Offset Router tables...

Create a review for a woodworking tool that you are familiar with (Shopsmith brand or Non-Shopsmith) or just post your opinion on a specific tool. Head to head comparisons welcome too.

Moderator: admin

User avatar
pinkiewerewolf
Platinum Member
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:13 pm
Location: Ca. Eureka area.

Post by pinkiewerewolf »

fjimp wrote:I just today received the table and stand I purchased from Incra. Their support person suggested the offset table and a larger table than I was considering. His reasoning included the jig issue as well as additional stability of work work surface. I have often wished when using the shopsmith center table for more space to work with when routing. fjimp
I was wondering if that played into the decision to manufacture the offset tables.

Thanks so much for all the information. I am a true router table novice and it is much appreciated. Y'all are like an encyclopedia of knowledge, worth you weight in gold.

My local retailer had some Whiteside bits in boxes for sale, some up to 40% off.
I picked up 5 bits, so now I'm up to 6 so won't only be a free handed router user for much longer.:D
John, aka. Pinkie. 1-520, 1-510 & a Shorty, OPR. 520 upgrade, Band Saw, Jig Saw, scroll saw, Jointer, Jointech Saw Train.:) Delta Benchtop planer, Makita LS1016L 10" sliding compound miter saw, Trojan manf. (US Made)Miter saw work center, MiniMax MM16 bandsaw.
Squire of the Shopsmith. ...hmmmm, maybe knave, pawn, or wretch would be more appropriate for me.:D
User avatar
wlhayesmfs
Platinum Member
Posts: 667
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:50 am
Location: Broken Arrow OK

Post by wlhayesmfs »

I was lucky enough to be at a Wal-Mart when they closed a video store and threw out all the counters and drawers in a dumpster. So I bought them home to make cabinets in my shop. This was a piece of a counter that is 1 & 3/4" thick. I made it the same width as the SS table 22" and 18" long. There is plenty of room for any size router under it. Have not had a problem with a 2 HP I am using and it just pops out to change blades. Looking to make some improvements on it but use the SS fence with a scarifice board so far.
Thanks
Bill :)
Broken Arrow OK
MKV, 510, MKVll, 50th Anniversary 520 with Jointech saw train, Bandsaw, scroll saw, joiner, 6" Sander,Stand Alone Pin Router and Router Table, Strip Sander, Jigsaw & (4) ER's plus Jigsaw for ER. DC SS RAS
psargeant
Gold Member
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:37 am
Location: Anderson, CA

Post by psargeant »

[quote="wlhayesmfs"]I was lucky enough to be at a Wal-Mart when they closed a video store and threw out all the counters and drawers in a dumpster. So I bought them home to make cabinets in my shop. This was a piece of a counter that is 1 & 3/4" thick. I made it the same width as the SS table 22" and 18" long. There is plenty of room for any size router under it. Have not had a problem with a 2 HP I am using and it just pops out to change blades. Looking to make some improvements on it but use the SS fence with a scarifice board so far.


How did you attach the shopsmith table rails to your router table? I have been wanting to make a table just like you did but could never figure out a good way to attach the table rails.:confused:
User avatar
pinkiewerewolf
Platinum Member
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:13 pm
Location: Ca. Eureka area.

Post by pinkiewerewolf »

That is a great question psargeant.
I've been wondering the same thing when members mention attaching tables to the 520, or 510 models.
John, aka. Pinkie. 1-520, 1-510 & a Shorty, OPR. 520 upgrade, Band Saw, Jig Saw, scroll saw, Jointer, Jointech Saw Train.:) Delta Benchtop planer, Makita LS1016L 10" sliding compound miter saw, Trojan manf. (US Made)Miter saw work center, MiniMax MM16 bandsaw.
Squire of the Shopsmith. ...hmmmm, maybe knave, pawn, or wretch would be more appropriate for me.:D
User avatar
curiousgeorge
Platinum Member
Posts: 880
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:00 am
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Post by curiousgeorge »

pinkiewerewolf wrote:That is a great question psargeant.
I've been wondering the same thing when members mention attaching tables to the 520, or 510 models.
Simple. I bought an extra set of 520 (or 510) rails and attached them to the new table. ;)
George
Ft. Worth, TX.
Go TCU Froggies
User avatar
pinkiewerewolf
Platinum Member
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:13 pm
Location: Ca. Eureka area.

Post by pinkiewerewolf »

curiousgeorge, no prep to the table other than the rails? No edge added to make the attachment?
Do the rails come with the necessary pieces?
John, aka. Pinkie. 1-520, 1-510 & a Shorty, OPR. 520 upgrade, Band Saw, Jig Saw, scroll saw, Jointer, Jointech Saw Train.:) Delta Benchtop planer, Makita LS1016L 10" sliding compound miter saw, Trojan manf. (US Made)Miter saw work center, MiniMax MM16 bandsaw.
Squire of the Shopsmith. ...hmmmm, maybe knave, pawn, or wretch would be more appropriate for me.:D
User avatar
curiousgeorge
Platinum Member
Posts: 880
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:00 am
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Post by curiousgeorge »

John,
Yes, you will have to provide something to mount the rails to. In the attached pics of my Jointech router table you will see that mine have aluminum bars that came with the table. You can use what ever you want, but aluminum is readily available and easy to work with.
Attachments
PICT0406.JPG
PICT0406.JPG (65.37 KiB) Viewed 7322 times
PICT0407.JPG
PICT0407.JPG (55.53 KiB) Viewed 7318 times
George
Ft. Worth, TX.
Go TCU Froggies
User avatar
dusty
Platinum Member
Posts: 21481
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:52 am
Location: Tucson (Wildcat Country), Arizona

Post by dusty »

pinkiewerewolf wrote:curiousgeorge, no prep to the table other than the rails? No edge added to make the attachment?
Do the rails come with the necessary pieces?

This question was not directed at me but I can answer it. If you purchase an upgrade kit (be it a 510 kit or a 520 kit) that kit comes complete with every thing required to perform that upgrade.

If you have a 510 kit and a 520 to be upgraded, you will have a parts shortage. Same problem if you have a 510 to upgrade and a 520 kit.

If you have a piece of butcher block (or any router table other that a 510/510) that you want to convert into a 510/520 table, you have some engineering to do. The biggest problem presents itself when you begin to attach hardware to the table.

My question - has anyone attempted to mount the 520 rails onto something that was not designed to accept those rails? If yes, how did it go?
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
User avatar
dusty
Platinum Member
Posts: 21481
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:52 am
Location: Tucson (Wildcat Country), Arizona

Post by dusty »

curiousgeorge wrote:John,
Yes, you will have to provide something to mount the rails to. In the attached pics of my Jointech router table you will see that mine have aluminum bars that came with the table. You can use what ever you want, but aluminum is readily available and easy to work with.
Thank you, George. You answered my question before I asked.

How did you determine the vertical location of the rails?
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
User avatar
curiousgeorge
Platinum Member
Posts: 880
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:00 am
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Post by curiousgeorge »

dusty wrote:Thank you, George. You answered my question before I asked.

How did you determine the vertical location of the rails?
I used the alum. spacers that came with my 510 to 520 upgrade.
George
Ft. Worth, TX.
Go TCU Froggies
Post Reply