advice on router table project

[Mike Steinhilper]

I am about to start building my router table. I guess I'm lazy, but I'm looking for an alternative to plastic laminate over plywood. Any ideas? Also, sure would be nice to have my router table completed so I could use it to build my router table

[Maurice Ungaro]

Mike,
I took the lazy route and purchased a rrouter table extension from Bench Dog. It's pretty dang complete, with a sweet fence and dust extraction port. It's also nice and beefy. They also make units designed to go on stand alone router tables.

My other choice was going to be the Lee Valley system. They've got a real versital fence set up, and building a table for their top should be a breeze.

Have fun!

[Chris Padilla]

Mike,

How about plastic-covered MDF??

Seriously though, you could laminate a few sheets of 3/4" MDF and then contact-cement formica all around it but that darn formica isn't too cheap, neither.

Check out www.woodpeck.com for some ideas...they often have scratch 'n dent table tops for sale at good prices. However, they also have some darn nice router table systems.

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

You won't be sorry if you get a phenolic top.

KC

[Robert Malone]

Mike, I have about 20 feet of kitchen counter top in the garage if that would help.
Bob

[john whittaker]

Mike, for my first router table I went with 2 sheets of 3/4 MDF glued together with a white laminate top. I am pleased with the results and now, after a few years of use, realize the importance of a good slippery surface. Whatever material you choose, make the top with as little friction as possible. Also take care to get the table insert precisely level with the table top so your work will not hang up infeed or outfeed...(Learned that one the hard way) Applying the laminate was easy and you get a chance to use your router by trimming the edges. The double MDF yields a solid heavy table top which also helps performance. Good luck.

[Frank Hagan]

My router table top is made from baltic birch, finished with a 3# cut of shellac and then waxed with Johnson's Paste Wax (which I also use on all the cast iron surfaces in my shop).

[Tom Jones III]

Why not just plain MDF?

[Zahid Naqvi]

Why not just plain MDF?

That's what I did, two layers of 3/4 MDF with several coats of poly and finally wax.

[Charlie Jones]

I use the Lee valley/ Veritas steel top. I was a little concerned at first because it is smaller (16"x24") than what most people recommend but it works out good. I built my table the same height as my TS and long stock can slide over it. I have a foot pedal setup the Veritas Bit Jack it very nice for morticeing.