Minimalist Router Table a Project Plan for Building a Basic Router Table

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Minimalist Router Table A project plan for building a basic router table

Build an Oak Bookcase From Getting Started in Woodworking, Season 2 Enjoy our entire site Simple, Sturdy Workbench BY ASA CHRISTIA N A ou can thank Mike Pekovich, Fine Woodworking’s art direc- For more FREE A N A From Getting Startedtor, for designing in Woodworking,this simple but Season 2 Y A CHRISTI stylish bookcase. He took a straightforA - Simple, Sturdy Workbench BY A N AS ward form--an oak bookcase with dado and rabbet joints--and added nice pro- A CHRISTILIST From Getting Startedportions in and Woodworking, elegant curves. Season 2LIES BY AS D SUPP We agreed that screws would reinforceDWARE ANLIST MBER, HARLIES the joints nicely, andLU that gave us a deD - SUPP 8-ft.-long 2x4s, kiln-dried be FREE for 14 days! inexpensivesign option on the sides.4 DWARE Choose oak AN plugs, and align the grain carefully, and n be versatile MBER, 2HAR 8-ft.-longln-dried 4x4s, kiln-dried his workbench is easy and the plugsLU disappear. Make them from a ½ in. longide. byFront 3 ¾in. jaw in. wide. cathick. Front jaw can The base is 4 8-ft.-long1 2x4s,4x8 ln-dried kisheet of MDF by 6 in. long to build, yet is sturdy and contrasting wood, like walnut, and the ¾ in. thick. long T 8-ft.-long2 4x4s,Hardwood ki pieces ½for in. vise longthick jaws, by and 3 7 in.the w rear jaw is rows of plugs2 add a nice design feature ear -in.-thickjaw is plywood, 4 in. wide project plans from 4s and 2x4s), joined between 1 in. and 1 ¾ 4 in. wide by 6 in. enough for any woodworker. to the broad1 sides,4x8 sheethinting of atces MDFthe for con vise- jaws, 7 hort dowels. The ½ in. thick and the r his workbenchconstruction is easy lumber and inexpensive (4x 1 Filler 1block for mounting¾-in.-thick vise, plywood, struction in a2 subtleHardwood way. pie edium-density orking Vise aft.com)(www.woodcraft.com) to build,simply yet is sturdywith long and bolts versatile and s By design the betweenbookcase1 1 containsbottlein. andunting of a yellow vise, glue 450+ videos, 33-year archive, T sheet,number with of fundamental lessons for g Vise (www.woodcr top is two layers of MDF (m 1 Filler block1 7-in. for glue moGroz Rapid-Action⁄ -in.-dia. threadedWoodw rod enough for any woodworker. The base is would-be furniture-makers, and like the andy shelf. bottle of yellow6-ft. lengthstion Woodworkin of ed rod constructionfiberboard), lumber (4x4s cut andfrom 2x4s), a single joinedother projects 1in this video4 series, the this bench 7-in. Groz Rapid-Ac⁄ -in.⁄ -in.-dia.washers thread e simply withenough long bolts left and over short to makedowels. a Thehwhole thing can-1 be built with16 just a few ching front jaw of vise portable power tools:6-ft. a circularlengths⁄ saw,-in. of nutsa g fronthing jaw rear of vis jaw The only tools needed to saw,make and a hand 4 16 -20 bolts, nuts, washers for atta top is two layers of MDF (medium-density -in. washers ¼ ar jaw drill, and a router ⁄ 2 2-in.-long . 16 ¼-20washers flathead for screws attachin for natingattac benchtop fiberboard),are cut a fromdrill/driver, a single a sheet,circular with The- shelves attach to⁄ -in. the nuts sides with-in.-long, small cast-16 2 1½-20 bolts, nuts, ws for attachingting benchtopre for attaching vise simple dadoes, and the back and¼ back- -in.-long drywall screws for lami enough leftheld over router to make or a router a handy table shelf. 2-in.-long ¼ attaching vise 2 1 Box¼ -20of 1flathead scre blogs, and more Fine Woodworking splash drop into rabbets. Screws rein- -in.-longlLUMBER screws lag for AND screwslamina HARDWARE and washers, LIST The only tools needed to make this benchh is an essential ½ There is room at one end for a 1½-in.-long,⁄ -in.-dia., 2 and washers, for force the dado joints2 and also attach4 ¼-in.-long the drywal are a drill/driver,iron woodworking a circular saw,vise, andwhic op.a hand The vise is PART longQTY SIZE MATERIAL lower stretcher, and 1woodBox plugs of16 1 coverS-clip-type½-in.-long tabletop lag screws fasteners denthe screwjaws, holes. and the Smaller ⁄wood-in.-dia., screws 2 top fasteners held routertool or ina routerany woodworking table. sh 4 16 ⁄ -in.-dia. dowels, roughly 3 in. are used to attach the plywood back. SIDES There isfitted room with at onenon-marring end for a woo smalldog cast- holes, sized S-clip-type table oughly 3 in. long Curves add life to rectangular16 pieces nch accessories. ⁄ -in.-dia. dowels, r iron woodworkingjaws and vise,benchtop which receive is an essential of furniture, and Pekovich16 worked in SHELVES tool in anyto woodworkingfit a variety of shop. handy The be visethree istypes, each irregular and organic 62 in. (as opposed to radius curves that can fitted with non-marring wooden jaws, and the1½ in. 4 in. seem mechanical). At the top are gen- BACK 62SPL in.ASH 4 in. jaws and benchtop receive dog holes,tle curves sized that speed up as they move in. to fit a variety of handy bench accessories.forward, each taken from a section of 3 ⁄ 24 in. ½ in. ARCHED 3 ⁄ in. 1 ⁄ in. a French1 curve. At the bottom are two 1 ⁄ in. STRETCHER  long curves formed with a flexible wood click here now batten, one extending end to end on the try it now 24 in. lower stretcher,2 ⁄ in. and the other a short BACK ⁄ in.33⁄ in. Long stretchers 33 graceful arch at the bottom of the sides, in. 10 in. 1 ⁄ 1 ⁄ in. ending at a straight step at each end to SCREWSLong FO stretchersR 1 ⁄ in. in. suggest2 ⁄legs. SHELVES 10 in. Sidein. 1 ⁄stretchers--Asa Christiana, editor, Fine Woodworking SCREWS FOR BACK 9 ⁄ in. 9 ⁄ in. Side stretchers VIDEOS

