If I can't overcome my leaf being perfectly flush, I may be investing in a dedicated router table with an adjustable router plate. When making our showroom bookcases/fireplace, I had some inconsistencies with my face frame because of the slightly tweaked plate. I just don't want to have one more thing/tool that I need to make room for. That's what you'll find with this hobby! There are tools for literally every aspect of woodworking and what guy doesn't like tools???
What is the mounting plate material? I have seen aluminum (tends to be extremely flat, phenolic (comes in totally flat and crowned but I have no idea why anyone would want it to be crowned), masonite or plywood for a low cost alternative. In any case, cutting the opening flush isn't really a big deal- if it's too shallow, it will obviously be a problem, but too deep doesn't matter as long as there's enough material below to support everything.
If it's not flush and the surface IS very flat, drill a hole on the long sides, roughly 2" from the corners and if the material is hard enough to tap the hole, get some set screws that accept an Allen wrench. If the material isn't strong enough to tap and it's more than 1/4" thick, use threaded inserts so the screws won't booger up the hole. The result is a mounting plate that can be made flush and is supported at all four corners. If you want to keep the wood from catching on the edges, bevel them a bit.
Here's Norm, making a router table- if you laminate the top, don't use cardboard strips like he did- it's easy to get small pieces stuck to the cement and the lumps will be there forever. I use PVC pipe because it's clean. PEX or metal conduit would work just as well.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
unreal how nice of router it is. the ratcheting collet function, the micrometer adjustment (this is insanely nice for doing finish passes) and the accessories makes it a clear winner.
While this is from a fanboy, a MICROMETER adjustment really is a great adjustment to have!
I'd add another place for research: check out Rockler Woodworking and Hardware. This is the most insanely professional-looking woordworking place that's still just a store. The equipment, the doodads they have, exceed what anyone at Home Despot or Lowely's might be able to imagine. My local one is staffed by a retired aerospace engineer who loves the high quality of both the tools and the custom stock pieces they have.
Check this page [Link: rockler.com] for some of the ideas that have come from Rockler.
They carry 37 SKUs of routers, accessories, and kits from Porter Cable, DeWalt, Bosch, Portamate, and Triton. Note that you can't get tools from Ryobi or Black & Decker there; that's a recommendation in itself! (Fein comes up when you search for Ryobi and B&D has five SKUs, three of them sanding belts.)
Unfortunately, the closest one to you is in Orlando, so more than a three hour drive, but their website and a phone call should be a help.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Yeah I've known of rockler for a while and have bought some parts here and there. Didn't know they were a real store. Just thought it was online. I have to go and find some local stores so I can go and waste time.
Yeah I've known of rockler for a while and have bought some parts here and there. Didn't know they were a real store. Just thought it was online. I have to go and find some local stores so I can go and waste time.
We have done some work at their corporate office as well as bidding some work at one of their local locations. A thought seriously crossed my mind to ask if they want to do some trading! LOL The place is dangerous!
"Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!"
I recently picked up a Porter Cable 690 and like it a lot. As I'm new to the game, I didn't want to drop a crap ton of money on the best router. I picked up a 2nd fixed base as well as the plunge base. I affixed one of the bases to a custom drop-in leaf that fits into my extension on my table saw. The only thing I'm a little disappointed in is the difficulty to get the leaf to sit completely flush on all 4 sides of the table saw but it's still a work in progress. This is mainly due to the table saw not being completely level with the table fully extended. I also created a custom fence that attaches to the table saw fence. It works pretty slick!
If I can't overcome my leaf being perfectly flush, I may be investing in a dedicated router table with an adjustable router plate. When making our showroom bookcases/fireplace, I had some inconsistencies with my face frame because of the slightly tweaked plate. I just don't want to have one more thing/tool that I need to make room for. That's what you'll find with this hobby! There are tools for literally every aspect of woodworking and what guy doesn't like tools???
Even though our office kitchen/living room cabinets took a crap ton of hours, I guessed I saved roughly $30k as I got an estimate for the kitchen at $23k. The total investment with additional clamps/tools/etc. was only $5k. A labor value is not figured in that total.
Honestly, I wouldn't over think it. Pick up the recommended Bosch or the Porter Cable 690. Either way, enjoy the new hobby!
I'm redoing my fireplace and making book cases at my house. I used my dads old router table multi purpose thing but you find it takes far longer to adjust and set up Making face frames take forever to get right. The thing with this hobby is as you get more detailed and experienced the more precision you have to have. It's a very very expensive hobby to get into and a very slippery slope.
For my cabinets I'm doing a beaded face frame which requires a ton of precision and special jigs. I finally bit the bullet and am making a router table cabinet with a real table and router lift. Here is what I ordered. I justified it because I'm going to be making our kitchen cabinets as well and I LOVE the beaded face frame look. I can't wait to finish the setup. I'm looking forward to making my own moldings as well. I can't wait to have a real router set up! :)
Here are a couple of pics from our showroom cabinet. It is my first major woodworking project and I'm happy with the results. I LOVE bead faced cabinets and would have made the attempt but I was short on time and being it was my first bookcase/cabinet I didn't need to knock it out of the park. Plus it's our showroom and people aren't there to see the cabinets.
FYI, that picture on the mantel was a joke. The George Kastanza picture is the real "art" going on the fireplace...
"Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!"
Very Nice! well done, especially for being your first time!
Besides its a showroom, and you dont want to put to much work into them! are you doing a TV above there?
We were going to but decided to only have art above. We already have a motorized screen that drops down in front of the mantel and we decided to first put a TV and Sonos Playbar in our "game area." Maybe down the road we will.
"Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!"
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
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