The Making of a Router Table Top

Do you need a CNC to make this project? No, so don't let that keep you from making your own router table top! You can draw the area of where your router will mount using your router plate onto the material you use. Then free hand using your router to cut out the recessed area. It doesn't need to be perfect, close will work. You do need to make the screw holes perfect so use your existing router base plate to mark the holes. Use a hand drill or a drill press if you have one.
Table Saw: Ridgid R4512
Router: Ridgid R2200
CNC: Shapeoko XXL
Note: I would recommend you make your router table top out of cabinet grade birch plywood. MDF is okay but may not stay flat over time.

[@JoeLazzara]

That was an amazing job. Great video. No unnecessary commentary lol. I especially love it because I'm very interested in purchasing that saw and I'm happy a router table can be connected to it. Thanks for making a great detailed video.👍

[@brainwashingdetergent4322]

Dude! That was one of the nicest looking table saw wing router conversions I’ve seen!

[@buffingup]

Doing some research for my own DIY table. I like your added 15 degree cut on the router fence to keep dust from clogging space against it...good idea! My old Jet doesn't have holes in the long side rails, so I'm going to add some of own brackets to mount it. Thanks for the ideas!

[@KaliBlaz]

simple and straight to the point.

[@dangermartin69]

Fantastic job. I love the fact that you made it instead of buying it.

[@ecaff9515]

Great video and process. Thank you for sharing.

[@AlmostHeavenCamping]

This video just sold me on the saw!!! Exactly what i was wanting to know! Thanks!!!

[@Ray_Sellner]

I bought mine a week ago. It pays to call Home Depot. Some are on sale and some are being cleared out. This is pretty close to how I want to mount my Freud router.

[@edratcliffe9239]

This saw is awesome I have put it through the paces over the last few years and it still works great

[@dustinmoore1650]

The saw is awesome! I made all my kitchen cabinets and sold the house for 10 grand more. Well worth the money.

[@rootvalue]

Great work, Nathan.

[@ecaff9515]

Excellent video and process and thanks for sharing

[@totallynotabot151]

I appreciate the large number of screws. Looks very durable.

[@tonyaddy7825]

Nice!! I like what you did with the fence rail!! Makes Since!!

[@jongt69]

You do have to spend some time setting the saw up... blade, fence, etc. But once done, the saw is great. Fairly compact which is Nice kzbin.infoUgkxXh-4_3-ZT1fFWP91ZV7iVqzElr0lEb-a I did get an Incra Miter Gauge which takes some setup as well. The stock miter gauge can be adjusted in the miter slot with a little painter's tape... this tightens up the side to side play a lot.

[@gibsalisbury]

I guess I will have to buy a CNC machine now.

[@ryandetzel848]

this is amazing, can't wait to do this.

[@saywhaat8933]

Awesome job man!

[@dorandan100]

Thanks for the ideas - I have that table saw and am working on a DIY router lift I saw on Stumpy Nubs, but wasn't very happy with the table-top insert I was working with. I think I can incorporate a few of your ideas to make mine work as well as yours.

[@lucianopozenato3829]

Congrats. Very easy and good job.

[@johnnygsdiy1981]

Nice! I was looking for a easy design. I don’t have a CNC but I’m sure I could do it with a router. Great video

[@gregghernandez2714]

Very cool video. I am currently purchasing the Ridgid line of cordless tools. I am sold due to their Limited Lifetime Warranty on registered tools, and free replacement of batteries for life. I mean no one even comes close to that warranty. Hilti, the high end manufacturer of tools has a 10 year warranty, but their tools are way more expensive. You should patent this design and present it to Ridgid, I can see them producing a kit which would include the auxiliary fence and the router base. They could make it out of a high density material or aluminum. As others have mentioned, I would buy it. BTW I am sold on this particular model of their Table saw, I have heard nothing but good things about it. Maybe not the best for Pro contractors, but for me, it should work just fine.

[@1969ironmike]

Awesome idea bud!

[@CommonwealthCreations]

Thanks!

[@runtfan71]

I'm in the process of doing something very similar to this, the main difference is that I'm making a torsion box and using plywood on the bottom. The funny thing is that I hadn't even considered using the TS fence, lol. I'm planning on building a fence topper a la William Ng, so this ought to work out great. My router doesn't have any dc like yours so I'm wondering where the dust is going to go... Thanks for the video.

[@LutherBuilds]

I just got the same router and have the same table saw. I was going to try and build Jay Bates' lever router lift. But I saw that the router comes with a hex tool for adjusting the height from above or through the base plate. I thought, I want to find a way to utilize this when I put it in my extension wing. Your build is exactly what I need. I already have the wing built but couldn't figure out how to cut the hole for the router. I just don't have a CNC so I will have to be careful to get my depths perfect when routing underneath for the plate and counter boring for the screws.

[@vasileseitan6893]

Super Bravo , good job .

[@biggusbestus551]

Awesome video

[@thedrizz1913]

Nathan, this video was outstanding! Great process, really enjoyed it. Have you since applied anything to seal the MDF?

[@number1230]

Good job ~!!

[@marcellocaetano7531]

Master!

[@sandersjones1577]

Yes I like that need to do the same

[@magwoodworking1882]

MUITO OBRIGADO POR ESSE VÍDEO.

[@bigpapaporsche1]

Nice job! I am curious has to why you didn't remove the Stamped Steel Extension Wing completely and use a larger MDF wing. The resulting surface would be much flatter/smoother without that extra joint. Good job.

[@Noldrik]

So cool

[@CommonwealthCreations]

Thank you!

[@ApexIXMR]

Very nice. What is that bit called, at 7:27 that you use to recess the screw’s head into the wood?

