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instructables
DIY Router Table
by joshmt2012
I just bought a new Craftsman router and was wanting a router
table to mount it in and decided to build my own.
Some of the features I wanted were
Adjustable fenceDust CollectionSwitch to control router and
vacuumEase of access to router
DIY Router Table: Page 1
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Step 1: Design, Materials and Tools
I modeled my design in Solidworks so I had a set of plans to go
off of. I designed the top and fence out of 3/4"plywood I had left
over from another project and the legs are made out of 2x4
material.
The top dimensions came from the largest piece of plywood I had
so you can change this to fit yourneeds.The location of the
mounting holes came from my router base and my change depending on
yourrouter.Size of dust collection hole in fence can be changed to
fit your system.
Materials
3/4" Plywood~5ft of 2x4Wood Glue2 x Outlet Boxes1 x Switch and
Cover1 x Outlet and Cover~16" of House Wire2 x Wire Nut2 x Wire
StaplesElectrical plug (I used one off an old battery
backup)Assortment of screws from 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" (Used what I had
laying around)3 x 10-32, 1" long Counter sink bolts for mounting
router (Use suitable size for your router)2 x 1/4", 2-1/2" long
Carriage Bolts2 x 1/4" washers2 x 1/4" Wing Nuts
Tools
Tape MeasureChop SawTable SawDrillDrill/Drive BitsRouter1/4
Router BitNail Gun (Optional, used to nail glued pieces so as not
to have to wait for them to dry)Taper Jig for table sawSand
PaperOutlet Tester (Optional but Recommended)
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Step 2: Top
1. Cut top to desired size, for me this was the size of a piece
I had laying around2. Layout holes for mounting router, I traced
the removable plastic plate from my router base to locate
my holes3. Layout slots for movable fence from the drawing4.
Center punch all holes and ends of slots5. Pilot drill all holes6.
Drill 3/16" holes for mounting router7. Counter sink holes8. Drill
1-1/2" hole for router spindle9. Drill 1/4" holes for ends of
slots
10. Set router edge guide to 6" and router slots with 1/4"
Bit11. Sand all edges
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Step 3: Legs
Legs are designed to use a single 12" piece of 2x4 for each leg
and then a 12" piece ripped down center for thecross bars.
1. Cut 5, 12" sections of 2x4 (I cut 6 just in case I messed one
up)2. Layout angled cut on 4 pieces3. Set up taper jig to cut
correct angle4. Cut legs5. Layout legs to glue them together, make
sure that you have 2 sets that mirror each other to make up
each side of the legs6. Start screws in the larger side then
apply glue to smaller piece, flush the top of the 2 and drive
the
screws in7. Repeat step 6 for all 4 legs8. Sand all edges9. Rip
one of the remaining 12" pieces of 2x4 down the center, these will
be the cross bars
10. Sand all edges11. Glue and screw together the 2 mirrored
legs with a cross bar as shown in the pictures12. Repeat step 9 for
the other set of legs13. Attach the 2 sets of legs to the top, 2"
in from the top edge on all sides
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Step 4: Fence
1. Cut an at least 7-1/8" wide piece of plywood to the same
length as the top (In my case 22-1/2")2. Rip a 3" and 4" section3.
Layout the cutout section on both the front and bottom pieces of
the fence and the holes on the
bottom piece4. Cut sections out, I used a miter gauge and cut
them on the table saw but a jig saw or hand saw
would work5. Center punch, pilot drill and 1/4" drill holes in
bottom piece6. Sand edges7. Glue and screw the front to the bottom
section with the 4" section vertical8. Cutout pieces for dust
collection from drawings9. Test fit all pieces, trim if necessary,
sand all edges
10. Glue angled side pieces and nail, otherwise clamp and wait
to dry11. Glue top making sure to get a good bead of glue on all
contacting surfaces to create a good seal
and nail into the angle pieces, otherwise clamp and wait to
dry.12. Center top extension, glue, clamp and wait to dry13. Drill
hole for dust collection hose (In my case 1-1/2")
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Step 5: Electrical
I wanted my switch to sit vertical so I cut an angle piece
(about 8 deg angle) to put between the box and the leg, ifyou don't
mind the switch being tilted you can omit this step.
1. Pilot drill then use 3/8" drill to drill hole in top of one
box2. Mount switch box to front using included nails3. Mount box
with hole drilled in top to the back leg as shown in pictures using
screws4. Run wire from switch box to outlet box5. Wire hot (Black)
to brass screw, neutral (White) to silver screw and the ground to
the green screw6. Run outlet chord into switch box7. Wire hot
(Black) in to bottom of switch and hot out to the top, use jumper
to wire ground in as seen
in picture and wire neutrals (White) together8. Screw outlet and
switch into boxes and attach cover plates9. (Optional but
recommended) Use Outlet tester to make sure everything is wired
correctly and you
wont ruin any equipment plugged in or shock yourself when using
it.
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1. Hot In
2. Hot Out3. Neutrals
4. Cant See the Grounds
1. Outlet Tester
1
2
3
4
1
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Step 6: Conclusion and Recomendation
Overall I liked the way it came out and it works good for my
use, if you have any comments or sugestions pleasefeel free to post
them.
A few things I would add or change would be:
Add slots to front of fence to allow adjustable auxiliary fences
to be used on different router bitsAdd slot to front of table to
allow a bolt to cut circles with
Thank you for reading my Instructable and have a nice day.
DIY Router Table: Page 18
DIY Router TableStep 1: Design, Materials and ToolsStep 2:
TopStep 3: LegsStep 4: FenceStep 5: ElectricalStep 6: Conclusion
and Recomendation