Deluxe Router Station | S15 E1

Norm's original router station is the most popular shop project he's ever done. So why change it? Well, in the years since he built the first one, he's been thinking up ways to improve it. Now comes the deluxe edition of Norm's router station with an improved storage system, a more stable and easier-to-use fence, an improved top, and updated electrical hookups. These small changes add up to a more useful and versatile upgrade on the original.
Season: 15 | Episode: 1
Original Air Date: January 4, 2003
To purchase the measured drawing:
www.newyankee....
Visit our website at: www.newyankee.com
The New Yankee Workshop is a co-production of Morash Associates, Inc. and WGBH Boston.
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[@artszabo1015]

I am an old man and I relished these shows on PBS, today they are therapeutic for me. I enjoy them even more than before. Thank you Norm - again. Art from Ohio

[@newyankeeworkshop]

Thanks for watching Art!

[@scottcathcart7609]

So glad to see these episodes widely available now!! I hope they put ALL the episodes on here, like the Dove coup and the first Router table episode. Those were taken off the website because the admins didn't like them, but I think they're still worth seeing....

[@newyankeeworkshop]

We found over 50 "missing" episodes and once they are ready we will post them along with the previous ones.

[@scottcathcart7609]

@@newyankeeworkshop Thank you so much for going the extra mile to find those episodes!! There are a TON of fans out there who got their start from this series.... Norm is such a natural teacher; He and Russ should be proud of their contribution to this profession!! I'm sure you have access to original video materials in the WGBH vaults, but if you're having trouble finding an episode, Facebook has several devoted Fan Groups where you may be able to secure a copy. Of course, it probably won't be of broadcast quality, but a good videographer(?) can work miracles with digital reconstruction. Again, thank you for posting these videos!!

[@marilynsnider8183]

Amen to that.

[@christopherstein106]

I would love to see the original router station on KZbin. I like it better than this Version. When will it be posted??

[@newyankeeworkshop]

@@christopherstein106 Unfortunately we haven't found it yet. There are a handful we are still searching for. We will post what we have though.

[@wickedcoolname399]

Back when The New Yankee Workshop first was on I had a part-time job at a store that sold woodworking tools. If Norm use a new tool on Sunday, like a biscuit joiner or a dovetail jig, we would get customers walking in on Monday asking if ee stocked them. When Norm first used his D-handle router we must have gotten 20 calls the next day. Norm and his show were very good for business.

[@joemingioni]

I used to watch these episodes on PBS with my grandfather - he was a finish carpenter. I picked up the hobby in the past few years. Seeing these episodes really gave me a shot in the "feels". So happy to see these.

[@donamills]

Thank you Russell, Norm and PBS. You are the reason I do woodworking today.

[@newyankeeworkshop]

Nice to hear. Pass it on.

[@larrydaniels6532]

Norm is a legend, he was always the better half of 'This Old House' , it was a short step to offer him his own show, I watched it religiously and gained an enormous amount of practical knowledge. Just as I now have a special reverence for all of my teachers in grade school, Jr. high and high school and those from my college days, I list Norm Abrams in the same category. Thank you ,sir for your undying enthusiasm and your special talent, in making clear the process, to do the job correctly!

[@danadeboard225]

Built mine 20y/o .My friends are still envious. They love to use it. they ask me where it got it. I built it. mind blow.

[@chrisl4612]

Grew up watching you. Nice to see these available. I've learned a lot from you over the years. Thank You!

[@newyankeeworkshop]

Thanks for watching!

[@Pipsqwak]

Thrilled to see these episodes! My favorite episodes were the kitchen rebuild series. I hope those get uploaded!

[@newyankeeworkshop]

They will. Other than the popular projects we're posting them in order, so it will be awhile.

[@StoneBasses]

@@newyankeeworkshop I want to see the project update on that one. Have to use the clip of Norm saying he doesn't need any help.

[@simplersearchproductions]

Wow, so good to see the episodes again. This is a formative series for me, along with This Old House. Over 35 years ago, those two series got me into cabinetmaking and carpentry. They installed in me the desire to do these trades safely, effectively, and with joy. Thank you, Norm.

