I can’t believe I built this as a newbie woodworker! Revisiting my router table build

[@DIYMontreal]

Router Table Plans available here: www.diymontreal.com/product/router-table-and-cabinet-plans/

[@Caleb-fe2dl]

what did the whole build cost you roughly?

[@tonyborzumato8510]

Hi Marie. Great build. The dowels to clamp down the T-Track is genius! 25 years of hobby woodworking and I'd never considered that. Just goes to show you...

[@patriciasheerin838]

I have been watching your channel for years, and I think I have watched every post. Thank you for your ideas and inspiration. My router table was based on this design. Keep posting, I love your channel!! Patricia from USA.

[@DIYMontreal]

Thank you so much!

[@Codeyellow]

Ha! I used this video a reference when I was new and building a router table. Yours is the only video that gave information on where to put the t track. Everyone else skipped over that and I was stumped. So thank you!

[@andiedonahue9400]

Wow! I just discovered your channel! This is the first of your videos I have watched, and I am subscribing! I’m a 63 year old grandma and just started woodworking last fall, so I’m a super-newbie! Thank you so much for your straightforward, uncluttered verbal delivery and for NOT over explaining everything! I’m encouraged and I’ll continue to watch!

[@staspustovit]

Wow! 👍 🥀

[@kenrogers375]

It was fun seeing old footage, thanks for sharing. I need to finally start my router table build!

[@DIYMontreal]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@crescentworks6855]

That dowel trick is ❤‍🔥! Good work!

[@justMikeKplwd]

I built this as well must be close to 5 years. I was a newbie too. Turned out great! Still going strong!!

[@anthonylorbach9365]

Proof that you were destined for this. I expect my sophomore efforts to be pretty laughable. Loved the build, and loved the after-inclusions.

[@clutteredchicagogarage2720]

Since you mentioned how it's a pain to move big sheets of plywood, I thought I'd share how I do it. My car is just a little 2-door hatchback, but I made sure to buy it with roof rails so I could install a roof rack. I installed a pretty cheap aftermarket roof rack with just 2 bars that run parallel to the front of the car. When I transport long dimensional lumber, I just ratchet-strap it directly to the cross bars of my roof rack with small ratchet straps (the kind WITHOUT the hooks). This works really well. I can move ~ 18 2x4s on top of my car at a time. I built a tree house for my daughter over the summer and hauled a pretty sizable stack of 4x4s, 2x12s and 2x4s on top of my car in a single trip. For moving 4x8 sheets of plywood, I built what's essentially a very large palette that I strap onto my roof rack. I then have a system where I slide the 4x8 sheets onto the palette and then clamp then down with some big bolts plus so cross-rails made out of ~ 1x3 hardwood stock (from some hardwood bed slats that I scavenged). Even though I have a small car, I can move multiple sheets of plywood and/or a pretty sizable pile of lumber on top of my car with my roof rack. It was definitely worth the time that I spent to install the roof rack and build a special sheet-goods-pallete with integrated hold-down clamps that I made out of scrap dimensional lumber and bed slats.

[@stretchhurion6702]

Nicely done you have given me some ideas for mine how ever I want to add mine to my Table saw to give me a bigger aera for cutting larger sheets

[@Mr.Stacey-L-SCC]

Thanks for this. It took a lot of the mystery out of router tables and lifts for me.

[@makernova8160]

Good timing! I've been looking at different router table build ideas lately. The plywood under the melamine is smart! Thanks for the inspiration and ideas. I'll definitely be using them when I get around to building mine!

[@paulschwartz6074]

Thank you fir another great video. I really appreciate how you keep everything -- technique, instruction, editing, etc. -- super clear and accessible. Also like your little dabs of humor.

[@chrismoore6359]

Thank you so much for this! It's really helpful and insightful for those that are learning when you update and reflect on previous builds like this!

