I am looking to buy a router table and a router lifter. The Hartville Tools Co. router table was rated very high by Fine Woodworking in 2005/2006. In looking at it’s specifications, the plate for mounting the router is 9″ X 12″. Upon contacting Hartville Tools I was told that the plate and opening is a true 9″ X 12″. Every router lifter that I have looked at has a router mounting plate that is 9″ X 11-3/4″. I am concerned that the 1/4″ difference will (1) cause the router to move and reduce any accuracy that is necessary for my projects. Even if an insert is placed in the opening, there is a chance of the insert coming out at the least opportune moment. To keep the router centered in the router table, there would have to be two (2) 1/8″ inserts, one at each end, to properly center the router. (2) If the router does not fit in the opening securely, I am concerned about the router “jumping” out of the opening and possibly causing an injury.
Are you aware of anybody else facing this problem and how they have dealt with it?
Replies
A router plate a bit shorter than the opening would be able to shift, which would cause problems in the accuracy of some cuts, so the plate would have to be fixed. A router and lift mechanism is very heavy, so the chances of the assembly jumping and causing injury shouldn't be a concern.
The easiest way to stabilize the plate in the opening would be to use a screw or pin on either end to center the plate, you don't need to fill the entire gap. I would suggest asking the folks at Hartville about this, they must be aware of the problem, and may already have worked out a solution.
In my experience, the plate sizes from the various makers are only nominal, one maker's plate won't fit well in another maker's table even if they are both listed as being the same dimension. In addition to the length and width of the plates, the corner radius can be different making it impossible to fit some plates in other makes of tables even when the length and width match. Depending on the table and plate design, you can also run into problems getting the plate to flush up with the table's surface.
In short, the only safe approach is to buy the table and lift from the same supplier or to buy a table without an opening and cut the opening yourself, which can be a challenging job.
John White
I use to own a hartville table and plate. It was a decent price for an entry level router table setup but there are a few design flaws than really drove me to get rid of it.
The fence runners where not flush w/ the table top which caused the stock to catch on the outfeed side.
Getting the fence parallel to the miter slot was more than time consuming.
The thin phenolic plate sagged, and the leveling screws would not hold the plate level.
I would look into woodpeckers aluminum plate and table. Their table is phenolic coated laminate as apposed to melamine coated.
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