[@Nick-nm8om]

I grew up watching norm all the time with my dad. Norm is a national treasure and the greatest carpenter in this country. Because of him I opened my own carpentry shop after retirement from the marine corps.

[@hbengineer]

I built this router table and it has served me incredibly well for many years! Building Norm’s projects is always such a joy because they come out so nice and he explains things so well in these videos.

[@juancarlosoropeza5920]

Got the plans? 😁

[@Buckethead5949]

Did they?

[@alswoodworkingbits6082]

You can look at hundreds of shop built router tables online and you can tell that a fair number of them have been influenced in some way by Norm's design - it's one of the most recognizable there has ever been. I can only imagine how many people worldwide have made their own version in the 20 years since the episode aired, me included. Thanks for posting this episode as well as the others - I watched quite a bit of the NYW during the last couple of years and as a result I've got renewed enthusiasm in making things again.

[@GwraldFrederick]

I love this episode, but I actually have the plans for the original router table and would love to see that episode. Not only to match what I have but also to see how one was put together compaired tot the other. Episode 8,13

[@chrisbond24]

I remember this project version 1 and it's my favorite. I believe I was 12 years old

[@davidt8438]

When this show first aired, the plans for the many projects used to be in a bin at the front counter of most woodworking stores and if you wanted to take one or two they were free. They were on a heavier weight paper and they would make their money selling the videos that matched. I have a few of them like this router build, a baby’s cradle and some others. They stopped giving them out for free after a couple years but the plans were very accurate and easy to follow. I still have this router table and it should last another 30 years. I made some improvements for the dust collection. My only concern is my 3hp Porter Cable router might eventually die and that will really hurt if that happens. New Yankee Workshop was a great show and its host Norm was the perfect match to encourage people to get busy and build.

[@131dyana]

So nice to have these programs now. I love the workshop videos.

[@bobmartin6055]

Love watching Norm and his tools turn out such great projects!

[@Rubbernecker]

I just love re-watching all these videos! Of course, years ago I watched every one at least 3 times. They never get old!

[@RobertMalarkey]

I built this router station and having it ready at any time is the greatest . Norm is the best teacher to have

[@andrewr2650]

Love these episodes, i used to watch with my Dad all the time in the 90s, we even built a few of the projects. He recently passed away and I have been getting his workshop put back into working order, and a better router table is for sure on the agenda. From this episode I really appreciate the irony of using the old router station to help fabricate its replacement very deus ex machina

[@newyankeeworkshop]

The Deluxe Router Station is our most popular project. It's a great addition. Nice to hear you're keeping your Dad's workshop going.

[@smedlap8789]

I remember watching this show when I was a kid. 😁 Great stuff!

[@StoneBasses]

Made one of these back in 2011. Still holding up great.

[@foxhallww311]

I can watch Norman all day long. If I am ever at home sick or recovering from surgery, I will get my iPad out and watch NYW. It reminds me of my dad and him teaching me the ways of carpentry. I miss him so much. Thank you for bringing Norm and NYW back to us!

[@brantlers]

Look at that slick screen in screen animation!

[@Maxid1]

I've got 3 routers, maybe more. When I was a kid in the early 60s to mid 70's I watched my Dad build furniture and cabinetry. If he was building something and turned, he'd hit me in the forehead with his elbow. He was self taught and he made a lot of mistakes. Although he was a very proud man, he was very generous with me in explaining his mistakes. So as an adult I don't make trapezoidal cabinet doors or build something too big to get it out of the room I built it (my Dad didn't have his shop in the garage. He had it in the basement in that house so that 9 foot long 8 inch thick slab bar he built wouldn't make the turn up the basement stairs...). Due to my Dads generosity, l don't make the mistakes he made (I make all new mistakes!) I can honestly say that you, Norm provided the master class for my woodworking training. You and a library of fine furniture and cabinetry books I bought through the years. I've done a lot of framing and carpentry, finish work as well, also with my Dad as a kid to teen. One of my favorite things he would say when he and then we built something and made some minor mistake was, "If anyone looks that closely at it, we'll sell it to him."

