What Am I Missing???

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Fri May 20, 2011 10:00 am

My router table doesn't have a miter slot.
When building cabinets, the router table was used quite extensively.
I've probable made over a 1000 separate cope and stick joints and other end grain profiles with a simple shop made sled.
I've made tens of dozens of finger jointed or box jointed drawer boxes and routed another several dozen corner spline slots, all without a miter gauge.
Now, the largest case work I do may be humidors and gun cases. The router table continues to be a very important tool, one I'd be hard pressed do without. Still haven't found the utility of a miter slot.
What am I missing?

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Fri May 20, 2011 10:56 am

Gene Howe wrote:My router table doesn't have a miter slot.
When building cabinets, the router table was used quite extensively.
I've probable made over a 1000 separate cope and stick joints and other end grain profiles with a simple shop made sled.
I've made tens of dozens of finger jointed or box jointed drawer boxes and routed another several dozen corner spline slots, all without a miter gauge.
Now, the largest case work I do may be humidors and gun cases. The router table continues to be a very important tool, one I'd be hard pressed do without. Still haven't found the utility of a miter slot.
What am I missing?

A miter slot.]

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri May 20, 2011 11:43 am

A NEED for a miter slot!

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Fri May 20, 2011 12:06 pm

JPG40504 wrote:A NEED for a miter slot!

True enough.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri May 20, 2011 10:07 pm

Gene Howe wrote:.... Still haven't found the utility of a miter slot.
What am I missing?

My new router table has a router slot. It is a good place to attach the Shopsmith Utility Light when routing small pieces. Other than that, I haven't yet found a purpose for it.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Sat May 21, 2011 12:12 am

The last shows I saw the "Router Workshop" guys were still not using one, just sleds.
I'm going to build a new router table and I do not plan on having a miter slot. I simply don't see the need for my uses.
YMMV...

.

judaspre1982 · Post by **judaspre1982** » Sat May 21, 2011 9:12 am

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john · Post by **john** » Sat May 21, 2011 8:24 pm

The featherboard is the only use I have found for it. I have done hundreds of different cuts without using the miter slot.

John

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Sat May 21, 2011 9:27 pm

Thanks guys, for validating my opinion. I've read the the miter slot on a router table is good for collecting sawdust.

keakap · Post by **keakap** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 4:55 pm

Thanks! I've been mulling over whether to upgrade my RT top, mainly to add a miter slot (that I see in all the catalogs).
Fuhgeddabowdit!
Now I will simply another layer of wax to my home-made Woodsmith RT and be pleased as punch once more.
You saved me a lotta work, $$, and (eventually) disappointment.

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What Am I Missing???

What Am I Missing???

Re: missing slot not missed