Easy to build router table

23 February 2023 Stan

Synopsis: Designed for a compact router, this small router table will also suit midsize models. Its open design allows for easy clamping to a work surface and easy adjustments to the bit height and removal of the motor. It’s designed so you can customize it to suit your router, your workspace, and your work. The top is melamine for a smooth surface, and the split fence is laminated to keep it stable.

This router table was born because I was sick of devising ad hoc ways of securing my compact router upside down when I wanted to do some quick roundovers on small pieces. A big router table isn’t part of my workflow, but I became sold on the benefits of a small one without all the fancy bells and whistles. So I designed this one, which requires a small amount of materials and doesn’t take much time to build. Although I made it for my compact router, it will also suit midsize models.

I designed this router table so the sides are solid but the front and back are open. The lower stretchers provide an easy way to clamp the table to a work surface. The open area is sized so I can easily change the bit height or remove the motor from the base; if you’ll use a different router than the one I use, measure yours and adjust the dimensions. Similarly, if you tend to work with larger workpieces or sled-style jigs, you may want to increase the size of the top or the width of the stretchers. Part of the beauty of this design is its adaptability. All the parts go together quickly with screws.

I recommend making the top from melamine for friction-free routing. Plus, its white surface clearly shows pencil lines, which are also easily erased. Just be sure to ease the edges to reduce the risk of those horrible melamine cuts and splinters.

Simple open base

locating holes for table stretcher — **Use the stretcher’s predrilled holes to mark the side, then drill.** Locate these holes in the stretchers so they fall in the center of the side’s thickness. The upper stretchers should also be drilled now for screws that will secure the top later.

drilling holes in side of table for stretcher — **Assemble the base.** Having the sides predrilled makes it easy to align the stretchers and lightly hold them in place while you drive screws. As you assemble, make sure the stretchers are flush with the top and bottom ends of the sides.

An upgraded top

Although the top could be just a board with a hole drilled in it for the bit and a clamped-on fence, I improved mine with removable inserts for the bit opening and special hardware for a sliding fence.

marking router base on table top — **Use the router’s fixed base to mark the top for mounting screws.** Huff places the center of the base roughly one-third the distance from the back edge of the top and centered along the length. If possible, orient the router so the on/off switch faces the front and the power cord goes out the back. If your router’s mounting holes are asymmetrically arrayed, mark them on the top’s bottom face, then transfer those locations to the top by drilling small through-holes.

Begin by locating the router base. I trace the base’s mounting holes onto the top before counterboring and drilling for the screws. If your base’s hole pattern is symmetrical, you can mark these locations on the top face of the tabletop. If the pattern’s not symmetrical, mark the bottom face (since that’s where you’ll mount the router), then drill small through-holes from the bottom to the top. Use these holes to locate your Forstner bit as you counterbore for the screws.

drilling holes for mounting screws on router table — **Drill holes and counterbores for the mounting screws.** Drill counterbores deep enough that the screw heads sit below the tabletop. With a twist bit, finish with through-holes, using the dimple left by the Forstner bit to line up your bit.

routing dovetail slots on table top — **Use a straight bit and fence to remove most of the waste for the dovetail slots.** Clearing most of the waste with a straight bit minimizes wear on your dovetail bit and router motor. Huff routs both slots by pushing forward and with the fence to her right, using the bit’s rotation to help keep the fence tight to the board. This requires plunging in at the start of one slot.

finished dovetail slot in router table top — **Dovetail slot fits Matchfit hardware.** Another reason to excavate the waste with a straight bit is to make the dovetail cuts easier to control. In one of the cuts you’ll be routing with the bit’s rotation, which will encourage the bit to wander. You minimize this risk by minimizing the material to remove.

