A router table is an essential tool for any carpentry workshop. Router tables provide a stable setup on which to mount your portable router, allowing for greater control of the work piece for increased safety, speed, and ease of use.
A router table can be used to route or cut grooves and decorative elements in the surface of a piece of wood. They can also be used for many different projects such as molding production and straight edge planning. It also allows for safer freehand shaping and the creation of more complex designs… Making innovative woodworking projects a breeze!
Choose a flat, rigid table surface
For perfect cuts and layouts, you should check to see if the router table you are buying has a flat, rigid surface. This means that you need to get a flat table that is rigid because it will withstand the pressure that is put on it when you are working. A router table that is not flat will see you make jagged edge profiles that may not be attractive. On the other hand, a rigid table will prevent you from making inaccurate cuts. The table you buy should be able to support the weight of the router.
To make sure you make perfect cuts, you will be asked to keep the wood pressed against the fence as you feed it a little. Therefore, you will need to look for a router table with a fence that is positionable and accurate. There are two types of fences: the one-piece fence and the two-piece fence.
You will choose a particular fence based on the type of needs you have. You can also consider the reviews that the router has received from previous consumers. Choose a router that has received good ratings and has few complaints.
Best Router Tables
The following are some of the best router tables from known tool manufacturers. Read on to choose a model that is appropriate for your tasks.
What is a wood router?
In its simplest form, a wood router consists of a motor, a housing, and a wood-cutting bit. That is really. Motor size will vary from 1/2 to 3 hp or larger, and housing style will vary (fixed or plunge base). But ultimately, it’s nothing more than a motor with a sharp, spinning thing sticking out of the bottom.
By the way: in this case, bigger is not always better. A big, unwieldy router with a huge motor can make your life more difficult, especially if you do smaller, more delicate work. More on that later.