Building a Wall-Mounted Router Table

8/10/2019 Building a Wall-Mounted Router Table

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Building a Wall-Mounted Router Table posted on October 1, 2008 by Chris Marshall22

Chris Marshall s space sa!ingrouter table is sure to be a hit "ith anyone "ithout #uch $loorspace in their "or%shop&

When #y "i$e and ' bought our $irst house, ' $inally had a place to set up a (real) shop& 't "as aone-car garage, stu$$ed "ith our car, trash cans, a #o"er and bicycles& *loor space "as socra#ped that there "as hardly roo# $or a bench, the table sa" and #e, let alone other stationarytools& +o, #y router table had to adapt to the space& 't a#ounted to a piece o$ countertop hingedto the "all, and it rested on a 2 brace& .ot #uch $or loo%s, but it "or%ed, and e/uallyi#portant, it $lipped up to stay o$$ that tiny $loor&
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/wall-mounted-router-table-2/http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/


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tended, this router table is $ull si ed, but ta%es up no #ore space than your a!erage "all cabinet, "ith no need $or a base&

' !e got a lot #ore $loor space no", but ' still hate to "aste it& +o, the pro3ect you see here is #yhigh-tech e!olution o$ that $irst router table &&& and this one is W45 better6 't $eatures a $ull-si e2 7 27 la#inated tabletop that rests on a pair o$ re#o!able support ar#s during use& When notneeded, it tips up and tuc%s into a cabinet that s 3ust 127 deep& !en your router and plate ha!e adedicated storage spot9 they slide into a pair o$ dadoes bet"een the shel$ di!iders& ' souped #ineup "ith *reud s +:-; *ence so ' d ha!e dust collection and #icro-ad3ust $eatures& 5ou couldeasily adapt any router $ence you ha!e, or build one instead& My $ence #ounts on T-trac%s, but

bolts run through long slots in the table or a series o$ holes "ould "or%, too& 5ou don t e!en ha!eto re#o!e the $ence to close the table up< 3ust slide it bac%, loc% it in place, and it tips right into acabinet cubby& ' bored a hole through the cabinet "all $or #y shop !ac hose and added an on=o$$s"itch "ith a plug $or #y router cord& '$ you li%e "hat you see, here s ho" to add this spacesa!er to your shop&

Starting with the Table

*or the Wall-Mounted Router Table >iagra# and Materials ?ist in @>* *or#at, clic% here&

The table s center area is a sand"ich o$ 1=27- and = 7-thic% M>* co!ered "ith plastic la#inate&To #a%e the core, cut the botto# Apiece 1 to si e, according to the Material ?ist di#ensions& Cutthe top core Apiece 2 about 1= 7 larger in both di#ensions, and glue the t"o pieces together&

sing a $lush-tri# bit "ith the bearing riding on the botto# core, tri# the top core to #atch it& .o", co!er both $aces "ith o!ersi ed pieces o$ plastic la#inate Apieces and rout the# $lush&
http://www.rockler.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Wall-Router-Table-Diagram-Materials-List.pdfhttp://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/stowed-away-router-table/http://www.rockler.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Wall-Router-Table-Diagram-Materials-List.pdf


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sing Roc%ler s installation te#plate, rubcollars, a spiral bit and pattern bit cut out the router plate&

There are a nu#ber o$ "ays to #a%e the router plate cutout in the tabletop& :ere s ho" ' did it9 '$i ed Roc%ler s plate installation te#plate to #y tabletop "ith double-$aced tape& Then, "ith a 17O&>& rub collar and a 1=27 upcut spiral bit installed in #y plunge router, ' routed do"n throughthe cutout area to re#o!e the center "aste piece& The o$$set bet"een the rub collar and bit "illalso create a 1= 7 lip $or supporting the router plate& +"itch to Roc%ler s piloted pattern bit tocreate the shallo" plate recess& Care$ully set the bit depth to #atch the thic%ness o$ the router

plate, and test the cut on a piece o$ scrap& Once the correct depth is dialed in, rout around theinside o$ the plate te#plate to $inish up the cutout&

