Let me start by saying that a few weeks ago I was put off at the high cost of deluxe router table set ups. Six hundred, $800, $1000, and more. Why should something a simple as a router table and cabinet cost so much?
A couple of months back my son-in-law complained that the cheap commercial router table he had didn't work very well, and he was sure happy that I had given him my Sears contractor saw with Vega fence to work on his kitchen cabinet project. When he said that I resolved to build him a nice router table and cabinet. Well I just finished it.
Believe me when I tell you I'm a value shopper. I look for value and good deals on whatever I buy. I started by buying a 24" wide solid core door, 1 7/8" thick, for the top. It was damaged, and I got it for $15. I followed that up by buying 2 4×8 sheets of 5/8" veneer plywood for the cabinet. Paid $41 each which I thought was plenty. From laying on a pallet, it wasn't exactly flat. I had bought an old 3600 series Makita router sometime back, and I decided to us it as the power. I bought a Router-Razr kit from Peachtree for $100 delivered, so he could change bits from the top. It along with a set of JessEm Clear Cut guards that I paid $100 for were the only extravagant items I bought.
Built a nice fence around an old Craftsman shaper fence assembly I bought off e-bay. Designed and built a retractable wheel assembly for the table.
Well, not counting the Makita, I spent $609 for the materials, and that doesn't include the materials like Formica, aluminum extrusion for fence, and the trimming hardwood, and Lexan I already had on hand. I can't believe how much all the bits and pieces cost. I spent $42 on paint!
The table has turned out great. Pretty and it works fine but…. So I guess when you're window shopping and see something you think is expensive, and think you can build yourself so much cheaper: Beware! Jim
A couple of months back my son-in-law complained that the cheap commercial router table he had didn't work very well, and he was sure happy that I had given him my Sears contractor saw with Vega fence to work on his kitchen cabinet project. When he said that I resolved to build him a nice router table and cabinet. Well I just finished it.
Believe me when I tell you I'm a value shopper. I look for value and good deals on whatever I buy. I started by buying a 24" wide solid core door, 1 7/8" thick, for the top. It was damaged, and I got it for $15. I followed that up by buying 2 4×8 sheets of 5/8" veneer plywood for the cabinet. Paid $41 each which I thought was plenty. From laying on a pallet, it wasn't exactly flat. I had bought an old 3600 series Makita router sometime back, and I decided to us it as the power. I bought a Router-Razr kit from Peachtree for $100 delivered, so he could change bits from the top. It along with a set of JessEm Clear Cut guards that I paid $100 for were the only extravagant items I bought.
Built a nice fence around an old Craftsman shaper fence assembly I bought off e-bay. Designed and built a retractable wheel assembly for the table.
Well, not counting the Makita, I spent $609 for the materials, and that doesn't include the materials like Formica, aluminum extrusion for fence, and the trimming hardwood, and Lexan I already had on hand. I can't believe how much all the bits and pieces cost. I spent $42 on paint!
The table has turned out great. Pretty and it works fine but…. So I guess when you're window shopping and see something you think is expensive, and think you can build yourself so much cheaper: Beware! Jim