A project is approaching, that requires a lot of working with a router table. You not only need a simple fixed router table, but you also need a plunge router.
The problem is you don’t want to spend too much on buying a ready-made router table; you want to craft one by yourself.
It should be a decent, simple one with necessary modifications for a plunge router. So, to answer your query on how to make a router table for a plunge router.
You have to follow the following tutorial, step by step! Just grab some basic knowledge before jumping on to your creative efforts!
Dear readers, what is a router table?
Well, to keep it simple, stick to what it is and its purposely in carpentry. It is an immobile table. It has a hollow base in the center through which the spindle of the router pops out.
Thus, the wood piece is guided against the vertical face. It helps to control the longitudinal depth of the cut.
Why a plunge router instead of one with a fixed base?
It is a customized router. You keep the router base flat on the cutting material. Then you lower the bit into the cut. This is lowered into the depth of the cut.
Uses of a plunge router!!
It has ample applications in our daily life. You can use it to make beautifully finished jigs for joining with others. It can work equally well on the top and borders of the wood.
It is suitable for making shallow indentations, for example, in Chinese checkers boards. You can do a lot more like fluting, grooves, rebates or dados, etc.
Now, if you want to have such an excellent worker in your woodworking workshop, you need to have a special router table for it. Let us proceed, how to make one such!
You need some supplies in hand. What are they?
Since it is a tedious task, so, it requires lots of supplies. To begin with, you first need to get your safety gear. It includes safety goggles and earmuffs.
The earlier will protect your eyes from the wood splinters and later will protect your ears against noise damage.
Further, you need to have a plunge router, of course! Depending on your requirements, you can buy any of your choices.
It would be better if you could write down the dimensions of its base on a piece of paper. This will help you while you make a recess in the table.
You will need a lot of bolts for fixation. Wingnuts will help to fit in the bolts and a drill machine to make them move in the wood and help in fixation.
A cutting tool like a hole saw. For markings, you need to have pencils. To hold the pieces temporarily, you need to have a couple of clamps.
Remove the handle of the router as it can hinder its fixation down the recess.
Crafting a router table base, let’s start!
You can take any desired measurements according to the size of your plywood. But, here we will take plywood sheets of the size required to build a standard size table.
For the top take plywood sheets of 24” * 18”, the back will be 20” * 12”. Now left with two sides each should be 12” * 14 “. The top is 2” wider on both sides beyond the edges.
You can use hardboard instead of plywood, it is smoother, so moving in and out of the wood becomes more straightforward or it. You can use few scrap kinds of wood to cut out support for the corners.
Now you need to have a square-shaped hole on the sides to fit the switchboard. Before cutting, mark it. Remember, make it a bit smaller than the actual, so when you pass the board, it fits in well.
You can mark the size of the protruding spindle on the top. According to the measurements, you will cut out a square-shaped hole in the center. It may vary as per your plunge router.
Once all the cuttings have been made. The next job is pretty straightforward. It is gluing, drilling the holes and putting in the fixation bolts.
At the end of this step, you will be holding a framework of the table. You can use longitudinal woods slab under the sides to give better balancing support.
Spread the glue on the top and clamp your whiteboard on it. The clamps will ensure that the adhesive holds it tight and firm.
Making a recess for the router!
Now mark the points. You have to mark a central point for the pop out of the router spindle. To hold it in the position, you have to drill some holes for the clamps that will hold the router.
This recess will ensure a better approach to the bits. Now fix the router at the base, and its spindle is out to serve your purpose.
Power supply to your router:
Remember the slot you made for the switchboard. Pass the wire supply through it. A 12 gauge wire is good enough for this plunge router. Now mount the board along with the power supply. Connect it to a plug.
Making rails for the plunge router!
Now is your final task, make the rails according to the base size of your plunge router. Once the rails are applied on the tabletop. You can put your plunge router on the top of your plywood.
Now treat the bits the way you want. Your router can make cuts by holding at the top and moving along the line. Enjoy your plunge router as long as you want.
Since it is power operated so beware while handling.
Conclusive words:
Crafting a router table for use as a plunge router is a bit tricky but not complicated. You have to assemble plywood sheets for the table. Make a recess in the center.
Now you have to make it power operated. After the router is fixed at the base. You can apply a plunge router on the rails above.
So, your plunge router is ready for the bits for both edges and top of the board. Your wish is your plunger’s command!
