I am looking to purchase a new router table. I have been doing a little research and I would like some feedback on brands and modles to look at and to avoid. I would like to get set up for raised panel doors.
I really like the Jessem tables but they are a little steep I would like to keep the table and necssary attachemts under $600.00-$700.00 without the router.
Thanks
Trejos
Trevor
“Ya know they crucified the last perfect carpenter.”
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Replies
I have the Bench Dog that I'm very happy with, just curious if you considered whether you're really going to need a shaper for those doors?
PaulB
Well I guess I am not sure of all the other options. I know that I want to be able to make raised panel doors with cope and stick. I know that it is possible to make the panels on the table saw but it seams like a router table would be ideal.
I have built many kitchen cabinet but I always go to a guy that specializes in doors and drawer for my raised panels.
I am looking for a table that can hold either a 1 3/4hp or 3hp router. I thought that a shaper was larger, fixed version of the same thing.
I am putting some cabinets in a house that I just purchased and I thought I should perfect it on my own dime. I would prefer not to have a bench top version I am leaning towards a standing model. Trevor
"Ya know they crucified the last perfect carpenter."
Have you thought about building one? New Yankee Workshop with ole' Norm has a fine azz table set-up. Easy read plans and material list. I mounted a Yellow 3+ HP plunge router which is easy to adjust and has ample power for the raised panels that I have done. Has built-in drawers for accessories and bits. Can even plug the ole' shop vac into the back for dust removal. There isn't anything that I would change, he seems to have hit it on the head on functionality. Even the fence is top notch.
Here is the link. http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct3.cgi?0301
Semper Fi
Edited 1/6/2006 2:13 am ET by Jarhead
A dedicated router table seems to be one of those unhappy-medium, worst of both worlds type things.
If you have enough work for it to be worth the shop space, better to go whole hog and get a real shaper.
For light duty and infrequent use, put one of those drop-in plates in the side extension of the table saw. That way you can use the existing table saw fence with the router. That's what I did.
-- J.S.
FWW latest "Tools & Shops Annual" has a review of router tables. Besides the JessEm they liked: Hart Model 46603C ($330), Bench Dog Model 40-037($380), and the Grizzly Model G0528 ($335).
The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.
- Fyodor Dostoyevski
I went down that road.... Didn't really want a bulky peice of equipment but finally gave in and bought a shaper that would also take router bits.... shortly later I sold the benchtop and upright router tables.... kept the routers though.
$899.00$799.991 Used & new from $799.99
Usually ships in 24 hours
this little wonder has served me well... It is not as fancy as the bigger shapers but with a little tweaking it is VERY accurate and will easily raise pannels safely.
james
I have routers. I have router tables. I have multiple routers from the little 1/4 hp trimmers to the 3 1/2hp 19 lb monstrosities. I have a shaper. I wouldn't even attempt raised panels now on a router table unless it was a quantity of one. For what you're talking, and despite all their great attributes, cutting RPs on a router table is like trying to catch lion with a rabbit snare.
"A bore is a man who, when you ask him how he is, tells you." -Bert Taylor
cutting RPs on a router table is like trying to catch lion with a rabbit snare.
I'd have to disagree,
I raised about 35 panels today on my router table, maybe took me 4 hours(and I'm stretching that time), two passes! I doubt you could have done them better with a shaper, maybe a bit quicker, not real sure about that either, but they wouldn't have came out any better.
I know this because I have a shaper as well, but the profile of the panel was such that I could only get it in a router bit and had no desire to spend the money to buy cutters that I'll probably never use again.
Doug
that is the joy of some shapers... they have a reverse function and collets that will allow you to run router bits in them.
i vote again for a shaper
james
some shapers...
That's right, "some"
You cant do everything on a shaper, if so get rid of all your routers and see how well you do with out them!
Just because you have a shaper and think its the best thing since sliced cheese doesn't mean everybody has a need for one.
I have both and both are equally valuable. couldn't operate with out either one.
Doug
Touch a nerve?
james
James
Touch a nerve?
No, that's not within your power to do so.
I disagree with you on the router table deal, but unlike you I'm not telling anybody to get rid of a tool because I don't think they need it.
I agree that spending all that money on a router table is foolish, you don't need a fancy lift for it, hell most times you have to take the router out of the table to change the bit anyhow.
I guess I'll continue to raise the panels the way that I have for 25 years, router table and shaper. Both produce good quality.
Doug
Doug,
after reading your post I went back and re read my previous posts to see where I may have told someone to get rid of their RT, couldn't find that post....
I will give a summary of my posts,
1st
something to the effect of me saying that i had tried RT's and table saws for profile/panel raising and was not happy. I bought a cheap shaper ( the one listed ) and liked it.... noted that it also took router bits and that with a little fussing it could be very accurate and also noted that it had ample power to raise panels . I then went on to say that i got rid of my router table(s) but kept the routers.
thats it for the first post... couldn't find anywhere where i said to pitch YOUR table etc..... just my opinion on a jet shaper that I am very happy with.
