Clamp-On Router Table (and Ramia 1500 Workbench)
Purchased, and will pick up the Ramia 1500 workbench next Monday after reading a FW review a while ago. Afterwards, I became intrigued by the possibilities of a clamp-on router table such as was featured in WDSM-275. A nice design, but a couple of clumsy fence slides bothered me a bit. Then I remembered one of Bob’s videos that featured a fence fixed on one side, and clamped with a big C-clamp on the other side. After all that, here’s the idea/question: why not fix the right side and allow the left side to swing on a trammel-created groove, and secured with a heavy cam lock through the table to a block underneath?
Someone out there somewhere has thought this through before; I’m no genius. So why am considering this? Cuz I’m gonna get a great workbench that will work just fine to secure the router table, and I can finally get rid of the Bosch “blue” table that has finally seen it’s days.
Crazy banter, yeah. Any thoughts?
/VR/
Tom
Hartford, WI
Replies
I suspect that the advantage of having the table hinge out of the way would be offset by the annoyance of setting it up.
In theory there is no reason not to - I'd use a pair of gas struts to make it lighter and would probably want some positive locking mechanism to remove any risk of movement when in use, but it's a doable project.
When it comes down to it, a router table is a board with a hole in it, and a fence attached. For many years mine was exactly that. It does not need to be fancy, or gain very much from fanciness.
Another option:
The wings of the table saw are my router table for as long as I can remember. Cuts down on floor space needed. Gives you a heavier, much larger base and table top to work with. Also, having the table saw fence as the base of your router table fence is just too easy. The times when I have had the router table fence on and I need to use the table saw have been very few.
Sir,
I like the idea, but unsure whether my Bosch tablesaw with right side extension isn't solid; a wide "window" opens when I pull it to the right to support long pieces or my crosscut sled. What I'm looking at is a base deep enough and cleats to clamp it securely to the Ramia 1500. I really like that idea, since I can unclamp and store the router table on the lower shelf of the 1500.
BUT! The other big thought: why are all the router table "builds" that I see having double fence slots? Why isn't Bob's single fence slot, with heavy clamping on the left side a preferred method? Why can't a heavy duty cam lock be used instead of a big C-clamp like Bob uses (which I can see used almost as easily?) What's the downside, if any?
Tom
Hartford WI
Pivoting from one side works. I use this all the time with my makeshift fences for drill press and router table. I clamp the fence (sometimes just a straight piece of scrap) on one end and pivot till I get the desired distance from the bit and then clamp the other side down.