41 in. 9 in. 9 ⁄ in. 41 in. 1 ⁄ in. 48 in. 9 in. 48 in. to finish. 9 ⁄ in. 17 in. 1 ⁄ in. how to build this workbench from start Startto watch a two-part video detailing how to build this workbench from start to finish. 3½ in.17 in. FineWoodworking.com/ to watch a two-part video detailing Visit us online at Start VIDE OS oodworking.com/ FineW 3½ in. Visit us online at VIDE OS Tall fence Workbench C-clamp Table

Straight fence C-clamp Straight fence

Fence- Plastic insert, Fence-pivot knob pivot knob screwed to table

Hand-screw clamps attach table to the bench.

Table

Recess for plastic insert Minimalist router table

Bolt Router mounts to the This uncomplicated table bottom with router table is at the machine screws. other end of the scale from those ultimate router tables replete with bells and whistles. It is just a router mounted upside down on a piece of plywood. plastic insert to fit around the bit. Make movement at the bit, allowing for The simplicity of the Doug Stowe builds additional inserts as needed to provide adjustment in the thousandths of an design makes it far furniture in his a close fit around other bits in your inch. When the standard flat fence does more flexible than most Arkansas shop, and collection. Also, to prevent the insert not fit the application, I just make a router tables. You can teaches and writes from lifting when the router runs, screw new fence. I use a tall fence for making build it in about 20 about the craft. the insert to the table. Attach the router lock miters and making raised panels. minutes and add a to the table by running machine screws To use the table, simply clamp it to your simple fence in another 10. Addi-tional fences through the recess for the insert. workbench with wooden hand screws. are made easily for special purposes. The fence is simply a 1x4 that pivots When you’re done, just unclamp the To make the table, start with a piece of 3⁄4-in.- on one end and is clamped on the whole fixture and store it out of the way thick plywood about 2 ft. by 3 ft. Cut a hole other. A small movement at the clamp to save space. in the center of the table. Make and install a end provides very close and precise —Doug Stowe, Eureka Springs, Ark.