Sawstop inline router tables? Sawstop's vs Woodpeckers?

[Corey Pelton]

Hi all!

I've decided to get some space back in my shop and sell off my Woodpecker router table (once Covid19 gets under control), and replace it with an inline table off the right wing on my Sawstop PCS. Anyone have experience with Sawstop's own inline router table? Or the Woodpecker's one? I'm leaning toward the Woodpecker solution, as I can use my Super Fence from my current table, plus the base plate (which works in either). Woodpecker's downdraft DC box is a touch larger too, which I think will fit my Triton TRA001 without any need to modify it.

TIA!

Corey

[Dave Mills]

I have the SawStop router table on the right side of my PCS, but don't know the Woodpecker one to compare to. The SS model seems just fine to me, it of course matches up to the saw table perfectly, etc. The DC box is very good at dust collection, and is virtually empty of dust. It's containing my 3-1/4 PC router. But yes, I use the SS router fence on it, and have to remove the fence periodically when I need the table for extra saw space. If I were able to share that fence, it would be nice.

[Joseph Montroy]

Does anyone know if you have the Sawstop PCS with the 52" rails, can you still add the router table to the right of the saw? How will the rails attach?

[Dave Mills]

To my understanding yes you can add it to the 52" rails, though double check with SS. On my 36" table, you remove a 16" section of melamine or whatever material that table is, and replace it with the cast iron router table top. The bolts from the rails now go into the router table. So the net result is the whole package is the same length as when you started.

[David Sloan]

The sawstop inline router table is very solid and I think very reasonably priced for what you get. It can be mounted left or right of the blade. I have it to the right replacing the melamine table insert. Everything moves beautifully on the ICS mobile base.

[Andy D Jones]

The SS router table extension is very similar to the Benchdog I have, except the latter's opening is the narrower width to fit Rockler's inserts and lifts (of which I have the Incra Mast-r-lift-II-R to match it). Both extensions have a T-slot machined alongside the miter gauge slot.

The Benchdog also has two sets of slots for mounting the fence either inboard or outboard of the router. The SS, like most other router table extensions, has only one set of fence slots, for mounting the fence inboard of the router. Using the SS on the right side of the blade, you will work from the end or the rear of the table saw to feed stock to the router. Using the SS on the left side of the blade, you will work from the end or the front of the table saw to feed stock to the router, and if you have a suitably wide outfeed table on the saw, you can use it to support outfeed from the router as well.

-- Andy - Arlington TX

[BOB OLINGER]

Well, I don't know where I've been - I have a PCS-36", am considering buying a router table and lift (been thinking Kreg), and didn't know that Sawstop had the router table option. Does this table have a lift built in? Given a mounting on the right, it appears the dust collecting tube would interfere with movement?

[Mick Simon]

I have the SS inline table on a 36" PCS with a Woodpeckers plate and lift mechanism. It does everything I ask of it. I removed the Formica insert and put it in its place, without the additional insert. It lines up perfectly with the full 36" rip capacity.

Two things - 1. If your PCS is older than ~ 3 years (pre SS adding the router tables to their line) the bolt holes in the rails will not sync up with the router table, and 2. The Triton router will not fit in the SS dust collection box.

[Frank Pratt]

Well, I don't know where I've been - I have a PCS-36", am considering buying a router table and lift (been thinking Kreg), and didn't know that Sawstop had the router table option. Does this table have a lift built in? Given a mounting on the right, it appears the dust collecting tube would interfere with movement?

SawStop has the cast iron table and it is made to fit their excellent router lift. It is easily the most robust lift I've seen, with 4 threaded posts supporting a heavy aluminum motor bracket. I don't know if their table fits other lifts.

[Dave Mills]

SawStop has the cast iron table and it is made to fit their excellent router lift. It is easily the most robust lift I've seen, with 4 threaded posts supporting a heavy aluminum motor bracket. I don't know if their table fits other lifts.

It does. The opening in the SawStop router table is 9.25" x 11.75", which as far as I know is kind of the standard size in the US. JessEm and Woodpecker, at least, will fit.

[Corey Pelton]

Thanks for the replies. Ended up going with the Woodpeckers extension table. Their dust box fits the triton, so that sealed the deal.

