Work Bench Router Table
by Laird-Denton in Workshop > Workbenches
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Work Bench Router Table
![IMG_20141019_195141.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FX4/V3WJ/I1EU30JH/FX4V3WJI1EU30JH.jpg&filename=IMG_20141019_195141.jpg)
Ever wanted a Router Table, but didn't want to invest hundreds of dollars into something you would only end up using a few times?
Me neither... So i decided to build my own.
I kept it cheap and simple as I do not need to use this all of the time, but know it will make some future projects much easier.
Follow along as I show you how to construct this simple low cost Router Table.
Materials:
- 3/4" Plywood (2'x2')
- 1/8" Tempered Hardboard (2'x2')
- 1x4 Pine Boards
- Wood Glue
- Three Machine Screws
- Two Machine Bolt (and two nuts)
- Four Washers
- Plunge Router (assuming you have this already)
- Adjustable Work Bench (or something similar you might have)
Table Base
![IMG_20141019_200054.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FMI/W44Z/I1EU31F9/FMIW44ZI1EU31F9.jpg&filename=IMG_20141019_200054.jpg)
For the Table Base, I started with an adjustable work bench that I got for free from a friend that was no longer using it.
(You could use any kind of surface or make a simple surface with a slot for the Router to drop through)
I checked to make sure the Plunge-Router I already had would fit through the slot of the work bench and although the base of the Router did, the head of the Router did not.
I solved this problem with the use of thicker plywood for the main table support (as you will see later)
Router Table Structure
![IMG_20141003_165403.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F64/TG66/I1EU304Q/F64TG66I1EU304Q.jpg&filename=IMG_20141003_165403.jpg)
![IMG_20141003_165420.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FUM/YP1A/I1EU304X/FUMYP1AI1EU304X.jpg&filename=IMG_20141003_165420.jpg)
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For the surface of the Router Table, I used 3/4" Plywood and 1/8" Tempered Hardboard (Masonite) on top.
I cut the Plywood into a 2'-0"x2'-0" piece then used a straight-edge to mark the center (from corner to corner).
Once I had the center, I placed the Router on top of the plywood and made the bit that was installed line up with the "X" so it was in the middle.
I then traced the outline of the 'head' of the Router onto the Plywood and used a Jig-Saw to cut out the shape (as you can see in the 2nd picture).
I had to do a bit of sanding to make sure the Router head would 'sink' into the plywood as intended.
Once I had the Plywood finished, I cut a piece of 1/8" Tempered Hardboard into a 2'-0"x2'-0" piece (same as the Plywood).
I then glued these two pieces together so they were one unit.
Mounting the Router
![IMG_20141007_165342.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F54/KXI6/I1EU305C/F54KXI6I1EU305C.jpg&filename=IMG_20141007_165342.jpg)
![IMG_20141007_165518.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZ0/KG01/I1EU305N/FZ0KG01I1EU305N.jpg&filename=IMG_20141007_165518.jpg)
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To mount the router to the Table, I took the Router to the Hardware store and found out what sized screws fit the thread pattern of the holes in the head of the Router.
I then placed the table upside down, placed the Router in it's position within the hole in the Plywood and marked the holes that I needed to drill.
I drilled a pilot hole at the center of each mark that was the same diameter as the screws I was using.
Once I verified that the holes were exactly where I wanted them I used a larger bit to make a 'counter-sink' void for the head of the screw to sink into.
I was then able to screw all three into the router and it held tight to the underside of the router table when flipped over.
Router Hole
![IMG_20141007_170006.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F7F/KRNM/I1EU305R/F7FKRNMI1EU305R.jpg&filename=IMG_20141007_170006.jpg)
![IMG_20141007_170105.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FSG/ZCED/I1EU305S/FSGZCEDI1EU305S.jpg&filename=IMG_20141007_170105.jpg)
![IMG_20141007_170731.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FOY/MFOW/I1EU306A/FOYMFOWI1EU306A.jpg&filename=IMG_20141007_170731.jpg)
The next step to place the router hole was easy.
I measured the largest router bit I had, and then used a hole saw bit to cut a hole just slightly larger than the bit for some clearance.
Once the hole was cut I beveled the edges of the hole on the top side to make sure that as i slid items along the table nothing would get caught on the edge.