2nd
was a reply to you stating that you could run router bits in some shapers..... think of this as kind of a heads up to you so you don't have to have to buy a shaper knife if you are only going to run one door and you have a shaper that takes router bits.... so if you are in the market for a shaper this is a good option. I restated my opinion that shapers are good and that is the tool i would choose to use for the task being discussed by the OP
well that about sums up the second and again I cant find anywhere where I told anyone to pitch their table or stop using routers etc and buy a shaper because a shaper will do everything...... its just not in there.
3rd
this was a response to your previous post where your comments seemed a little overblown.... I don't know who you were pizzed at but i still cant figure out the tone of your post...
obviously this is not the post where I recommend pitching your tables.
4th
posted right after the third.... I was just a little miffed at the tone of your post... (and a bit confused) so i tried to clarify myself....
again talked about me letting the tables go but keeping the routers, gave MY opinion on which is the better tool for raising... again stated that it was MY OPINION and also stated that if you like something else better... then good for you
I plugged shapers that use router bits again, again stated my opinion on raising panels, talked a little about other routers I have and some uses for them.
well nothing in there about pitching your table or routers.... just some info and my opinion.
so what is your problem with someone giving their opinion... what makes you the expert on work practices.. I think its great that you have been in the biz for over 25 years and have almost 5000 posts.........but I don't think that entitles you to put words in someone's mouth... you would think that after that many posts you would know how to read AND comprehend.
so just have a dandy day
james
Jarhead
-----Semper Fi-------
Recon Bn 1st MarDiv 8652Well I appreciate all the feed back. Looks like it got a little tense in here... Doug,Thanks for pointing out so eloquent and tactfully that I might want to reconsider my price range. That's the info that I came looking for. honestly though you made a good point about the router lift when it comes to bit change, useful info for making my decision.ThanksIt sound like a shaper that excepts router bits would be ideal if I am going to designate a portion of shop floor for it anyway. It may take a little time to recoup the investment but I would like to purchase the right tool the first time. I have the floor space and some spare cash burning a hole in my pocket. If I am going to be foolish and spend a lot of money I want to get it right. If I can get away with less, then so be it but if it makes sense to upgrade and get a more versatile tool then from what I have read so far that makes sense to me.I would still like to hear more on the models of router tables and shapers that people out there own pro/con or other opinions on Shaper -V-Router Table.Thanks to all,
Keep-'em coming,Trevor
"Ya know they crucified the last perfect carpenter."
I'll bet I tossed your azz out of many a good KC-130 at Pendleton!!
Semper Fi
James
Your putting way to much thought into my comments!
I have an old Crescent(sp?) shaper, it works great. But, it doesn't have the ability to take router bits, and I see no reason that I need a shaper that would.
I only pointed out that when RW said that raising a panel on a router table was tantamount to trying to catch a lion with a rabbit snare was an inaccurate analogy/statement.
I'm sure that I've raised somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 plus panels with a router table and got good results. I've ran a boat load more with a shaper and also got good results.
You know there is more then one way to skin a cat, or so I've been told!
I don't know if I took your words out of context or not, certainly wasn't my intent. Just trying to shed a little more light on what seamed to me to be a one sided argument for a particular practice.
Oh, BTW, 5000 posts doesn't really help with my ability to comprehend, the ADD/Dyslexia is a real pain sometimes!
Having a dandy day, thanks
Doug
Doug,
I probably did read too far into your posts... oops, sorry.... my skin is pretty thin lately all cooped up inside with a summers worth of work to do this winter due to job "expansions"... you know the " while you are here " and.... wouldn't this bathroom look better with raised panel wainscott and a coffered ceiling and plaster freeze and " do you know an artist who could stencle the walls and gold leafe this wonderfull cornice you did etc... now I'm out putting decks together and doing siding in the rain , but only after waiting out the rain for the tearoff etc :(.
sorry if it got a little thick.
james
James
No need for an apology, most times my sarcasm only makes sense to me, and sometimes not even that!
Drinks are on me tonight, have all you can stand.
Later
Doug
I'm with Jarhead, build your own.It's not hard, it gives you a chance to build your skills, and you won't feel so bad the first time you start altering it to suite your current needs.Here are some pics of the one I built, based on Norm's design.Dan019
You did read my privious post where i said i let go the table but kept the routers..... There is the right tool for a job and one that will work, panel raising ( IMHO ) is a job best done on a shaper.... but whatever floats your boat.
I was just pointing out to the OP that for the money he was ready to lay down he could pick up a shaper that would use router bits... Got nothing against routers, I have many.... Keeping some set up as dedicated use items works well for me ( like one for the DT jig ) but I wouldn't use one to raise a panel.... thats what the shaper is for. ( at least in my shop )
james
This is mine. Its the "Rock solid" great slideing table that you can do alot of different things with. Id get it with out the fence and make your own. Thats what I did. i love it. Add a 3 1/4 hp router and your in business.
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/routabl2.html#precision_table_anchor
,
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
trever,
sorry to jack your thred, see above post
Semper FI to you from an ex navy corpsman.
james