Router table recommendations

[Michael Rutman]

I have a Rockler Router Table with Incra insert and a DeWalt router. After running some dado’s I realized that my fence had been slipping each cut. I double checked my adjustments and sure enough, no matter how hard I lock it down, that fence is going to move. I’m sure people are having good experiences with it, but I’m not.

So, time to get a good router table. Looking around I see there is the Jessem, is that the best for hobbyists? I see they go up to $1700, which is on the high end of what I’m willing to spend. I know, I said hobbyist and high end, but that’s me. I was hoping there was something with an iron table so I could use MagSafe feather boards.

What I want is something I can easily adjust and it stays adjusted. The Rockler is neither.

Thanks for any advise

[Doug Colombo]

Woodpeckers has a nice package. I have one of their router lifts (and may other of their tools) and love it. Their packages do not have iron tables, but their tables come in both phenolic and MDF. Their most expensive setup is around $1,450 (stand, table, router lift, and fence). Although I do not have this set up, I have seen them at shows that they look great.

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Michael,

Take a look at the Incra tables and especially their fences. The LS 17 gives you precision and repeatability. Combine that with a Jessem Mast-R-Lift and you have a combination that lets you anything including dovetails and box joints. I recently upgraded my router table with an LS 17, Incra table, top, Jessem Mast-R-Lift and a 3 1/4 hp router. Last upgrade I'll ever need.

Cliff

[Dave Cav]

Michael,

Take a look at the Incra tables and especially their fences. The LS 17 gives you precision and repeatability. Combine that with a Jessem Mast-R-Lift and you have a combination that lets you anything including dovetails and box joints. I recently upgraded my router table with an LS 17, Incra table, top, Jessem Mast-R-Lift and a 3 1/4 hp router. Last upgrade I'll ever need.

Cliff

I have pretty much this setup, installed in a Sawstop cast iron table. The Incra jig base bolts to the table saw top via two threaded holes drilled and tapped in the cast iron saw top. I agree with Cliff; it's about as good as it's going to get.

[Rick Potter]

OK, I get that you want a new table, but I am curious. Why is the fence slipping? Pictures?

I have had a dozen router tables, including rudimentary home made ones, but never had a fence that slips.

[Michael Rutman]

OK, I get that you want a new table, but I am curious. Why is the fence slipping? Pictures?

I have had a dozen router tables, including rudimentary home made ones, but never had a fence that slips.

It isn’t tight enough even all the way torqued down. The bolt will spin before it gets tight enough.

it is likely fixable but I do woodworking to relax and that table is not relaxing. I rarely use it because it’s been stressful and I’d like my router to be a first choice,

[Michael Rutman]

Why an incra table with the Jessum lift? I have the incra lift already, though the small one for a Rockler table.

just curious why you suggest two brands as they both make tables and lifts

[derek labian]

This Incra combo seems like a pretty good deal. Fence, Table, Stand, etc. Just add your lift.

https://www.incrementaltools.com/Router_Fence_and_Table_Combo_3_p/rtcombo-3.htm

$839. Maybe add dust box, but still, far cheaper than $1700

[Ray Newman]

Would small C-clamps work?

If you really want cast iron:

https://www.grizzly.com/products/rebel-the-rebel-reg-router-table/w2000

https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-router-table-with-lift/t28780
(Looking at the manual, it appears that the t28780 table is cast iron. It also weighs something like 125 pounds assembled. )

[ChrisA Edwards]

I bought the Woodpeckers table, lift and stand about 6 years ago, .

My package came with the micro adjust fence and everything locks down solid.

I went with the smaller router top and haven't had issues with any size limitations yet.

Very happy with it, but I scrapped the metal stand and built a simple cabinet that would aid in dust/chip collection and provide storage for tools and router bits.

Woodpeckers metal stand that I scrapped (well stored away in my attic somewhere).
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/.highres/RouterCabinetBeforAndAfter_zpscsqihrci.jpg



https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i452/cedwards874/Woodworking/.highres/RouterTable2_zpswisspykn.jpg

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Why an incra table with the Jessum lift? I have the incra lift already, though the small one for a Rockler table.

just curious why you suggest two brands as they both make tables and lifts

Primarily because my previous lift was a Jessem and I was very impressed with it. Also the Jessem has magnetic rings available which I find nicer than the standard screw in type.

If you could use the Incra in the new table I wouldn't switch. But your lift is the smaller Rockler/Benchdog size and you won't find a standard table top with the smaller size opening. If you make the top that's not a problem.

