General International has taken a different approach to commercial router tables. Their new line, called the Deluxe Router Table Kit, allows you to buy a complete table or custom make your own, choosing parts a la carte to build one within your own budget.

The tables have a bunch of great features. Each one is sold with a beefy router lift. The lift is a four post design with a chain drive to raise and lower the router. The top plate is sturdy aluminum (9 1/4 in. by 11 3/4 in.). The fence is versatile and made from extruded aluminum with tracks for the blade guard and any hold downs or featherboards you may want to add. The fence faces are 3/4 in. thick MDF, with a slick melamine face. And when the faces get worn out, you can make your own replacement faces or simply make a custom zero clearance face for any bit. Finally, there’s a dust port in back that has a clever ramp that should help direct dust to where it should go.

Speaking of dust, the General tables all come with a nifty dust collection kit that mounts over the router and lift. It connects to the dust port on the fence, and has a 4in. port that goes to a dust collector. this way, you collect dust both up top and down below. The box has an access door, so you can get to the router easily, a grommet to fit the router cord through without compromising airflow, and an ingenious baffle that allows you to adjust airflow as needed. This feature is handy when you have a large bit buried in the fence and it needs a bit more airflow to avoid choking the system.

You can choose three different tops: cast iron, phenolic, or MDF. A kit with a cast-iron top runs $890; MDF is $785; and phenolic is $845. To build a table a la carte, you’ll have to visit General’s website to get pricing info. All of the models are currently available.

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