HFT router table insert question

[Jack Ferrell]

Do you think that this (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=94331) will hold up a Hitachi M12V or just sag over time? Thanks

[glenn bradley]

Shooting from the hip I'd say at just shy of 3/8" it 'should' BUT, I recently rebuilt my RT cabinet due to the fact that my Mil 5625 caused the 7/8" laminated top to sag!!! The fix was a cabinet design that brought a dense support grid into play.

I would check how much distance will be between your router face (where it bolts to the plate) and the edge of the plate recess in the table (did that make sense?). Where I'm going with this is; with the size of that plate you could have a few inches of unsupported plate. Maybe some phenolic plate users could chime in.

I've always used aluminum and one of them has developed an issue. This leads my tiny mind to think that I want either the smallest or thickest (or both) plate I can reasonably use.

P.s. I'm just a hobbyist, no industrial use here ;-)