OK, so you have bought a new router, such as a wood router, CNC router, or plunge router and all your router bits, but now you are thinking of buying a table to go with it, right? Well, as most woodworkers would tell you, building your benchtop router table doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might have thought it was.
That’s because there are plans and options all over the Internet and even in books at your local library or at the bookstore. You may even find some at your local home improvement stores. Of course, you can always take a look at these ones too and see just what will help you with making your next router table.
The Supplies You Need
What you need specifically is going to depend on the specific plans that you choose, but you can get some idea of supplies from this list. Just keep in mind that you may need any subset of these supplies or even a few additional pieces depending on how you decide to go about making your benchtop router table:
- Kitchen countertop
- Plywood
- Router lift
- Router base plate
- Table fence
- Dust collection with dust port
- Drill
- Circular saw
- Kreg jig
- Brad nailer
- Sander
- Table saw
- Drill bits
- Assorted screws
- Finish nails
- Casters
- Doorknobs
- Hinges
- Router plate
- 1 x 6”
- 2 x 4”
Getting To Work
It’s going to be up to you which particular router table you want to try out. Here, we’ve compiled a list of several different options when it comes to plans and where you can find them. Before you know it you’re going to have a great looking router table that helps you keep track of all your stuff and get that next project going just right.
Ana-White Super Sleek Router Table and Cabinet
This table is more than just a place to set up your router. It’s available on Ana-White.com and though it’s going to be one of the more complicated options for creating your table, it’s also going to be the most useful. That’s because it actually has drawers built into it that allow you to keep everything organized and ready for whatever you want to work on next.
Woodsmith Shop Simple Router Table
If you want to keep it simple you can definitely do it with this router table plan from Woodsmith Shop. The table you end up with is highly functional but without a lot of the frills you’ll see in some of these other plans. For someone who wants quality and speed over anything else, this is going to be a good choice of plans. It will work great for most projects, though it may not be ideal for heavier duty projects, and it will help you save a little bit of time and money while you’re at it.
Rockler’s Space Saving Router Table
If you don’t have a lot of space to leave a router table out in your workshop or garage you may want to consider this option. It has some cabinet space to store a few things, but it’s also completely able to be folded up to your wall.
When you’re using it you unfold the table and it’s sturdy enough to hold whatever you need and cut your pieces. When you’re not using it you just fold things up and it’s out of your way. Rockler definitely has it figured out.
Creston Wood Two-Tone Router Cabinet
This cabinet looks pretty great too and also offers you some great space to store everything. It also has an open window in the center so you can see your system working. It’s definitely stylish looking and it has everything you need for your next project even without the storage space. You’ll be putting a bit of work into it, but it’s definitely worth it from Creston Wood.
Fine Woodworking Stow Away Table
What’s really great about this router table from Fine Woodworking is that you’re going to spend very little money on it and you’ll be able to create a table that really works well. It’s also fully adjustable in the legs so you can work on uneven floors or you can stow the table away when you’re not using it because it can be made smaller. It does require you to have a sturdy surface to attach to, but overall, this is a simple-to-build and simple-to-use router for anyone.
Family Handyman Router Table and Cabinet
This option from Family Handyman is somewhat of a combination of things. It does have a cabinet to store things, but that cabinet isn’t as fancy as some others. It’s mainly built as a good quality table that will help you get your next project done and will store a few of the extra things that you need to have around for that project. It’s simple to put together, though it is going to be a semi-permanent option rather than a foldable or stowaway one. So, make sure you take a look at where you’re going to put it.
Family Handyman Upcycled Router Table
If you don’t need a full cabinet and system to support your router table you may want to take a look at this option. It’s a way of upcycling your old kitchen countertop to create a router table that is ideal for any project but also easy to store away. After all, it’s only the table top and not the full table, so you can hang it up when you’re not using it and get it back whenever you’re ready. Built by Family Handyman, this is another option to consider for your workshop.
No matter what you’re planning to do with your router table you want to make sure that you have all the pieces you’re going to need and that it’s going to do everything you want. Keep in mind that you can use these tables for a range of different features, so you want it capable of more than just what you’re planning this time around. Keep in mind the time and energy that you want to put into the table and then make sure that you’re really ready to get started. A good router table should last you a long time, so don’t skimp too much on the quality of your pieces or your work.