Andy Sowers
09-17-2008, 5:52 PM
Hi
I'm in the process of building a router cabinet/table in the familiar style of Norm Abram's design. I'm now nearing the final stages of attaching the actual router table top (in this case from Woodpeckers) to the cabinet.
I chose to use a 3/4" MDF "subtop" for lack of a better word so that the actual router table would be well supported across the entire bottom. The MDF subtop is darn near dead flat, if anything its a small bit center-high. The converse is true for the Woodpecker's table. Its clearly sagging in the middle even without the router installed. I don't have feeler gauges so I can't say how much but you can clearly see daylight if you shine a light from behind a Lee valley straight edge.
The instruction sheet that came with the tabletop spells out a procedure to flatten the top with shims. They advocating using business card stock as the shim material. Is this what is generally used? Seems to me that the paper could break down over time...
Originally, I thought about countersinking a series of small screws across the top of the MDF subtop that could be raised up proud of the surface to provide an "adjustable" shim. however, I've pretty much dismissed that idea because I'd worry that over time vibrations might cause the screws to wear away the bottom of the table eventually causing the top to sag again...
Any suggestions? I've attached a few pics of the cabinet with the subtop, and with the router table top placed on that (not yet secured) and a picture of the "daylight" under a straightedge... note, that this picture makes it look much worse than it really is... probably due to a poor camera focus and a somewhat shiny top...
Thanks
Andy
I'm in the process of building a router cabinet/table in the familiar style of Norm Abram's design. I'm now nearing the final stages of attaching the actual router table top (in this case from Woodpeckers) to the cabinet.
I chose to use a 3/4" MDF "subtop" for lack of a better word so that the actual router table would be well supported across the entire bottom. The MDF subtop is darn near dead flat, if anything its a small bit center-high. The converse is true for the Woodpecker's table. Its clearly sagging in the middle even without the router installed. I don't have feeler gauges so I can't say how much but you can clearly see daylight if you shine a light from behind a Lee valley straight edge.
The instruction sheet that came with the tabletop spells out a procedure to flatten the top with shims. They advocating using business card stock as the shim material. Is this what is generally used? Seems to me that the paper could break down over time...
Originally, I thought about countersinking a series of small screws across the top of the MDF subtop that could be raised up proud of the surface to provide an "adjustable" shim. however, I've pretty much dismissed that idea because I'd worry that over time vibrations might cause the screws to wear away the bottom of the table eventually causing the top to sag again...
Any suggestions? I've attached a few pics of the cabinet with the subtop, and with the router table top placed on that (not yet secured) and a picture of the "daylight" under a straightedge... note, that this picture makes it look much worse than it really is... probably due to a poor camera focus and a somewhat shiny top...
Thanks
Andy