Cliff

[Frank Pratt]

If I was going to spend the kind of money you need to for a full blown router/iron table/stand/fence/lift setup, I'd take a good hard look at getting a small shaper for somewhere in the neighborhood of same amount. There's lots that a shaper will do more/better than a router table.

[Ray Newman]

Frank Pratt is onto to something about a small shaper. On a whim, I looked on the Grizzly we and found several 1.5-3.0 horsepower shapers within the poster's price range.

[Rick Potter]

While you wait for new one, I suggest you check the bolts that tighten the current fence. It sounds like you might have carriage bolts rather than T bolts (toilet bolts) in there, which might rotate, and not tighten properly.

If so, that might make it useable until the new one comes.

[Michael Rutman]

First thank you to everyone helping me. I've been reading up on the advice and really appreciate it.

At first I was thinking the Jessem fence because of the clear cut guides, but I now see Jessem offers an Incra conversion kit.

I have an Incra miter gauge and Incra sled for my table saw and I absolutely love them, in the 2 years I've had them I've done exactly one cut that wasn't at a standard angle and it was a nice surprise how easy that cut was.

My concern is the Incra fence goes on so the work piece slides along the short width of the table. Is that an issue? I wouldn't think so but asking to make sure.

The Jessem lift has the side wheel instead of that hex screw on top and is a little cheaper (not significantly). Any other differences? Amusingly enough, both Incra and Jessem make lifts in the smaller rockler size, but nobody makes a rockler compatible table that is offset to handle the Incra Fence.

So my last choice is a new stand or not. I'm thinking yes because the rockler wheels are difficult to lock as the wheels like to spin to be under the stand and unreachable.

And thanks for telling me about woodpecker, they look nice, but the Incra fence is just looking so like what I am looking for.

I double checked and I don't think a shaper would be that useful to me. Not that it wouldn't be useful, but shop space limits that option.

[Jim Dwight]

My recommendation is you make yourself a router table. I believe you can, fairly easily, make something better than you can buy. My current one also has a home made lift but on your first one you might want a commercially supplied lift. The rest of a router table is just a cabinet, easily made from plywood. I used a sink cut out for the top of mine and edged it with some scrap maple. The top of mine lifts for bit changes. The Portable Cable 15A motor is supported by a carriage that rides on machined steel bars attached to the back of the cabinet. Tilting the top up is VERY handy for bit changes. Mine is shaped like Norm Abram's from New Yankee Workshop fame.

My fence is clamped in place by really short bar clamps that grip the top. NEVER slips. The bar clamps are attached to the fence.

[Cary Falk]

I have a shaper and haven't touched a router table since then. That being said, the fences on the lower end shapers are very crude a router table fence would be miles ahead.

[Eric Arnsdorff]

I have an older Rockler phenolic top with a JessEm original Mast-r-fence along with a Rockler integrated lift (possibly made by JessEm).
For a router table, I think those are the key components (top, lift and fence). I was lucky and got those items unused from a friend that decided he wasn't going to use them.
I also recently added the JessEm micro-adjustor and would recommend that as well (the JessEm design has some play - 0.012" to be exact - but really isn't an issue and I still highly recommend it). My lift won't accept my larger PC router. I have a Bosch router in it and it has done very well.
If I were to buy a new one I'd stick with the phenolic top. I've seen several lifts that appear good but I haven't seen anything special and basically expect it to be repeatable and able to move it from above. However, I would get a lift that would accept the larger diameter router.
The JessEm fence is good and I've added the Rockler dust collector box. I get virtually no dust/shavings from it with it connected to my dust collector. I think the JessEm setup is very good and I don't know that I can get any better results from a router using it.

I put mine in the extension table for my table saw. I agree with others that I wouldn't buy the stand. Either make one or mount it in an existing tool like I did.

I will add that ChrisA's setup from Woodpeckers looks sweet! I'm not sure I'd get improved results but dang that thing looks awesome!

[Andy D Jones]

The Incra Mast-R-Lift-II-R (the -R fits a Rockler-sized hole in the router table) uses steel throat inserts that are held in place magnetically. The Jessem version uses plastic inserts which twist to lock with an included pin spanner wrench.

I am very happy with the above Incra lift in a Bench Dog cast iron extension wing on my Unisaw. I got both at Rockler. The Bench Dog came with a decent fence that stays put very well. Rockler has cast iron top router tables too.

