Wayne Jolly
03-18-2012, 6:01 PM
I have recently acquired a 1996 PM66 table saw and I am considering putting a router table insert in the extension table. Then I got to thinking (ouch ouch) that may be I don't want to do that and started trying to come up with a good alternative. I have a couple of options.
1. Go ahead and put it in the table saw extension table. I already have the table built and I am just waiting for some Formica to top it with. I have already cut the hole for the router plate but I have not yet routed the recess for the plate. It is still not too late to get a new piece of wood for the top and laminate the whole thing in one nice black Formica surface.
2. Build a separate dedicated router table. I can certainly do that, but space is somewhat limited. My shop is a 3-car garage that is shared with household storage, but I could make room.
3. Then I started thinking that I could put it in the table saw out-feed table. That would be a nice big work area when using the router. There are a couple of glaring problems with this in that the out-feed table I am considering would be a drop down table on the back of the saw. It will measure approximately 34" deep and 60" wide (maybe more, maybe less), hinged along the saw fence rails, and have fold down adjustable outboard legs. I would not be able to leave the router in place when the table was down, but I think it would still work for me. Also I might still have to remove the router when using the saw for some cuts depending on the router placement, but I could leave it in place for most things that I do. Then there is another advantage. If I did make the out-feed table that large, I could put in two (set dream mode on) or even three routers (set dream mode off). How kool would that be?!?!? :cool:
But before I decide to put it in the out-feed table I thought I would ask all you experts about this. Some of you must have done this already and either love it or hate it. But whether you have done this or not, am I missing something? What else should I consider?
Thanks,
Wayne
1. Go ahead and put it in the table saw extension table. I already have the table built and I am just waiting for some Formica to top it with. I have already cut the hole for the router plate but I have not yet routed the recess for the plate. It is still not too late to get a new piece of wood for the top and laminate the whole thing in one nice black Formica surface.
2. Build a separate dedicated router table. I can certainly do that, but space is somewhat limited. My shop is a 3-car garage that is shared with household storage, but I could make room.
3. Then I started thinking that I could put it in the table saw out-feed table. That would be a nice big work area when using the router. There are a couple of glaring problems with this in that the out-feed table I am considering would be a drop down table on the back of the saw. It will measure approximately 34" deep and 60" wide (maybe more, maybe less), hinged along the saw fence rails, and have fold down adjustable outboard legs. I would not be able to leave the router in place when the table was down, but I think it would still work for me. Also I might still have to remove the router when using the saw for some cuts depending on the router placement, but I could leave it in place for most things that I do. Then there is another advantage. If I did make the out-feed table that large, I could put in two (set dream mode on) or even three routers (set dream mode off). How kool would that be?!?!? :cool:
But before I decide to put it in the out-feed table I thought I would ask all you experts about this. Some of you must have done this already and either love it or hate it. But whether you have done this or not, am I missing something? What else should I consider?
Thanks,
Wayne