[@BillMulholland1]

Iv been following Norm since the very first time I saw him on This Old House. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge all these years. Iv learned so much and use them today 👍

[@The.Real.Reaper]

Love this one. I'm gonna build it for my wood shop.

[@BoyceBailey]

YEAH! Thats what I'm watching sorted of forever!

[@wdwtx2.0]

Norm, cant tell you the hours of enjoyment you have given me over the years. Glad to see this channel.

[@rogerdudra178]

I made this project. It was one of the first projects of Norm's that I made. Good instructions.

[@derrickclark5510]

I love this show. I been watching you be creative ever since I was a kid. RESPECT TO YOU SIR for keeping this going.

[@jeffdamon5419]

I built this exact router station from your plans 20 years ago. Its still the main router station in my shop. Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge over the years.

[@SteveIOW]

Norm was my go to for woodworking projects. Great to see them back. Thankyou. 👍👍

[@marlowjoinery9783]

I wish these were available on dvd I love watching this

[@keithbrock6410]

This is so great to find! I grew up watching this with my dad and now I can enjoy it all over again!

[@clivesheppard3907]

Hi Norm I have enjoyed your channel for years, safety is very important as you often stress I notice you have to catch your breath from time to time "me to" this is caused by not controlling what we breathe in. For us it's probably too late but for your younger viewers a good time to start. Keep up the great content.

[@jameswortner6135]

"I said I never had much use for one. Never said I didn't know how to use it." Matthew Quigley, Quigley Down Under. Outstanding updated video in 2023 on KZbin. Thanks to Norm, Russ and the crew for updating these classic woodworking videos. I am a Norm fan and learned as well as built my shop and tools from Norm's teachings. However, I decided to go with a dedicated shaper versus Norm's Deluxe Router Station. Simply put I could do more with my Jet Shaper (accepting 1/4" bits to 1/2" bits and molding cutters) versus the router station - moulding heads, router bits and shaper heads and the precision/options a dedicated shaper gives you that far exceeds the router station. Shapers are not in style now days, but I still use mine (Jet circa mid1990s) on almost all of my woodworking projects in 2023 - second most used stationary tool after the table saw! As always, thanks Norm and crew for these KZbin video updates and most importantly, the memories!

[@fdort3971]

​@newyankeeworkshop I grew up watching you on Saturdays...thanks for the many lessons! I was thrilled to find out recently you were on here!. Here is a lesson for you...mdf dust is toxic! It's made with formaldehyde...regardless if it's mdf or other sawdust you should be wearing a mask to protect your sinuses and lungs. You have good dust collection on lots of things but watching the dust fly on this video after you say safety is important...I'm definitely a safety woman...

[@garfieldthomas3176]

I built this router table , I'm still using it. Had to replace the support plate recently. Good table.

[@cabman86]

I miss having a table saw that will accept a dado blade! When mine cratered, I just bought a new one without looking.

[@mygameaccount]

I built on of these many years ago. Still have it and use it.

[@mikebadilla9187]

Very good thank you.All ways learning

[@jeremyjedynak]

I would love to see/hear Norm's ideas for tooling a new workshop around a CNC Router large enough to work on 4x8 sheets, and how it might (have) changed his woodworking process. Like a revisit of this and the Garage Workshop Project. Perhaps it would be called the Super Deluxe Router Station.

[@gpslightlock1422]

Only Norm Abram uses a router table to build a router table!

[@pmdinaz]

Thanks for sharing these!

[@terry2346]

I built the router station from the Woodsmith shop plans but I have to admit that I prefer this one. Can't say I am going to redo the whole thing as the Woodsmith one has given me good service over the last 20+ years, especially after adding on their router lift, but this one is certainly a classic!

[@clintonpayne4690]

Hi Norm could you do something with leftover pallets that only took a few everyday tools that any man would have

[@newyankeeworkshop]

We actually have a project, and although the planer might not be "every day", the rest is perfect: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6bIeZuZg79qgNk

[@dankolosky8347]

Before I purchase the drawing, what are the approximate overall dimensions? I want to have confidence that it will fit into an existing space or have some idea of what changes would be needed. Oh! Another question: what would you think of mounting it on casters with locking wheels? Advised or no?