[Andy D Jones]

It does. The opening in the SawStop router table is 9.25" x 11.75", which as far as I know is kind of the standard size in the US. JessEm and Woodpecker, at least, will fit.

That is the most common size; however, Rockler (including Benchdog) tables, inserts and lifts are 8-1/4" x 11-3/4". The Incra Mast-R-Lift-II-R lift is Rockler-sized. The Incra Mast-R-Lift-II is the more standard size mentioned above.

-- Andy - Arlington TX

[Keith Pitman]

The Sawstop router table didn’t exist when I got my Sawstop so I bought the Peachtree cast iron router table that is installed at the right end of my saw. I selected the Peachtree router table because it used the larger Woodpecker router plates that I already owned. The Peachtree router top is dead flat and overall good quantity. Another option for you.

[Corey Pelton]

Well, as a follow up, I'd like to give my opinion on the Woodpeckers inline router table on a Sawstop PCS. It doesn't work. At all. I was led to believe this was a perfect fit, and no adjustment to my rails would be necessary (I have the updated rails that accept the miter slot for Sawstop's router table) So that was the first thing. I relented and decided I would notch the rails and move on, no big deal. They require 2 extra supports to help hold the table if you're on a mobile base. The problem is, they attach on the fence ruler rail, and then don't allow the ruler to be reinstalled, as the bolts throw the holes out of alignment with the fence. Thankfully, I didn't cut my rails. I'm pretty unhappy with all this, as you can imagine. I had sold my stand-alone router table this week in preparation for this. Now I'm out of a router table, and my table saw is in pieces, ugh. And to add insult to injury, Woodpeckers doesn't offer RMAs, so I have to foot the shipping on the return, which isn't going to be cheap, as this thing is large and heavy.

So, I've now ordered the Sawstop router table. That's 2 weeks out, until I receive it. Well, better get to trying to figure how to puzzle this packaging back together.

Thanks for listening to my rant, hah :)

[ChrisA Edwards]

I would like to see photos of the issues, if possible.

[Corey Pelton]

I would like to see photos of the issues, if possible.

I haven't tore it down yet, so I"ll snap a few more photos. Here's the issue with the rails. From all the pictures on Woodpeckers site, it sure looked like it would line up with the notch in the rail.

Also, the box was pretty much destroyed when I received it. The metal that connects the router table to the saw wing was bent. Woodpeckers quickly shipped me a new one, which I much appreciated, but too bad it was all for nothing.

433464

[ChrisA Edwards]

When the aluminum piece is in place, in the router table, do the Sawstop rails restrict access to the T and miter slots?

Looks like the Sawstop rails could be ground down a little and probably only necessary on the back rail, as using a miter gauge, once the fence part of the miter gauge is past the cutter center you have pretty much completed that cut. Likewise, for inserting T slot accessories, they can be inserted from the rear.

Just a thought, otherwise it looks like a nice setup.

[Corey Pelton]

When the aluminum piece is in place, in the router table, do the Sawstop rails restrict access to the T and miter slots?

Looks like the Sawstop rails could be ground down a little and probably only necessary on the back rail, as using a miter gauge, once the fence part of the miter gauge is past the cutter center you have pretty much completed that cut. Likewise, for inserting T slot accessories, they can be inserted from the rear.

Just a thought, otherwise it looks like a nice setup.

Edit: Sorry, misread your post, Chris. I actually was going to do that, but ran into the other issues, like not being able to use the mobile base, since the additional supports do not properly fit the rail. If I lift the saw up now, the router table flexes at the extension wing, and the router table legs do not lift off the ground at all. I do move my saw around occasionally, so it would be a deal breaker just for that issue alone.

Didn't expect to jump through hoops with this thing, so I hit my limit pretty quick and decided it wasn't the correct choice and went with Sawstop's router table instead. It sucks I have my table saw will be in pieces for 2 weeks, but so be it. As long as their setup works as it should.

[Corey Pelton]

Received the Sawstop router table over a week earlier than scheduled, so that was a very nice surprise. Right off the bat, Sawstop’s packaging is top notch. No damaged parts like I received with the Woodpeckers table.

