Art Wagner
12-01-2007, 2:37 AM
I've been enjoying reading posts on this forum and have picked up a lot of great ideas. Thanks!
I have been using an old Craftsman router and a Hirsch vinyl router table to make simple picture frames and bee hive gear. I'm essentially a noobie and haven't done any furniture-grade work.
Now I want to make 3 simple stile and rail cabinet doors with plain plywood/panel doors. I got a Hitachi M12SC router because the old Craftsman wouldn't work with the rail and stile bits. The old table is clearly not suitable either.
So, I bought a Ryobi "Intermediate" bench-top router table, model A25RT02, at Home Depot. For $100, it's got some nice features, including a large table top (32 x 16" x 1" MDF laminated). I also like that it would be easy to store when I don't need it.
Here's a large picture of the table:
http://209.235.210.201/images/tools/A25RT02.jpg
Unfortunately, I've been unable to get the insert to lay flat. I can slide a business card under the straight edge at several points. The insert is almost 3/8" thick plastic and may have come out of the mold slightly irregular. I got a replacement from Ryobi, but it's no better.
Ryobi seems to know that the insert plate doesn't level because the tech support person said that if the replacement didn't work, she'd recommend returning it. In fact, it appears that Ryobi is no longer marketing this table on their website, so they may have abandoned it.
What is the greatest unevenness I should accept? I'm guessing that to have the stiles and rails match accurately, the top and insert really do need to be level. Is that true?
Is there a reasonable way to fix this? I've considered sanding the insert to remove the warp. Or do you think this is a lost cause and I should take it back for a refund?
If I were to return this table, what would you recommend as a low cost router table? Please keep in mind that I'll only use it once every 2 years, so all I need is something functional.
I have been using an old Craftsman router and a Hirsch vinyl router table to make simple picture frames and bee hive gear. I'm essentially a noobie and haven't done any furniture-grade work.
Now I want to make 3 simple stile and rail cabinet doors with plain plywood/panel doors. I got a Hitachi M12SC router because the old Craftsman wouldn't work with the rail and stile bits. The old table is clearly not suitable either.
So, I bought a Ryobi "Intermediate" bench-top router table, model A25RT02, at Home Depot. For $100, it's got some nice features, including a large table top (32 x 16" x 1" MDF laminated). I also like that it would be easy to store when I don't need it.
Here's a large picture of the table:
http://209.235.210.201/images/tools/A25RT02.jpg
Unfortunately, I've been unable to get the insert to lay flat. I can slide a business card under the straight edge at several points. The insert is almost 3/8" thick plastic and may have come out of the mold slightly irregular. I got a replacement from Ryobi, but it's no better.
Ryobi seems to know that the insert plate doesn't level because the tech support person said that if the replacement didn't work, she'd recommend returning it. In fact, it appears that Ryobi is no longer marketing this table on their website, so they may have abandoned it.
What is the greatest unevenness I should accept? I'm guessing that to have the stiles and rails match accurately, the top and insert really do need to be level. Is that true?
Is there a reasonable way to fix this? I've considered sanding the insert to remove the warp. Or do you think this is a lost cause and I should take it back for a refund?
If I were to return this table, what would you recommend as a low cost router table? Please keep in mind that I'll only use it once every 2 years, so all I need is something functional.