Quote:
Originally Posted by MBAtarga
You don't need to spend $300-$400 or more on a router table and lift system (unless you want to.)
A simple alternative - and cheap - is mount your router upside down on a 3/4" quality piece of plywood about 2'x2'. You'll need to make a hole about 1" to 1.5" diameter somewhere around 8" to 10" from one edge, but in the middle of the other 2' dimension. Mounting it near one side will make it easier for you to adjust the height of the router bit placement above the plywood surface. Screw the board down on the 2 cross boards setting on the sawhorses such as in your picture. Use a wooden fence list look171 drew and clamp it to the plywood top at mid-center of the router bit. You can fine-tine the placement by loosening 1 clamp slightly and moving the fence.
Using the above method - the "top" surface of your wood being routed will now be laying upside down when it is being machined. You'll just have to keep that in mind as it will be opposite your normal operations.
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I'm sick of trying to micro adjust my router. Height adjust will suck even more if the router is fixed to the bottom of the table. Maybe because my router sucks. Inherited it from a picture framer, I broke a wing nut with my hands getting it tight so it wouldn't move on me.
I've got no problem spending whatever for a better experience here. I understand the bolt and clamp fence technology but I really want something that is solid metal like a table saw, ideally with a fence that has markings I can trust. I'm done with saw horses and plywood kluging. How nice would that be to move fence 2mm, test and find its good. Then multiple passes with feather board, a little lift in between. Sounds like it would mostly eliminate my stress.
I just got through with a routering project so the pain is still burning hot right now. Who knows when I'll do routering again, but when I do I'm going to find myself a nice router table with a great lift. The money I save doing this stuff I can justify buying anything.
I still think its strange how much home built is required for routering. Every cheap used table saw is the mona lisa compared to the average router experience.