Took about an hour to rough install everything. Still need to square up the table, but it’s not far off. Really pleased with the setup. The cast iron is absolutely flawless. The ICS mobile base lifts it with zero effort. I’m very impressed.
most likely have to build another dust collection box, since Sawstop’s doesn’t fit the TRA001. Or, I’ll buy another router and their lift.

433692

[ChrisA Edwards]

What provisions does it have, underneath, for mounting a dust box?

I went with the Incra setup, on my SawStop, but their router table surface is MDF (I think).

I had a 15" deep melamine shelf, kicking around, so I fabricated by own dust box and fastened it to the top with a few right angle brackets.

I jave a 4" dust port in the bottom.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/Incra%20LS-Fence/.highres/IncraFence3_zpsa0i37f8g.jpg


Here you can see the right angle brackets, I used two on each side.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/Incra%20LS-Fence/.highres/ncraSupportLeg1_zpsfnpzkdky.jpg

Just a thought, then you can make it fit your router and lift.

[Dave Mills]

most likely have to build another dust collection box, since Sawstop’s doesn’t fit the TRA001. Or, I’ll buy another router and their lift.


I have the Sawstop dust box, if you need anything measured. It easily holds my PC 3.25hp router motor, but I don't know the TRA001.

[Corey Pelton]

Thanks for the offer, Dave, but Since I still have the Woodpeckers dust box (UPS delivered it to my house the following day after shipping back for a return to Woodpeckers), I might see if I can rig it to fit. Internet consensus is that it needs a fair amount of modifications to fit. I made a dust box for my last table with a 6” port. Worked very well, but I sold it with my table. The mounting into the cast iron looks pretty narrow, so the Triton might have to go in the long run.

what do you guys recommend for a dedicated table router ad lift?

[Corey Pelton]

The Woodpeckers dust cabinet fits perfectly to the Triton. I had to drill a couple new holes to match the Sawstop dust cabinet locations, but it works very well. Barely any dust to speak of in the cabinet after a few test runs. Looks good too!

433726433727433728

[ChrisA Edwards]

Excellent, glad that worked out.

[Jack Frederick]

Aw, Corey, why did you have to post that photo? It is a better photo than SS has on their site. I want to cut the long ext table down anyway and the RT adjoining the PCS table looks to be about the perfect package. Have to get planning;)

[Corey Pelton]

Aw, Corey, why did you have to post that photo? It is a better photo than SS has on their site. I want to cut the long ext table down anyway and the RT adjoining the PCS table looks to be about the perfect package. Have to get planning;)

I’m very happy with the setup. I’d say go for it, Jack!

[Jack Frederick]

When SS introduced the router gear I looked at their site and while I was pretty sure I understood what things would look like I was unhappy with the way they were shown. I felt they were not as clear as they should be and I sent a note to SS about it. They responded positively and immediately asking for suggestions. i like that in a company. I got looking at things and decided I was being a weenie and sent a note saying so, but given the invitation I wanted to come up with something positive. Corey's picture of his saw shows better than the "pretty" pictures SS has. I wrote suggesting clear line drawings or pictures of all possible configurations of just the top, left, right, long, short. I guess I have a poor imagination. I'm not sure where it will go but they did request my address for a hat or shirt or something to be sent.
Having been in the Manuf Representative business I do communicate with companies when I have something to say or ask. I appreciate a response. Many outfits blow you off and as I interact with tools or equipment it is in my mind and stays there when future purchases come up. I love my PCS. It is a hell of a saw and I like a company that listens to or at least acknowledges the "voice of the customer." For me, 5 stars for Sawstop! Now, where do I get $500 so I can duplicate Corey's lay-out?

[Corey Pelton]

I’m with ya, Jack. I tend to be loyal to a company that has that type of customer service. When I first received my PCS it had more runout than I would have ever imagined. A quick call to their CS department and they shipped me a brand new arbor block. It was a pain in the ass to swap out, but it fixed the issue.

And, I do have to say, Woodpeckers really went above and beyond in making sure I was happy with the outcome of our business together, even though their product didn’t work out for me. I really appreciate that in a company. Plus they make amazing tools 😁