[@timothycreasy2161]

Interesting to revisit a project that you did in the past, and see what you might change to make it work better for yourself. And you made that early in your career too,... Impressive 👍

[@joelongstaff7601]

Great build thanks for sharing. I enjoy building furniture and cabinetry as a hobby now that I'm retired. As a carpenter I learned ,long ago, to build router tables to take two routers as in my home shop. When doing mortice and tenens or rail and style work I can set each router up and make peace's as I do assembly, saving a great deal of time and frustration. Yet I never see cabinet makers talk about the value of building such tables. Mine holds two 3 1/4 hp routers. Have you seen them? Thanks and God Bless.

[@judyl.761]

This really is spectacular and very well done!

[@patrickguyot1290]

Its definitly a very smart looking router table,welldone❤

[@garymcquay9999]

Impressive, thank you.

[@gnlman]

Great job and great build. Thank you for sharing

[@tectonico3d173]

When cutting aluminum. Did you use in the mitter saw a wood blade? Great video thanks

[@DIYMontreal]

Yes I did. Kept the blade that's always on there.

[@azurplex]

Tip: For an under powered router and/or to save wear, take shallow cuts and make a groove in more than one pass.

[@2tall47]

wow where did the time go? it is crazy. great job! keep up the great work you are an inspiration.

[@rick91443]

I will probably be watching this OVER AND OVER while planning and building my new table. AM ALWAYS JEALOUS AS (four letter word,) when seeing all the great stuff available in N.America; grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Will see who can deliver to me in France the router lift plate but am wondering whether to buy the big Triton Router(to use on other projects when not fixed under the table,) or the models available in Germany, specifically designed for a router table? Do you take questions? You may even answer me in French, lol....cheers..rr Normandy, France

[@2old4u]

Excellent...

[@craigconway4093]

Awesome :)

[@staspustovit]

This woman is great! 👍 🥀

[@davidj.kester7979]

i wish i had the room to do this

[@mitchblackmore5230]

It's videos like this that make me feel like I can actually do more than what I normally think I can do. So clearly presented that it takes the fear out of trying something like this. Well done.

[@긍정마인드-t8i]

최고예요 👍 👍 👍

[@shayroche]

I've just come across your site, and I can honestly say you're one of the best for explaining in detail how to make projects,I will continue to view your site and learn from you,unfortunately I've a very small shed which I use to make things,mainly garden seats garden chairs and other small items. I'm glad I've come across your site, regards Shay from Dublin in Ireland

[@mymemeplex]

at 24:26 the router bit starts to wander upwards. I've had this happen with my janky diy lift as well, but figured because I didn't secure the router well enough to the car jack I used as a lift it got sucked up.(I figured the car jack is supposed to stop the car going down, but maybe there's no reason for it to stop it going up). But it seems pro router lifts suffer from the same problem? I'm already considering several changes to my design, your airflow experiments helped a lot, thanks.

[@adrianlouviere7650]

Great instruction! Subscribed. Have a great day.

[@dgoddard]

Right after I started woodworking again, I ran across your first video on this. It inspired me to design and build one almost exactly like it. I use it all the time and it's held up great. So thanks!

[@archiem6323]

I can believe it. You are the best at what you do. 🙋🏻‍♀️ Great videos.

[@DIYMontreal]

Thank you! 😊

[@archiem6323]

You are more than welcome.🙋🏻‍♀️

[@bugman-ir8cw]

Dollar for dollar; So much better than what you could have bought. Light years better.....don't buy a router table.; buy a router lift and build a table....good call....two thumbs up!

[@techguy38]

Great build! Just some feedback, you are taking off too much material with that trim router, try taking less then half or even two thirds the mount of the material then the diameter and not only will the router cut smoother and get longer bit life but you will get a lot less resistance for the slight increase of time by taking two or more passes.

[@lwooly2]

Check your local pawn shops, I found the same mini drill complete with extra batteries and charger.

[@DIYMontreal]

Sweet!