[@mikej9200]

Are you going to be publishing the plans also?

[@Green4U2781]

Can you still get a measured drawing for this project?

[@gregconnell6320]

Are the plans for this build still available?

[@newyankeeworkshop]

Yes, the new site with plans will be up first of February. Hang tight!

[@nelsondog100]

I used to live watching the program all about the router but I can’t remember the name. It featured the father and son team named Rosenthol I believe. I wish they would release the series on KZbin. Anyone remember that show?

[@larrydaniels6532]

They were Canadian, I do remember them, but not the name of their show.

[@bluethunder8762]

what brand is the clamps you use and if possible a link to them.

[@torowazup1]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👻

[@michaelvenditti5982]

Is the old one available for sale

[@papiwe1]

when was this done

[@newyankeeworkshop]

In all our project videos you can expand the description and we show the original air date. This first aired on TV January 4, 2003.

[@Rugbyleaguefan]

What does Norm mean by “make up air” at 19:50 please ?

[@newyankeeworkshop]

I think Norm said it's for the "take up air" and it's a transcribing error - or his accent :) Basically the holes allow air to flow through the plexiglass preventing it from building up pressure. The vacuum in the shop has a lot of pull (it does the whole shop) and would probably rip the door apart if it was solid.

[@AnonAmous-bj4fy]

I believe that the term "make up air" is indeed correct in the construction trades. I hear that term within the HVAC trade as well. The dust collector is applying vacuum to the box, the mass of the moving air flow is what transfers the energy to the dust and chips. Without replacing or "making up for" the removed air, the box would be pulled into a stagnant vacuum and no chips would be moved. So, as usual, Norm knows EXACTLY what he is saying.

[@RaymondWalsh-b8z]

How do I get your blue prints?

[@newyankeeworkshop]

The plan for each episode is listed in the description under the video. Just click it to expand. The Deluxe Router can be found on our website here: www.newyankee.com/episode/deluxe-router-station/

[@Nathan-H]

would be a great video...... but then he used his other router table to build this router table

[@topreview3791]

And he also used routers freehand. Just build a jig

[@John-v5f4l]

pbs

[@halfabee]

Having been a metal worker for many years I have retired and switching to woodworking some more basic skills videos would be welcome. Your router and table saw behaves themselves. MIne do not.

[@ryanhessler8966]

As a trained welder learning to woodwork as well, precision matters!😂 gone is your ability to just fill the gap with weld bead

[@halfabee]

@@ryanhessler8966 I have City and Guilds advanced Craftsman Certificate. In Welding Fabrication. ONC in Mechanical and production Engineering Trained by the UK Admiralty as a toolmaker welding specialist. Then after 6 years I took a year off and obtained a HND in Computer science. I have worked to the tenth of a thou in metal working and welded around 1 mm od pipe. And welded the most exotic materials. ☺

[@bowlchamps37]

I like that you tell the viewers to read every manual and work safely, but you should have done the same. You use a table saw without a riving knife and not blade guard.

[@dy1an]

Don't forget, this episode was made in 2003, yet riving knives weren't standard on US table saws at that point in time. A quick Google shows that they weren't even a requirement until 2008. Europe was different though, where they've been pretty much on all table saws since the 90s.

[@ryanhessler8966]

Blade guards on a table saw are insanely intrusive. Considering he still has all his fingers, I would say he did just fine

[@ScienceTalkwithJimMassa]

If you look at videos from the first season, they explain that one should use blade guards, but that in the videos, it is removed for photographic clarity purposes.

[@AnonAmous-bj4fy]

Just curious champ, do you use a lotion to reduce chaffing while doing all this worrying and hand wringing over something that happened over 2 decades ago? I'm 55, grew up in a woodshop, own a cabinet shop myself and I have no idea why someone would think all those gimmicks would have any real application in a production shop. A nice smooth running unisaw is no where near as terrifying as running a 5 inch panel raising stack on top of a 3 hp shaper with nothing more than a guide pin for safety. Makes the table saw feel almost comforting. Guards and riving knives are a choice, life is dangerous. Its called freedom.