If so, do you obtain good results? Can you comment on ease of use? I am going to woodworking show in Wisconsin this weekend and am thinking of purchasing this type of router system to save on space in my shop. Any comments regarding experience on such will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance....Roger
I've got a HEAVY NuCraft router table that fits like a table saw extension on my saw. I use my Vega fence and miter bars for both the table saw and the router. I also use the same on/off switch. I highly recommend this set up.
Yep, I have one attached to the left cast iron wing of my Ridgid TS2424 saw. It was recommended that I use the router table in lieu of the left wing but I thought the wing was stout enought to support it so I just drilled some holes and bolted it to the left side of the wing rather than the saw itself. It works fine and it gives me a much bigger area on the left side of the saw if I leave the router fence off and crank the router down low. I've got a Porter Cable
7513 router in it with a Mast - R- Lift and it's as stout a combination as you could ask for.
No regrets. I bought mine at Woodcraft for around $300 (IIRC) a year or two ago.
Pros: Saves space Can use TS fence for router, if your fence is double sided TS is heavy, so things stay in place and vibrations are absorbed
Cons: Bit is sometimes in way when you need the real estate for TS use If the setup doesn't have a box around the router, it's not as clean as a well designed router table Router is in the way, after being painstakingly adjusted, when you need the space for sawing Router is in the way, after being painstakingly adjusted, when you need the space for sawing Router is in the way, after being painstakingly adjusted, when you need the space for sawing Router is in the way, after being painstakingly adjusted, when you need the space for sawing Router is in the way, after being painstakingly adjusted, when you need the space for sawing Router is in the way, after being painstakingly adjusted, when you need the space for sawing
If you can't swing the space or cash for a rudimentary, shop built table, it's a good solution. I wouldn't spend cash on a fancy version, because you'll want a standalone version eventually.
I have two, a Bosch (discontinued) that works well and allows me to remove the router in moments (thus it's not in the road). I also milled the cast iron extension to allow a plexi dropin mount. I can take that out and put in a blanking plug. I would do either (or both) again. Both allows me to have two setups ready
I have one I built as a torsion box to replace the left wing on the tablesaw. I've used it for several years and it works well for me. But I have a small shop and really didn't have room for a separate router table. Certainly not one with the table surface I have now.
I made a screw-on fence that attaches to the saws rip fence. But a lot of times I just clamp a straight board to the table or use a piloted bit. So the advantage of being able to use the rip fence isn't as great as some would have you believe.
On the whole I think it's definitely the way to go in a small shop.
This is a case of 1/32" in one of three planes possibly being a big deal. I'm often working on several things at once, so it's difficult to not need one machine or the other, even though one is set up for something.
I'm all ears if something is out there that'll truly solve the problem.
====================== Without reading the comments of the other replies you have received Let me throw in my 2 cents worth ....
I mounted a router in the wing of a Table saw years ago and to be honest it did work... but I made room in my shop for a dedicated router table after a few years... Main reason was that it was way too low to work comfortably with for any but the shortest sessions... you say it was a pain in the Back...
I still have a router mounted in it but very very rarely use it only because my regular table (bench dog) is set at a comfortable height plus is just so much more Flexible ..
In short I made the room... and I am very glad I did...
Plus if you use your tablesaw as a table or assembly area you can not get to the router... Sounds funny but you would be surprised at the number of times I had to "clean off " the tablesaw to use the router...
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