[@hobbyetest]

Ciao... complimenti, sei bravissima

[@hobbyetest]

Hello ... I sent you an email, check your mail

[@thewoodworkersjourney3314]

Really nice build, Marie, your channel continues to be an inspiration to me.

[@jewdd1989]

You did a fabulous job with that, it’s one router table I’ve watched and rewatched many times. Good job, I’d love more shop projects

[@tomnorman5461]

17:37 Next time pull the drawers out of the carcass prior to lowering it to the floor, it will be much lighter. Nice build...thumbs up!

[@Sebastopolmark]

GREAT job Marie. A testament to you and the pocket screws! !! !!!

[@jeaninepayne9303]

Love your videos. Link to the router left is not active. Is there another link that works? Thx for all you do to help DIYers!

[@DIYMontreal]

Doesn't appear to be available on Amazon anymore but youbcan look for the Pro Lift on Rockler's website

[@norm5785]

Wow five years. Very nice router table build. Thank you for sharing your awesome project with us today. Stay warm, safe, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia

[@DIYMontreal]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed :)

[@clutteredchicagogarage2720]

This is SUCH a great build. Your dust collection setup is exceptional. I really appreciate your practical approach to wood working. Some other wood workers would spend 3x more time joining the drawers with all-wood jointery rather than brad nails + pocket screws. For shop furniture, I think the simplicity of brad nails + pocket screws makes more sense. I don't have the time now to build a router table, and I REALLY need to first start with other projects to declutter my garage workshop, but I hope to build a similar router table some day. I'm going to have to rewatch this some time to pick up some of your little clamping and alignment techniques for cabinets. I've seen some of these, but not all of them.

[@DIYMontreal]

Thanks, appreciate the feedback! Good luck with the decluttering and hope you get around to building this one day. It's a great addition.

[@jigsey.]

Wow 5 years I've been here from the first video 😂 we could be practically married by now 🤣🤣

[@doneldridge202]

Another excellent video! You have outstanding common sense with a high level of intelligence to back it up. But the most beautiful attribute you have is the ability to physically translate your thought into really exceptional end product. I am really enjoying your channel!!! Thank you for honestly sharing yourself with us!

[@DjBounce60]

Have you drawn up the plans for just the cabinet yet? I already have all the router table top parts but really like your cabinet design.

[@varosolo78]

I found you channel recently, and I love your videos. Keep it up! 😊

[@DIYMontreal]

Thank you! Will do!

[@stretch3736]

woohoo...I bought all the plans and I am almost finished building this project. I have a Jessem lift and I can't wait to start using this table!

[@AppleTony3]

Great video! Come for the router table, stay for the straightforward and effective cabinet construction!* *- (which I will apply to my upcoming kitchen -from-scratch)

[@ritebass]

Great video and build, Marie!! Love your work. Any complaints about that Rockler lift? I am close to making a purchase and likely choosing between JessEm and Rockler.

[@marlinstudio.]

Great video. To clean up any rough edges ie the cable hole. Use a round over it in the trim router.

[@johnmurray8267]

Do the Plans come with Metric for us Australians 😎🇦🇺🇦🇺 love your very educational videos, terrific to see and well explained. 🥇

[@Richard-dh8ny]

Wonderful job, it looks very professional! I'm currently trying to figure out what's the best size top for my DIY router table. Would you mind telling me what distance you chose to place the insert plate? In other words what is the space from the front edge of the table to the center of the router? Thanks much!

[@ashokmoghe8035]

I am confused - What is new in this 2023 video that is not already shown in the Part 1,2,3? Can you please elaborate? TIA.

[@harryshaw4998]

I made this router table and I love the heck out of it!! You did super job !

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic work, Marie! Really well done!!! 😃 I still need to decide how I'm going to build mine... But yours looks amazing! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@cds957]

Can someone tell me the size of just the cabinet, I want to build this with the plans that I will purchase, but I already have a top from Woodpeckers.

[@madwilliamflint]

Damn. I have GOT to get a better table saw. My little Kobalt folding job-site saw just doesn't cut it with sheet goods.