The next step is to create the opening for the bit. Before drilling a through-hole big enough to fit your largest bit, drill a large counterbore to accept the ring-shaped inserts. The inserts shrink the opening when you’re using smaller bits, improving both safety and usability. I make the counterbore’s diameter 1/4 in. larger than the through-hole will be. Since the inserts need to be flush with the top, drill the counterbore precisely to the thickness of your insert stock. Be finicky here. Then cut the through-hole.

drilling a stepped hole for router bits — **Drill stepped holes for your inserts and biggest bit.** First, drill a counterbore so the inserts sit precisely flush with the top. Then drill a through-hole to fit your biggest bit. Center these holes within the router base area.

Create the blanks for the inserts. This is ideally done with a hole saw or fly cutter, but cutting at the bandsaw and sanding to fit works in a pinch. Huff uses 1/4-in. melamine for insert stock.

drilling out the middle of an insert blank

Drill out the middle of the insert blanks to suit your router bits. Use the hole from the previous step to center the drill bit. These blanks are small, so Huff uses a hand screw to hold them both securely and safely.

finished insert blank on the router table

Inserts must fit snugly and flush. If the inserts are undersize, they’ll dangerously move around during a cut. If they sit above or below the table’s surface, they’ll interfere with the cut.

For the inserts themselves, I create disks using 1/4-in. melamine or MDF. You want them to fit snugly. Once they fit, drill holes through their centers sized to suit your collection of router bits.

I used to just clamp the fence to the top, but I’ve upgraded to MicroJig’s Matchfit hardware. It works similarly to T-track, but instead of track, it uses dovetail slots you rout into the top and dovetail-shaped nuts that slide in the slots. The depth of the slots must be precise, so home in on your cut in a scrap before routing the top.

screwing the router table base to the top — **Screw the base to the top.** With the top and base done, it’s time to secure them together. Four screws in each upper stretcher keep the top tight to the base and ensure a rigid structure.

Laminated fence with dust collection

The fence is simple but considered. To start, I laminate two long pieces of 3/4-in. plywood, which I prefer because solid wood can warp. Laminating them makes the fence beefier and gives it more reference surface on the bottom, helping it stay square to the tabletop. The fence’s bottom edge needs to be straight and square.

cutting router table fence into sections — **Cut the laminated fence blank into sections.** Make three sections for a split fence, two longer ones for the bearing surface, and a shorter one for dust collection and bit clearance.

drilling hole of dust collection in router table fence — **Drill the short section for dust collection.** Choose a bit that allows for a snug fit with your vacuum hose or hose adapter. Place the hole high enough from the bottom edge that the hose or adapter doesn’t catch on the router table’s top.

screwing router table fence together — **Assemble the fence so the bottom edge is flush.** While gluing and screwing the short section to the longer ones, Huff presses all three tight to a flat surface, ensuring the assembly remains true along its bottom edge.

After the glue dries, crosscut the laminated blank into two long pieces and a short one. Screw the short piece to the longer pieces to create the break in the fence for router bits. Use your widest bit to determine that opening.

adding cleats to router table fence — **Add cleats with Matchfit hardware.** To work properly, the cleats must be positioned accurately. To locate one, install the dovetailed nut, insert it in the slot, and press the cleat to the fence. Mark the screw locations with an awl. Then drill the fence and mount the cleat.

MATCHFIT Dovetail Hardware Variety Pack – 12 Piece

Create jigs and shop fixtures with the versatile MICROJIG® MATCHFIT Dovetail Hardware. Now it is possible to rout your own tracks, eliminating the need for an aluminum T-Track. This hardware moves through the dovetail tracks below the surface, allowing you to create a variety of jigs that move freely and tighten down anywhere you can rout a groove. Create your own fences, stops, hold-downs, and assembly fixtures.

Price: $13.99 at the time of writing

The cleats for the Matchfit hardware need to line up exactly with the slots on the table. To ensure that they do, first clamp the fence to the table. Install the hardware in the cleats, insert the dovetail nuts in their slots, and slide the cleats up the fence. Then mark their locations on the fence.

As a final step, I wax the fence’s front face so workpieces slide smoothly. Then I rout away.