Steve H Graham
01-11-2009, 10:43 AM
I managed to complete the extension for my old Powermatic 66. I had converted an old melamine computer desk top to hold a lift and a router, and I decided to rip it to the correct width and turn it into a table saw extension. I put legs and casters on it and shimmed it up so it's flat, and now it's very, very sturdy.
That being said, this was supposed to be a temporary fix and a learning experience. I'd like to put a nicer surface in there (the old desk has a fair number of holes that have to be covered up), and it would be great to have cast iron around the router so I could use magnetic accessories.
I took a look at Bench Dog, and their cast iron is only 27" wide. My table is 28" wide. I'm wondering whether anyone else has put a cast iron router insert on a PM66. I suppose I could put half-inch wood or plastic strips along the sides to fill the gaps.
One more question. If I can't have cast iron, a T-track would be nice, but the rails cover up the sides of the extension, so there would be no place to insert things. Is there any reason I can't have two pieces of T-track at a right angle, so I can insert stuff from the front of the extension and then make a hard turn? I assume I could grind out the inside of the T-track at the bend so nothing would get stuck.
That being said, this was supposed to be a temporary fix and a learning experience. I'd like to put a nicer surface in there (the old desk has a fair number of holes that have to be covered up), and it would be great to have cast iron around the router so I could use magnetic accessories.
I took a look at Bench Dog, and their cast iron is only 27" wide. My table is 28" wide. I'm wondering whether anyone else has put a cast iron router insert on a PM66. I suppose I could put half-inch wood or plastic strips along the sides to fill the gaps.
One more question. If I can't have cast iron, a T-track would be nice, but the rails cover up the sides of the extension, so there would be no place to insert things. Is there any reason I can't have two pieces of T-track at a right angle, so I can insert stuff from the front of the extension and then make a hard turn? I assume I could grind out the inside of the T-track at the bend so nothing would get stuck.