#SKIL ROUTER TABLE UPGRADE#

This may not always be the case, as the price will depend on what materials you use as well as the features you put into the table. Many woodworkers suggest building a router table as it is cheaper for those on a tight budget. If you are new to woodworking, it is likely that your tool kit is limited and you might find yourself needing to purchase tools just to build the table. The tools needed to build a table are also a consideration. This might be intimidating for someone new to woodworking and such a project can even challenge those with some experience. Gaining woodworking experience is often cited as one of the major reasons to build your own table. It is not imperative to buy one, but if your budget allows it, I suggest buying a good router table for more convenience. If you have done any research on the subject you will have discovered that are a variety of opinions about building or buying a router table.

If you are new to operating routers, a table will provide you with consistency, safety, and stability as you work. Finally, a router table is ideal for larger bits that take away a lot of material at once. A push stick can be used to keep your fingers away from the bit on a thin stock like molding. Router tables, on the other hand, make it easy and safe to work with smaller pieces of wood that cannot support the router. You can also make small or delicate cuts into the wood easily with a router in hand. There is also the visual aspect, as a bit in the hand-held method is easier to see. Woodworkers tend to use hand-held routers on larger projects that are difficult or impossible to work on a table. You will discover that woodworkers have a preference for one over the other, but I feel that their use should be based on application and not opinion. I should start off by stating that most best wood routers are designed to be used in hand or in a stationary position (table mounted). They also provide greater stability for the power tool as well as the project you are working on. Adaptors can be used to fit either a shop vac, collection system hoses or both!Ī router table will allow you to operate the router with an incredible spin on the vertical spindle. Look for a table that features dust collection that will not clog during use. Using a router generates chips and debris. Keep in mind, a quality table gives you plenty of room for your fence as well as a miter gauge. You want a find a table that provides support for your projects while fitting into your work area. Keep in mind that all-in-one plates provide less structural integrity due to the number of holes drilled into their surface. Manufacturers offer insert plates that can be matched to specific routers. These non-MDF surfaces can support the router and provide consistency. This will require phenolic plastics or aluminum materials. The plate must support the router’s weight in addition to remaining flat. Using machined aluminum and similar material makes this the most durable surface to get on a fabricated router table.īusy home manufacturers and professionals shops will likely spend the extra to get the durability offered by cast aluminum. Machined metals: Another option found in the market is metal tabletops. The material is more expensive but thinner and more lightweight than protected MDF sheets. Manufacturers can mold ribs and other lattices under the surface to increase strength. It should hold its shape for a lifetime of use, and water will not affect the material. The tabletop consists of a single molded piece.

#SKIL ROUTER TABLE UPGRADE#

Phenolic resin/plastic: An upgrade to MDF would be phenolic resins. The material provides the surface strength needed to support a workpiece without flexing.

Melamine coatings prevent the MDF from soaking up moisture, which would be an issue with bare sheets. MDF maintains shape and will not warp over time as wood panels will. Laminated MDF: Perhaps the most common tabletop material you will find on fabricated router tables is MDF with a laminate covering. Most router table tops are made out of these materials: The tabletop of your router table is the most important consideration. Some of these considerations include: Table Surface Quality There are a few important considerations to make when shopping for a router table. Things to look for in the best router tables

Skil router table