First, thanks to Matt Kenney for providing the inspiration to finish the router table I have had for years! I bought the cast iron table saw top at a swap meet more than 12 years ago for a song intending to make it into a router table. Since I had already built a router table extension on my Powermatic 66 I didn’t have any immediate need to use it so it moved with me – 4 times…I had various ideas of how to utilize it but didn’t have a good plan that fit my tool mantra (never pay retail unless you have to). This is where the tool manufacturers cringe…

 

Matt’s idea was a perfect fit and I started this as soon as I finished the series. I modified his original plan to fit my cast iron top and embellished on his design. I liked the maple and thought the drawers would look nice faced in maple. I also like color in my shop. All my tools but a few were bought used, personally refurbed and brightly painted. Grey is so depressing… The colonial red really warms up the maple and is a perfect complement to the grey of the table top and fence which are faced in some dark grey formica scrap from a kitchen cabinet shop (getting the picture here? ;-)) The largest expense was the machining of the top to fit the woodpecker inserts and flatten the bottom for the router base. I’m all set now. Thanks Matt!

 

Kevin Talbot

aka “El Cheapo”