Replies

1. 
   BruceS | Feb 12, 2007 03:34am | #1

   Personally I am partial to the JessEm products.   A complete JessEm router table would be pricey,  but not so large that it could not be moved to a job site.   It would be one of those cry once, buy once "toys".

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

2. 
   gwsaltspring | Feb 12, 2007 10:21am | #2

   I'll be interested in the replies you get to this one.

   I have a Bosch 4000 portable TS and have been contemplating trying to mount a router on a piece of MDF to the right of the sawblade when the table is extended. Towards this end I just noticed in the Lee Valley catalogue a round router base that looks easy to remove from the tabletop it is inserted into.

   I guess I am wondering if you have looked at an option like this and rejected it in favour of a portable router table? In my case it would be one less thing to lug to the jobsite.

   Greg

1. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 13, 2007 01:43am | #3

   <<< I have a Bosch 4000 portable TS and have been contemplating trying to mount a router on a piece of MDF to the right of the sawblade when the table is extended.>>>I did that with my Bosch TS, based on an idea I got from a guy over on Breaktime. If you get serious about trying this, let me know, and i will dig out the link. It is a very slick arrangement.********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

1. 
   gwsaltspring | Feb 13, 2007 01:59am | #5

   OK, I'm in. Always better to follow someone else in this reguard me thinks ;-)Greg

1. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 13, 2007 02:12am | #6

   This will get you started:http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=65062.8Julian used the saw fence for the router fence, and when I did mine, I bought a separate Rousseau fence for the router insert. When you're on a job, I reasoned, there are many times when you want to route one edge on a board, then cut it off with the TS, then go back for another pass on the router. You can do that with my set up, but not with Julian's. Let me know if you have other questions.********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

1. 
   gwsaltspring | Feb 13, 2007 02:58am | #8

   Now you are talking. I didn't realize that a Rousseau fence was available for the Bosch. Do tell me more as I think this is the one shortfall of the Bosch, but then I have been in the camp of using a cheap saw on the jobsite. Who is going to steal it eh?What about some pics of your setup? Don't know if you get LV but in the Feb 07 cat. they have a Veritas Baseplate/Table Insert combo that has me intrigued. Smaller than the usual inset plates.Greg

2. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 13, 2007 04:23am | #10

   Sorry, don't have a digital camera.....Here's the Rousseau fence, which can be used on any router table:http://tinyurl.com/2fvazsI am not saying it's the best alternative, but it works fine, has a vac hook-up, and I could look/buy it at my local tool outlet.I also used a Rousseau router plate:http://tinyurl.com/2bontfI rather liked the one Julian used (and I can't recall the brand, but he mentioneds it in the thread), but I used the Rousseau only because that's what I use in my shop router table. So everything is interchangeable. Whatever insert plate you get, you should be sure to have one that is big enough to handle the larger routers, such as the PC 7518. ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

2. 
   gwsaltspring | Feb 13, 2007 02:13am | #7

   I was just using the LV set up over the weekend. While I like the steel table top and its heft, I am not impressed with the base it comes with, needs some refinement IMO and boy it is not light nor easy to pick up particularly with the router in place(as I said it needs some tweaking) To be fair to LV it is the only portable router table I have used but I would look at others to get a good idea of what your needs are first. Just my opinion mind you.Greg

2. 
   brookhillBob | Feb 13, 2007 05:01am | #11

   I have a Bosch 4000 table saw with gravity-rise stand that I use on the jobsite.  The tablesaw extension tables for routers that I checked into seemed pretty heavy to mount to this tablesaw so it seemed a portable table might be a better solution  I'd consider it if it's a viable option.

   Thanks to everyone for their thoughts.

    

1. 
   gwsaltspring | Feb 13, 2007 05:46am | #12

   Did you look at the link to Breaktime that NWood suggested? Greg

1. 
   brookhillBob | Feb 13, 2007 03:26pm | #13

   I couldn't get the link to work last night but it did this morning.  Great idea that I'll look into.

1. 
   gwsaltspring | Feb 13, 2007 06:14pm | #14

   Hope I didn't hijack your thread too far off course.Greg

3. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 13, 2007 01:57am | #4

   It's too small for my taste, but there are many folks around here who like this one:

   http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43053&p=43885

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

4. 
   alanplanesaw | Feb 13, 2007 04:20am | #9

   Bruce mentioned Jessem.  My decision was to build the new and improved NYW router table using a Jessem Mast-R-Lift and Jessem fence.

   A great cabinet, plenty of storage, great dust collection, and the Jessem stuff saved me a chunk of time and gave me a first class fence and above the table bit changing.

   The only modification I had to make was to make the cabinet/table 2" less wide than called for in the plans, in order to accomodate the Jessem fence.  But, that was not problem. 

   Alan - planesaw

5. 
   forestgirl | Feb 13, 2007 08:54pm | #15

   Bob, you can have the best of both worlds by buying a Veritas router table top and using it in both a cabinet (in the shop) and on a portable stand.  This top is solid steel, equipped with a universal mounting system that will accept any router without any changes needed (e.g., insert plate).  The portable stand is dead simple to make, though you can buy one if you prefer.

   For shop use, it can be mounted on top of a cabinet, or you can mount it on a frame that's hinged to your table saw.  Just pluck the top off when you want to go mobile.  It's thin enough that above-the-table bit changes are easy, and it will never sag.

   Links:

   The various sets that they sell
   The top
   Main router table page

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

6. 
   Cheatah | Feb 14, 2007 02:54am | #16

   Brook:

   I have the PC table top router table. I have had it for about 5 years. It has served me well. It is a bit small and has several limitations>>>

   1. small table top

   2. only accepts PC routers

   3. cumbersome fence (tough to adjust)

   I just purchased the NYW plans for Norm's deluxe router table. I most likely will make some minor mods. But I have strong convictions that it will be a beaute when its done.

   Good luck

    

   Thank you,

   Cheatah