The $ront, bac% and side edging Apieces through D gi!e the table a sturdy $inished edge, butthey also help sti$$en the M>* core and pro!ide a sturdier substrate $or securing the pi!ot bolts&Mill your edging pieces $ro# hard"ood stoc%, and attach the# to the core "ith pairs o$ E20

biscuits Apieces F , spaced e!enly around the core&

'nsert a pair in the 3oint bet"een the bac% and side edging to help rein$orce these 3oints& Radiusthe corners o$ the $ront edging on your band sa", sand these cur!es to re$ine the#, and glue andcla#p all the edging in place& When the glue dries, plane or sand the edging 3oints $lush and easethe sharp edges "ith a 1=87 roundo!er bit&
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/milling-router-table-plate/


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The author chose this $ence and T-trac% %it$ro# *reud to install, this gi!es you a precise, easy to use $ence ready to go on your table&

4t this stage, your table is nearly done, but you still ha!e a $e" tas%s le$t to do& Cut a 1=27-deep,17-"ide dado slot across the table $or the alu#inu# #iter trac% Apiece 8 , and scre" it in place&Then, $igure out ho" you ll #ount your router $ence& ' routed dado slots $or 107 lengths o$ T-trac%s, s/uared up the ends and #ounted the trac%s "ith scre"s&
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/mounting-freud-fence-kit/


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The holes $or the t"o lag scre"s "ere#ade "ith a do"eling 3ig, this %eeps the table centered and allo"s it to pi!ot bet"een sto"ed andin use&

*inish up table construction by boring 7-deep pilot holes $or the ;=1D7 7 lag scre"s Apieces1G that "ill ser!e as pi!ot (hinges&) ' used a do"eling 3ig to ensure that these holes "ould be

per$ectly s/uare and centered on the table s thic%ness& sing a 1= 7-dia#eter bit, drill the# 17 in$ro# the bac% edge o$ the table&

Assembling the Cabinet

*or the Wall-Mounted Router Table le!ations in @>* *or#at, clic% here&

.e t up $or asse#bly is the ply"ood cabinet& .otice that each cabinet co#ponent "ith a (sho")edge Apieces 10 through 1 , 1; and 1D "ill recei!e a strip o$ solid-"ood banding Apiece 1F tohide the plys& Cut these carcass parts to si e and apply the banding "ith glue and cla#ps&Care$ully rout, plane or sand the the banding $lush "ith the part $aces and ends&
http://www.rockler.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Wall-Mounted-Router-Table-Elevations.pdfhttp://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/table-pivoting-screw/http://www.rockler.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Wall-Mounted-Router-Table-Elevations.pdf


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@lo" your stopped and through dadoesusing a slotted router 3ig, using a 17 O&>& rub collar and a 2 = 2 ply"ood cutting bit&

Mill t"o 1= 7-deep dadoes in each cabinet side9 the top one is stopped to house the di!ider shel$,and the botto# dado runs across the $ull "idth o$ the sides to $it the support shel$& ' plo"ed thesedadoes using a shop-#ade, slotted 3ig that cla#ps in place and guides #y router and 17 O&>& rubcollar& 4n undersi ed, ply"ood-cutting straight bit $it #y ply"ood thic%ness per$ectly $or #illingthese dadoes& Once those dadoes are cut, step to your table sa" to cut 1=27-"ide, = 7-deeprabbets along the bac% inside edges o$ the side panels to $it the bac% panel a bit later&
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/plowing-router-table-dadoes/


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Bore a hole in the right side o$ yourcabinet to allo" you to insert the !acuu# hose, don t $orget to add a slot $or your po"er s"itchcord at this point also&

?ocate the big hole in the right side panel $or your shop !ac hose and the s#aller slot 3ust belo"it to $it the on=o$$ s"itch po"er cord $or your router& That "ay, you can %eep the cord in thecubby belo" the table $or easy access& Bore a ;=1D7-dia#eter hole in both side panels $or thetable pi!ot bolts&

't s $inally ti#e to bring the cabinet carcass together& +tart by gluing and brad-nailing t"o bracesApieces 1D to the side panels, 3ust belo" the support shel$ dadoes& +horten the right brace lengthto 10-1H27 $irst so it "ill clear the po"er cord cutout& Ilue and cla#p the subtop, di!ider andsupport shel!es and botto# panel bet"een the side panels, rein$orcing each o$ these 3oints "ithcounterbored $lathead "ood scre"s&
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/drilling-vacuum-hose-access/


