll ever own THAT many bits. I made small, narrow drawers on the left side. However, I could easily convert them to bit drawers if needed.
Since the pictures, I added a hook for the cords (I set it up to turn on my Shop Vac simultaneously with my router (a PC 7518) and a couple of other minor tweaks.
I’ve never really done a project like this and it was a learning experience. Thanks for looking!
-- One good turn deserves another!
29 comments so far
mIps
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200 posts in 3113 days
#1 posted 08-01-2016 03:22 PM
Someday I might be able to make something that looks as nice as this. It’s a goal. Absolutely beautiful. Good Job.
-- Be honest, honorable, kind, work hard, and generally be awesome.
John_G
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165 posts in 3750 days
#2 posted 08-01-2016 03:28 PM
beautiful looking table, one of the most vital tools in a shop imo. Great work
-- John Gray
Derfss2003
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110 posts in 1776 days
#3 posted 08-01-2016 04:47 PM
nice work. looks good.
-- Love the smell of snow in the morning.
recycle1943
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5313 posts in 2681 days
#4 posted 08-01-2016 06:03 PM
great looking table, I’m sure you’ll find it VERY useful
-- Dick, Malvern Ohio - my biggest fear is that when I die, my wife sells my toys for what I told her I paid for them
MikesProjects
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172 posts in 2961 days
#5 posted 08-01-2016 07:44 PM
Fancy
-- -Mike, Southern California, YouTube User ( Give & Take )
helluvawreck
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32122 posts in 3925 days
#6 posted 08-01-2016 08:03 PM
That is a great router table. It is a very nice design and plenty of storage and other features.
helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
fivecodys
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1730 posts in 2695 days
#7 posted 08-01-2016 08:40 PM
What a great looking project!
I really like the walnut handles.
-- A bad day woodworking is still better than a good day working.
htl
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5388 posts in 2218 days
#8 posted 08-01-2016 09:26 PM
Really nice project, it’s so pretty.
-- An Index Of My Model making Blogs https://www.lumberjocks.com/htl/blog/130264
pottz
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16319 posts in 2043 days
#9 posted 08-01-2016 11:00 PM
great job looks beautiful,and i agree that its one of the most versatile tools in the shop,well done.
-- working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Mean_Dean
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7057 posts in 4206 days
#10 posted 08-01-2016 11:43 PM
That’s a mighty fine looking router table! Looks like you’ve got every feature you’ll need to get some great use out of it.
One thing about a router table is, you’ll find that you’ll use it on just about every project!
-- Dean -- "Don't give up the ship -- fight her 'till she sinks!" Capt James Lawrence USN
Mas
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72 posts in 3321 days
#11 posted 08-02-2016 03:16 AM
Looks like a great router table, I’m sure you will get lots of use out of it for many years to come.
phil7b7
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173 posts in 2339 days
#12 posted 08-02-2016 04:03 AM
Looks great! I am sure it will get lots of use.
NCTurner
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61 posts in 2215 days
#13 posted 08-02-2016 01:16 PM
Thank you all for the kind comments. Seems like the common comment was “you’ll use this so much”. Funny, I just used this yesterday to cut some dados on some drawers for a new file cabinet we got but had cheap, thin bottoms for the drawers, so I beefed those up some.
For those that haven’t built one of these yet, or something like this, just TRY it! I had NO jigs when I started, a small table saw, had never cut acrylic before, never built drawers like this. Heck, I didn’t even know what the movable ‘wings’ were for that are on the fence! So, go for it, you’ll be glad you did!
-- One good turn deserves another!
Plowjockey89
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3 posts in 1930 days
#14 posted 08-02-2016 01:49 PM
That looks great! I really like the walnut handles and trim.
jaysuzi
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150 posts in 2859 days
#15 posted 08-02-2016 02:31 PM
Great job. I am sure you will get a lot of use out of it. I love mine – and those small drawers come in handy.
-- Jay in Pennsylvania, https://www.facebook.com/Hobby4Charity
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