Table Mounting Hole
![IMG_20141013_161656.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4T/JE6P/I1EU306E/F4TJE6PI1EU306E.jpg&filename=IMG_20141013_161656.jpg)
![IMG_20141013_162044.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F0K/D1NT/I1EU306H/F0KD1NTI1EU306H.jpg&filename=IMG_20141013_162044.jpg)
To help mount the table to the Work Bench (as well as hold the Router-Fence in place) I decided to use the holes that were already in place on the Work Bench.
I flipped everything over (with the Router in place) and marked where the desired hole was on the underside of the Plywood.
I then drilled a 1/2" hole at each location as I was using 3/8" bolts and wanted them to pass through fairly easily.
Router Fence
![IMG_20141013_162946.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F2U/AMF8/I1EU3072/F2UAMF8I1EU3072.jpg&filename=IMG_20141013_162946.jpg)
![IMG_20141013_163424.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5T/U7XO/I1EU307L/F5TU7XOI1EU307L.jpg&filename=IMG_20141013_163424.jpg)
![IMG_20141014_224233.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FN1/19FK/I1EU309T/FN119FKI1EU309T.jpg&filename=IMG_20141014_224233.jpg)
![IMG_20141014_221807.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FP2/IY26/I1EU307R/FP2IY26I1EU307R.jpg&filename=IMG_20141014_221807.jpg)
For the Router Fence, I used some old boards I had laying around, but you can use whatever you have handy.
(I used 1x4 pine boards)
I cut one board so it was 2'-0" long (the same as the table) and then marked where the Mounting Hole came through the Table.
Once I had the location of where I needed to place the hole I used the Washers I was going to use to mark the extent of the Adjustable Slot I needed.
I then drilled a 1/2" hole at each end and used a Jig Saw to connect the two holes to achieve the slot in the board.
I then used the same Hole Saw to add a notch in the bottom and fence edge boards to make sure that the Router Head could spin.
I glued the Router Fence Board to the base and let it sit overnight.
Vacum Hose Connection
![IMG_20141014_222514.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FW5/6GTL/I1EU309N/FW56GTLI1EU309N.jpg&filename=IMG_20141014_222514.jpg)
![IMG_20141018_200624.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F3B/YQZH/I1EU304I/F3BYQZHI1EU304I.jpg&filename=IMG_20141018_200624.jpg)
I wanted to b able to connect a vacuum hose to the back of the router to suck up all of the shavings and sawdust when it was in use, so I created a simple three piece Vacuum Hose Connection.
I cut two triangles for the sides, and then a top which I mitered to fit snug against the base and router fence.
Next I measured the diameter of the end of my hose and used a hole saw to cut a hole that would fit snug.
Once it was all glued together, I aligned the hole of the Vacuum connection with the hole for the Router Bit so the hose would be close enough to suck up all of the debris.
Finished Assembly
![IMG_20141018_200022.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FN6/LRQ0/I1EU30AW/FN6LRQ0I1EU30AW.jpg&filename=IMG_20141018_200022.jpg)
![IMG_20141018_200034.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FRN/SI0S/I1EU30AZ/FRNSI0SI1EU30AZ.jpg&filename=IMG_20141018_200034.jpg)
![IMG_20141018_200130.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F06/G14K/I1EU30B5/F06G14KI1EU30B5.jpg&filename=IMG_20141018_200130.jpg)
![IMG_20141018_200135.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FTI/NA40/I1EU30B8/FTINA40I1EU30B8.jpg&filename=IMG_20141018_200135.jpg)
![IMG_20141018_200552.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FXR/XI6O/I1EU30BZ/FXRXI6OI1EU30BZ.jpg&filename=IMG_20141018_200552.jpg)
![IMG_20141018_200639.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FR6/KWMZ/I1EU304P/FR6KWMZI1EU304P.jpg&filename=IMG_20141018_200639.jpg)
![IMG_20141018_200234.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBF/LHRV/I1EU30BS/FBFLHRVI1EU30BS.jpg&filename=IMG_20141018_200234.jpg)
Once the Vacuum Hose Connection was attached to the Router Fence, I connected everything together for a fit-test.
Everything fit wonderfully together.
I used the 3/8" bolts with a large washer at each end to help secure the Router Fence to the Work Bench. I then added a clamp at each side that sandwich the Router Fence, Router Table, and Work Bench together.
The hose connects well and does not get in the way at all.
Thoughts:
- I might paint the back side of the Router Fence to make it look a little nicer.
- I might need to add some weights to the bottom Legs of the Work Bench as it is a bit top-heavy now.