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Chec% the spacing o$ your di!iders "ithyour router plate, you should be able to $it it in and out easily "ithout it catching&

5ou can also install the di!iders Apieces 1; a$ter #illing a dado along the inside $ace o$ each to$it your router plate& Ma%e these dadoes F=1D7 deep and ;=1D7 "ide& +lip the di!iders into

position, and dri!e scre"s do"n through the subtop and up through the di!ider shel$ to securethe#& With the di!iders done, prepare a piece o$ solid stoc% $or the top Apiece G and dri!ecounterbored scre"s up though the subtop to attach it&

Fitting the Support Arms
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/check-router-table-spacer-width/


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When installing your braces and supportar#s, use a $e" playing cards as spacers, this "ill ensure the clearance o$ the table e!en as the"ood e pands&

*ollo" the layout sho"n in the >ra"ings to #a%e the t"o cabinet support ar#s Apieces 18 $ro#17-thic%, di#ensionally stable stoc%& ase the part edges, and slide the ar#s into place in thecabinet ne t to the braces you !e already installed& They should $it "ith a bit o$ (gi!e) beneaththe support shel$& '$ you re building this pro3ect during the "inter, allo" a little #ore roo# byta%ing a $e" sha!ings o$$ the botto# edges o$ the support ar#s at the 3ointer& Once su##er rollsaround, the ar#s #ay e pand across the grain, and you don t "ant the# to $it too tightly at thatti#e&

5ou still ha!e t"o re#aining braces to install, "hich "ill co#plete the support ar# slots in thecabinet& 4gain, you ll "ant to pro!ide a bit o$ side-to-side clearspace bet"een the braces andsupport ar#s& ' inserted three playing cards on each side o$ the ar#s at both the $ront and bac%cabinet openings to act as spacers& +lide the inner braces into place, and attach the# to thesupport shel$ and botto# "ith counterbored scre"s&

Completing Construction
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/playing-card-installation-spacers/


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The hard "or% is nearly $inished on this 3ob6 4t this point, gi!e the cabinet a thorough sandingup through the grits to 180 "hile the bac% panel is still o$$& Cut a po"er s"itch #ounting plateApiece 21 $ro# spare solid stoc%, and attach it to the right side o$ the cabinet "ith counterboredscre"s& *asten the po"er s"itch to it& *eed the short ($e#ale) cord through the cord slot into the

botto# cubby area&

4t this point, you can cut and sand the bac% panel Apiece 1 and install it in its rabbets "ith glueand scre"s& *ill all the scre" counterbores "ith #atching plugs, and sand the# $lush& Wrap up

by applying a durable topcoat to the bare "ood sur$aces&

Installing the Project without Stress

Rather than doing your $inal installationon a table, #ount your carcass to a te#porary "all cleat and $it it as it "ill be used&

't #ight see# logical to #ount the table in the cabinet, then hang the "hole "or%s on the "all, but don t do it li%e this& The table 3ust adds "eight and gets in the "ay& :ere s ho" to go about it9$irst, deter#ine the "or%ing height you d li%e $or your table< about "aist high "or%s "ell $or #e&?ocate the t"o closest "all studs to your installation spot, and scre" a long cleat te#porarily to
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/mounting-with-wall-cleat/


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the# to support the cabinet botto#& >rill pilot holes $or $our ;=1D7 7 lag bolts through the bac% panel, spaced 1D7 apart& .o", tip the cabinet into position on the cleat, e tend the pilotholes into the "all studs, and sin% the lag scre"s and "ashers&

Once the table is #ounted on the "all toyour li%ing, dri!e the pi!ot scre"s through the holes you drilled earlier to co#plete theinstallation&

4ttach the table by resting it on the support ar#s and dri!ing the pi!ot bolts ho#e& nscre" thecleat& *inally, chisel a notch into the subtop edge so you can install the barrel bolt latch&
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/driving-pivot-screws/


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To %eep your router table upright and outo$ the "ay, install a barrel bolt notching your banding to recei!e the hard"are&

.o", pull up a shop stool right "here a big ol $loor-style router table "ould sit and ta%e a loado$$& When that second "ind hits, 3ust plun% your router into place and you ll be ready to gi!eyour ne" drop-do"n table a "or%out6
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/building-wall-mounted-router-table/installing-barrel-bolt/

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Building a Wall-Mounted Router Table