As most woodworkers progress in their skills and build up their shop, they often wonder whether or not they need a router table. Considering that the router is one of the most versatile power tools — and many woodworkers end up with more than one router — chances are you’ll want one eventually.
What will a router table add to your shop?
A router table provides your shop with three great features: increased safety, improved ease, and consistent accuracy. Router tables give you a secure, flat work surface to control the material you’re machining. This way you can cut joinery, slots, and rabbets very easily. Using a router table also increases shop safety when working with larger materials that would be clumsy or dangerous to set up and rout by hand. Plus, the table’s t-slots and fence combine with accessories and jigs to hold work in place or do more repetitive tasks with ease and accuracy. While not every task will be one for the router table, you’ll find that having one is a great way to improve safety, ease, and precision.
Once you decide you need a router table (or once you acknowledge you already knew you did), you need to decide which type to invest in. There are many to choose from, and with most things, you should buy the best you can afford. This will be a key item in your shop that will be around for a while.
To buy or to build?
You can build your own router table, but this can be time-consuming — and it typically ends up being more expensive in the long run. It is much quicker, simpler, and cheaper to buy.
Should you choose to go this route, there are a couple of different options. Tables made from phenolic resin or cast iron are the best choices in that they are heavy and for the most part flat. One advantage of phenolic is that it is typically covered with a melamine sheet on top and bottom. These increase the ease with which work pieces slide on the table; they are easy to clean and do not rust. They also do not exchange moisture with the surrounding environment like MDF or chipboard. Phenolic also machines well, so any t-track slots, router mount recesses, or hardware mounts for your fence will be clean and accurate.
Cast iron has some of the same physical characteristics as phenolic, but it can and will rust if not maintained correctly. You will also need to apply wax from time to time to keep the surface of a cast iron table sliding at an optimum pace.
A router table is just that — a table. To make it work, you will need a power source: a router. Tables accept fully assembled routers as well as the motor units from fixed base routers. The motor unit will release from the fixed base and then be held in the router table via a collar system that is contained in a router lift.
There are a wide variety of lifts on the market, and sometimes the lift and table can be purchased as a package from the same supplier. Combining the lift and the table really allows you to dial in the type of cut you are performing. It also promotes accuracy and repeatability in your work which is difficult to produce when hand routing.
If you are considering an entire system from one supplier, take special note of the fence that is included. It should be easily adjusted, removed easily from the table, include t-slots so that jigs and accessories can be added, and include dust extraction capabilities. Some fences have the advantage of a cutter guard and a measuring rule along the top edge. What you are looking for in the fence is the ability to keep adding to your system. That might cost you more upfront, but it will pay off as you progress in your work.
Most of these accessories focus around work holding and safety and are a great way to get more out of your setup. Items like push blocks, feather boards, and hold downs are a must and need to be factored into your initial spend. Beyond that, you can upgrade to specialized push blocks that allow for material thicknesses or even get magnetic feather boards if you choose a cast iron tabletop.
Dust collection
We certainly can’t forget about the all-important dust collection. The best tool for the job in that regard is a vacuum. If your fence has a dust collection port, make sure your vacuum hose will attach. If not, then there is a myriad of adaptors out there to get this essential accessory hooked up and working for you from the first use.
A good solid router table with a quality fence and useful accessories is a must-have in your shop. Choose the table material that suits you and if possible, look for a complete table, lift, and fence option as these manufacturers usually have good accessories as well. Your precision will certainly increase with this addition and those big jobs that took a bunch of setups will be completed more quickly.
Good luck and happy woodworking!
Stay up-to-date with all things BORA! Join our email list today.