-- Andy - Arlington TX

[H. Gregory Porter]

My immediate thought is “Why is the fence slipping?” & If you could correct the problem, would you want a new router table system?

Since you did not ask for help in correcting the issue(s) with your current system, I asssume you are wanting an upgrade not just a fix. A budget up to $1700 opens a lot of options.

I personally recommend the Incra LS Fence system. Their design has more built-in accuracy and repeatability than any other I have seen. You can buy their table or build your own or incorporate it into a workbench. I personally prefer a stand-alone router table over an add-on to the table saw design because you donÂ’t have to lose the set-up on one machine to use the other (Unless you have 2 fence systems that work together). I have an Incra lift which I bought over 15 years ago. I purchased the larger LS and table top with the intent of building full size kitchen cabinet doors. But I have never done so and the smaller one would have sufficed at least up to this point. The full set-up with their table and largest top is less than $800 (less than half of your upper limit). If you are looking for a new router to go with it, I have had PC, Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee and Festool. Festool is the smoothest running with the least runout. But selecting it will blow your upper budget out of the water. However the Milwaukee 5625-20 is a close second and is what I believe the best value for the investment when mounting in the router table. It is Very smooth running with plenty of power. It is currently mounted in my lift. It sells for $370. You still have over $500 in your top price for a lift. I have the Incra Master Lift. I think Jessem may have been the manufacturer of it. IÂ’ll leave the recommendation of the lift to others who have actual experience with the current models on the market. $1700 budget doesnÂ’t limit you much, but it does exclude the Festool router.

[Curt Harms]

I double checked and I don't think a shaper would be that useful to me. Not that it wouldn't be useful, but shop space limits that option.
The shortcoming of small shapers is using small bits. Most small shapers have a max RPM around 8000 which seems pretty slow for small bits. You mentioned space being an issue. Do you have a table saw? Would a cast iron table saw wing with router opening be a consideration? Maybe use a mag fence?

https://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/router_table4.html

[Michael Rutman]

My immediate thought is “Why is the fence slipping?” & If you could correct the problem, would you want a new router table system?

Since you did not ask for help in correcting the issue(s) with your current system, I asssume you are wanting an upgrade not just a fix. A budget up to $1700 opens a lot of options.

I personally recommend the Incra LS Fence system. Their design has more built-in accuracy and repeatability than any other I have seen. You can buy their table or build your own or incorporate it into a workbench. I personally prefer a stand-alone router table over an add-on to the table saw design because you donÂ’t have to lose the set-up on one machine to use the other (Unless you have 2 fence systems that work together). I have an Incra lift which I bought over 15 years ago. I purchased the larger LS and table top with the intent of building full size kitchen cabinet doors. But I have never done so and the smaller one would have sufficed at least up to this point. The full set-up with their table and largest top is less than $800 (less than half of your upper limit). If you are looking for a new router to go with it, I have had PC, Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee and Festool. Festool is the smoothest running with the least runout. But selecting it will blow your upper budget out of the water. However the Milwaukee 5625-20 is a close second and is what I believe the best value for the investment when mounting in the router table. It is Very smooth running with plenty of power. It is currently mounted in my lift. It sells for $370. You still have over $500 in your top price for a lift. I have the Incra Master Lift. I think Jessem may have been the manufacturer of it. IÂ’ll leave the recommendation of the lift to others who have actual experience with the current models on the market. $1700 budget doesnÂ’t limit you much, but it does exclude the Festool router.

Thanks, this helps.

I decided on just going with the Incra LS-17 super bundle with lift and stand/wheels, then saw there is a 6 month back order. Sigh. I'm pretty sold on the LS-17 and the rest of the problem isn't changed without the new fence.

I have the dewalt for now but do have my eye on the Festool. I'm sure there is a 6 month backorder on that because everything else is backordered 6 months.

More details on the Rockler fence slipping. It's a carriage bolt with a handle on the top and a plastic spacer. The head of the bolt under the table has no friction as it's resting against the slick surface on the bottom of the table. I can't get enough torque because the cheap handles don't screw down far enough. I can likely get it working with spacers and will probably sandpaper the bottom of the table to give it some friction. At a minimum I'll put a fender washer on the head so it at least has more surface area.

My sentiment is that if a tool needs fixing then I should have bought a high quality tool to begin with. With a 6 month backlog I guess I have to fix this one as I don't want to go 6 months without a router table.

[Rick Potter]

Once again.....5/16" T bolts. Carriage bolts are wrong. Rockler has them.