c2h6o wrote:Ed--thank you--yes that makes sense. If I were to build a new table to mount on the SS table and attach a functional fence do you think routing above the table is safe and doable. Done right that would give me greater flexibility then under the table routing I believe.
I have an over head router set up and enjoy using it. There are trade off when deciding which way to go, stuff can get strange when trying to reference edges and tops and bottoms. Things like simply doing an edge decoration often uses two reference surfaces, when switching from below the table to above the table one surface reference changes, this can effect the end results if board thickness is not uniform.
I think it might be more difficult to guard up the bit from above but certainly not impossible. I personally like to do big bits from below because I am more familiar with that process and my tables are set up to be able to do it safely without having to put much effort in to it.
The other issue is when the bit is above the workpiece you are in a situation where the table being below is somewhat like being between a rock and a hard place.... materially speaking.
Of course some people like to see what is happening and with the cut being from above that is the case, until you start putting guards in place at which time you loose some of that advantage. I'm comfortable, probably just in the habit, of working from the underside for a lot of the processes I do and would say 75% of it is from below with the remainder feeling more comfortable working from above.
The shopsmith with powerpro is getting to the point of being at near router speed but the machine itself has some issues such as the lack of a good way to control plunge cutting, fine quill adjustments and lack of way to lock the quill on a plunge cut to name a few. So far as I know I'm the only one who has address collars in any way or form, having some way to have adjustable inserts is really a safety issue but again shopsmith has not address these issues. You end up making your own router system if you want it to work safely and that is not every ones cup of tea. Well I'm most likely pretty far off topic now, sorry about that.
Ed