[@mellymel1100]

Some very smart tips! Giving you a like and follow. Thank you!

[@WPGinfo]

Clear, concise and to the point. Thanks.

[@FranksDIY]

I can honestly say every project I ever made I can go back and say I should have done it this way that way ETC ETC lol. This is because we learn as we go. I do have a split fence and you are right. the amount of times I've used it I think once I replace the fence I'll eliminate that feature . nice job

[@williamellis8993]

That was a great build, Marie. Woodpeckers also makes a great router lift (That's what I have). Bill

[@DIYMontreal]

Right! How could I forget them 👍

[@서윤석-g9f]

안녕하세요, 당신에 집은 몬트리올 입니까 ~ 나도 몬트리올 에 있읍니다, 초대해주신다면 한번 방문하고 싶군요~

[@mikel4510]

If YOU can't believe it, you probably didn't.

[@charliejohnston1978]

Ok, it me guess, your married, husbands are so handy to have around and they do some nice work sometimes too.

[@lawrencejohnson3259]

Very nice! BTW what CAD software was used?🤔

[@chrisoliver3851]

Really enjoyed your video and went to look up the ·" Router lift" and the link doesnt work.

[@rogerwoods1351]

nice work lady, that looks great

[@PaganWizard]

Your link for the Router Lift is not working. AWESOME BUILD!!!!!!! If I may offer a tip for the next time you inlay T-Track. When you inlay T-Track like how you did for the fence in this project, route your dados slightly shorter than your desired length for the T-Track. Finish the dados with a chisel and mallet for a clean, square, and very professional look. Another tip for helping you make sure you ALWAYS have the right size fittings for hoses, as well as parts for jigs and even some of your projects, is to get a 3D printer, I have a Creality Ender 5 Plus. My latest print was a dust collection port for my 6 inch planer. As a bonus, if you have kids, they'll enjoy using the 3D printer too, that is, if you let them 😎

[@t.e.1189]

What's with the router bit at 24:25? Looks like it's ready to fly up out of there.

[@patrickarchuleta9594]

Does the pro lift accept all routers thanks for info your work is second to none.

[@dennisfahlstrom2515]

Marie, I recently discovered your YT page and enjoy your projects a lot. I have a small 10.5V Bosch drill I got years ago and while most of my cordless tools are now Milwaukee I still grab that little Bosch for most of my projects that don’t require loads of torque. Unfortunately it’s been discontinued but they do offer a small kit for under $100 US on Amazon that has both a small 12V impact driver, a small 12V drill, a charger, and 2 batteries. It’s not brushless but their brushless kit with the same stuff is 50% higher. I’d highly recommend this kit for the size and value. Bosch tools are quite reliable as well. Keep up your fine projects. You do them well and aren’t afraid to admit a mistake which gives your videos that much more an air of integrity.

[@juvelito21]

Awesome! I really liked your dust collector DIY job. We really need one in our furniture shop. I watched until the end and listen to every bit of instruction your were sharing. Thanks for this informative video. Kudos to your future woodworking jobs!

[@jeffmason398]

Thanks Marie, This is the build video i keep referencing. No lazer cut templates. Just guide boards and a trim bit. I'll be adding a similar hardwood boarder. I think it's funny you have the Rockler lift in Montreal and i have a JessEm in Jersey. Also immediately impressed with the clamping dowels. Good work. :")

[@bobstokes4457]

I liked the design of your router table so I decided to build it. SO - I bought a Jessem Master fence II, a Master lift II. Had to downsize the plans because how the Jessem fence is attached. I got to the part of fasten the T track with Weldbond the bottle says it bonds to a lot of stuff, but one of the exceptions is metal. So I decided to go with the JB 5 minute epoxy. Your clamping setup using a a wood dowel is fantastic! I have the top routed, T-Track glued, soon I will be on to making the cabinet. Thanks for the helpful info.

