router mounting plate for 3 1/4HP Hitachi

[Brian Knop]

I am looking at getting a Hitachi M12v router and mounting it in a table. I was wondering what mounting plate others are using and if they are happy with them. I want something that is not going to start sagging a couple of years down the road.

Thanks Brian

[JayStPeter]

Woodpeck plungelift is great.

Jay

[Jamie Buxton]

I had an odd experience last week. I mail-ordered a mounting plate made by Rousseau, for about $40. It was advertised as 3/8" thick plastic, which I thought was adequate for my little 2 hp DeWalt. It arrived, and the packaging proudly proclaimed that it was crowned! Sure enough, the middle of the plate is a fat sixteenth higher than the edges. Work-pieces will rock on the crown. What are those guys thinking? What other table in the shop is designed to be not flat? I sent it back, and caution you against buying the same thing.

Rather than waiting another week for some other plate to arrive, I built one instead. It is 1/4" aluminum plate, and won't sag.

BTW, it sits in a torsion-box surface hung off the side of my Unisaw.

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

I had an odd experience last week. I mail-ordered a mounting plate made by Rousseau, for about $40. It was advertised as 3/8" thick plastic, which I thought was adequate for my little 2 hp DeWalt. It arrived, and the packaging proudly proclaimed that it was crowned! Sure enough, the middle of the plate is a fat sixteenth higher than the edges. Work-pieces will rock on the crown. What are those guys thinking? What other table in the shop is designed to be not flat? I sent it back, and caution you against buying the same thing.

Rather than waiting another week for some other plate to arrive, I built one instead. It is 1/4" aluminum plate, and won't sag.

BTW, it sits in a torsion-box surface hung off the side of my Unisaw.

Work pieces really don't rock on the crown, in my experiece (with M12Vs mounted). And really the only time a little crown like that might hurt would be with a large piece of material that's not square. I've just not had any problems with mine, other that the insert rings breaking.

[Scott Coffelt]

I secong the Plunge Lift. I removed the springs and also removed the ears to accomodate larger bits. I originally had the Rooussou plate but it sagged. If you plan on leaving in the table, get something out of metal versus the plastics.

[Chris Padilla]

Woodpeckers has GREAT stuff...3/8" thick plate. I guess that is a "third"! :)

Chris

[Byron Trantham]

Woodpeckers has GREAT stuff...3/8" thick plate. I guess that is a "third"! :)

Chris

and a fourth... :D

[Ralph Steffey]

I have the mv12 hung on an aluminum plate from rockler and I think I will get another for another table I am building. It was the cheepist deal I could find in a quality plate.

[Jamie Buxton]

Work pieces really don't rock on the crown, in my experiece (with M12Vs mounted). And really the only time a little crown like that might hurt would be with a large piece of material that's not square. I've just not had any problems with mine, other that the insert rings breaking.

Kirk ---
We have different experience. Years ago I built a router table which was crowned -- quite unintentionally. It gave me weird results until I realized the problem and built a new flat one.
Jamie

[Doug Littlejohn]

For my MV12, Woodpecks precision ground 3/8 aluminum plate with adjustable height inserts and routing template (to route out hole in router tabletop).

[Kent Cori]

I have mine mounted on a Woodhaven phenolic insert. This combo seems to work just fine although I have not been using this insert that long. Long-term sagging could possibly be an issue but it hasn't appeared yet.

[Frank Guerin]

Tried two of those plastic plates with bad results. Bought a piece of aluminum and made one. Put a bunch of set screws around the edge to level it and made some inserts. Works great.

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

Kirk ---
We have different experience. Years ago I built a router table which was crowned -- quite unintentionally. It gave me weird results until I realized the problem and built a new flat one.
Jamie

'Quite unintentionally' might be the operative phrase...the Rosseau is made that way on purpose. Some folks don't like that, and you're one of 'em. :)

Diff'rent strokes...

[Ed Falis]

I'll give my usual plug for the Veritas table top, fence and bit jack. A bit expensive, but a very nice system that you can buy into incrementally. Works great with the wife's DW625, so I don't expect there would be any problems with the M12V.

You can find it at www.leevalley.com

- Ed

[Bob Reilly]

I to had problems using the Rousseau plate while trying to cut dovetails with an Incra jig,got the rockler 9"x12" aluminum plate and the problem went away.

[Mike Sweat]

Another vote for Woodpeckers.

<img src="http://www.mandswoodworks.com/assets/images/db_images/db_pic_0014.jpg">

<img src="http://www.mandswoodworks.com/assets/images/db_images/db_Hitachi_M12V1.jpg">

[Chris Padilla]

Another vote for Woodpeckers.

<img src="http://www.mandswoodworks.com/assets/images/db_images/db_pic_0014.jpg">

<img src="http://www.mandswoodworks.com/assets/images/db_images/db_Hitachi_M12V1.jpg">


It appears you have the Twin Linear! I have that, too! Wonderful fence...simply wonderful.

Chris

[Brian Knop]

Thanks to everyone for all of the good information. I think I'll get the Woodpeck plungelift. One question; how easy is it to change router bit from the top side of the table with the woodpecker?

brian

[Mike Sweat]

Thanks to everyone for all of the good information. I think I'll get the Woodpeck plungelift. One question; how easy is it to change router bit from the top side of the table with the woodpecker?

brian


Not bad with the bent wrenches. Also helps to cut the ears off the router that are there to mount guide bushings.

<img src="http://www.woodshopdemos.com/cmt-jr73.jpg">

Above photo from John Lucas site http://www.woodshopdemos.com/

[Chris Padilla]

Thanks to everyone for all of the good information. I think I'll get the Woodpeck plungelift. One question; how easy is it to change router bit from the top side of the table with the woodpecker?

brian


Cake...pick up a set of their bent wrenches...makes it like ice cream on cake. :) However, that is with my PC router...dunno about the Hitachi. I recall there being a button you depress to keep the bit from spinning? You could rig up something to do that for you.

Check here at this site for tricks with the Hitachi: Woodshopdemos (http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm)

Scroll down to the "Router and Router Table" heading and you'll see four links with 'Hitachi' on them...go through each one.

Chris

[Noah Alkinburgh]

Brian,

I just came across this router vacu-plate system this morning...thought it might be of interest. It is from <a href="http://www.oak-park.com/usa12.html">Oak Park Enterprises</a> Just click on that link and scroll down just a wee bit and you will see it.

I am not familiar with them or there products, but I think this idea is pretty cool and thought it would be worth sharing.

Noah