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Great job on the router table build Marie! Thanks for always sharing with us!💖👍😎JP

[@1steelcobra]

An alternative for that compact driver is a 90 degree driver adapter. DeWalt makes one for ~$20 that managed to rate pretty well with Project Farm against a $60 one by Milwaukee.

[@hydroponikstuttgart4515]

You could chamfer your fence a bit on the bottom side, so saw dust has a place to go and dont mess up precise cuts. (Same concept as some miter saw fences or table saw sleds). Great Video, cheers

[@rammos28]

Hello I watch your videos and I can say that you are doing an amazing job well done, bravo. Because I dont have a dust collector machine yet and with the small one I have I can get all the dust from the cabinet. Do you know if the router has a problem with the dust wich remaning at the cabinet? Thank you Dimitris from Greece

[@Guyontables]

hey Marie; I have a plumber/pipe fitter friend and asked him why my converted garage wasn't heating well. the first think he said was was my piping for cold air duck and heat ducks the same size in volume. they weren't so i made them the same size and the problem was fixed. So I make sure what ever size hose volume that is extracting the dust, the hole volume for the intake air was equal. I enjoy your work.

[@tielkgate]

This router table looks a lot like Norm Abram's classic router table, and that's a good thing. I really like how you put your project together. I watched your original 3 part video series, and either group is good for this project. You've done a great job here. Keep-em coming. 😎😎😎😎 Lowell 🤠

[@phasemargin]

Good insights on dust collection strategies. The power switch on the door allows for 1-2 more drawers, nice combination of space. I made a conceptually similar router table and am now thinking to take it apart to improve the dust collection and maybe a few more of the many goodies in your design - thank you!

[@JD-8-1971]

Hint if you build a cabinet on a work bench..... Remove the drawers before lowering to the floor. Takes off some of the weight, plus you can hold the front edge.

[@marcusjames3035]

I love these videos. Only thing I hate, for someone who is looking to emulate someone like you, is that you don’t say what size screws are being used. Details like that are what I’m looking for. With that said, I think I’ll purchase the plans for this build

[@dougstrock7971]

A recommendation to make the drawers slide easier that is a very old trick. Take Dove soap (or any bar soap), and rub it on the surfaces of the slots and on the drawer slides. It works like magic and if it starts to wear off, just apply more. Any smooth wooden drawer will slide much easier. Works great on dresser drawers in the house.

[@bradboyer1381]

What I'm really interested in here is your dust collector itself. Do you describe elsewhere about what you selected, why, how it's been holding up, evolved, etc.?

[@MarroktheWarrior]

I am looking at building a table of my of my own and you are the FIRST person i have watched (and ive watched a lot) that has said how far from the base plate you put the miter or t track! So thanks!!!

[@MrDjslav5]

A new hobbyist with a giant Sawstop table saw. Uh huh.

[@sonofsandwiches6892]

Been looking for a comprehensive router table build. I love that no special tools are required, but will def. get the Kreg drawer slide jigs. Plans downloaded!

[@BadSpock]

Great video. One point on router lifts that I didn't realize for a while... some routers can be adjusted from above the table without a router lift. You just have to drill a hole for the wrench to go through. My Bosch router is able to do that.

[@paulcooper9187]

Thank you, that helps a lot as I am just in the process of installing a router table into a work top. This gives me the possibility of expanding that. I must admit I laughed out loud, at the all too familiar problem of getting heavy builds off the workbench.

[@moodymir]

I'm wondering about fence alignment, my guess is that on a router the fence does not need to perfectly straight on left and right because the bit is barely exposed and the contact surface is very minimal, correct?

[@joseramoncontreras6163]

LOVED IT!!! 😁

[@laurentmetro]

Magnifique!

[@Yawles]

Nice design. I liked how you built your cabinets when I watched the original video. I loosely followed your experience when I built mine. Well done.

[@armandog9582]

excellent work 👍 👏 👌 thank you for sharing your wisdom I loved it. ❤❤❤