[@visa1960]

Excellent was looking for a video like this now to build one for myself ...what was the thickness of the mdf

[@CommonwealthCreations]

I used 3/4" MDF but I would suggest using 3/4" cabinet grade ply.

[@LordPadriac]

I'm sure there's a material more likely to sag under the weight of a router than MDF but I'm having a tough time naming it.

[@MrLrod00]

How easy is it to raise and lower the bit?

[@benc7783]

Nice, but I'm short on the CNC router.

[@csheltn]

Ben C it seems like every youtube wood worker has a cnc these days. I want one but not bad enough to pay for one.

[@dangermartin69]

Craigslist. So many people buy things like a CNC with big dreams and then don't use them. Kinda like a gym membership.

[@1969ironmike]

cNC seems hard to learn programming

[@Wood_Slice]

I would have left much more meat on the MDF from bottom where the router attached. MDF sags like crazy if not supported even though you have the supports the area where the router attaches looks like 1/2" or less in thickness.

[@WOODBARK100]

Very very sweet, will definitely take care of business. Q - Any concerns with fatigue failure of the MDF at the Router mounting point ?

[@WOODBARK100]

@@CommonwealthCreations Thanks for the quick reply mate. I plan on adding one of these on to my King Contractor as soon as the weather warms up. Cheers!

[@robertjohn527]

I am interested in doing the same exact project. However, I haven’t purchased that exact table saw that you were using but I plan to. My question is what is the size of the router table surface?

[@johnshort1536]

Not sure about the strength of the MDF. After routing the underside and then sinking the mounting screws for the router, not going to be much meat left in the MDF. Over all, nice job.

[@RyanMonty]

Was planning on doing something similar...wanted to see if someone else already did it. Nice work! Only issue I can see is dust collection. Any solutions there?

[@RyanMonty]

"Not perfect" is better than what I'm doing now lol I was routing slots in some shaker cabinets for my workbench yesterday and I just wheeled everything out in the driveway for dust control hahaha I think I'll put one of these together and if I make a separate fence, it should be easy to add some dust collection.

[@sleepy03]

I enjoyed the video, love the way you attached this. I like the fence but worry that after cutting through both pieces there no protection for you aluminum if you accidentally set it too far forward.

[@CommonwealthCreations]

Just have to be careful! :)

[@homie817x]

What do you think about removing the existing wing and make the whole extension out of MDF and attached to the cast iron table?

[@homie817x]

Nathan Penrod yup it is sure more durable than wood but do you notice the wing flexes a lot?

[@davidredden8361]

homie817 I have the same saw and have the same flexing issues.

[@mtucker502]

Can you describe the workflow you used for creating the CNC/G-code/etc?

[@mtucker502]

Thank you Nathan! Which size Shapeoko do you have?

[@frankposterello1628]

Did your table and fence come with that black bar connecting the front and rear rails, or did you add that?

[@CommonwealthCreations]

I bought my table saw used. It came with it.

[@gerlibs2069]

1st, i need to get me that r4512 then the rest should come along.

[@tylerarnet3658]

Dude. You should make these and sell them! I know I’d buy one.

[@lakewooddr3586]

What is the name for the vise u using?

[@frankcornfield5915]

Is the router powerful enough? I was thinking of doing a similar project but using a half in 12.5mm router with a 1,500w unit.

[@CommonwealthCreations]

It depends on what you want/need the router to do. I use it for simple roundovers and chamfers.

[@ARMALPEEd]

If you have a CNC mill, why stoop to a router? Kidding. A lovely video Why square-headed screws, thugh?

[@CommonwealthCreations]

Its what I had laying around. :)

[@MrMuhs]

Do you have to adjust your rails now that your fence has MDF? Does it not sit at 0 anymore?

[@CommonwealthCreations]

The MDF is not permanent. It is friction fit.

[@jeramiet154]

I think most people who want to make a router table extension probably don't have CNC to play with lol

[@LordPadriac]

I was wondering who has the spare cash to drop on a CNC and doesn't spend the extra sixty bucks on the self vacuuming attachment.

[@CommonwealthCreations]

CNC's are becoming prevalent in many small woodworking shops as they are becoming affordable. I did not label this video as a how-to video, just showing how I made mine. Thanks for watching.

[@sampantiliano]

Where can I get info on that CNC? I’m looking for one that won’t break the bank.

[@jwfortenberry2640]

Not everyone has a cnc router. I have the same saw but I don’t know what the notches are for.

[@CommonwealthCreations]

You're right, not everyone has a cnc router. I saved up and bought mine. CNC's are becoming prevalent in many small woodworking shops as they are becoming affordable. They are a great addition.

[@jocoseness]

Good video, now you need to wax it down. I would have used the rip fence t-track to secure the router fence so you don’t lose 1/2 inch on the saw side.

[@dangermartin69]

It's removable. He didn't screw it to the fence.

[@mattpetker1937]

How do you make fence stay still

[@CommonwealthCreations]

The fence is the same as the table saw fence. There is a handle that you push down which locks into place. :)

[@marcellocaetano7531]

Are not legs required to support additional weight?

[@rickwhite3700]

Required not they are

[@CampfireCrucifix]

@@rickwhite3700 Calm down yoda

[@regibson23]

Oh just gimme a break with the CNC machine. What are the notches for at the two corners?

[@sleepy03]

I believe it's to allow clearance for the mounting hardware for the cross bar

[@CommonwealthCreations]

CNC's are becoming prevalent in many small woodworking shops as they are becoming affordable. I did not label this video as a how-to video, just showing how I made mine. Thanks for watching.

[@HoosierGeorge]

Your MDF will not warp if you seal it with spar varnish on all exposed surfaces…..

[@langstonjones69]

Please make me one and take my money!! I'll go buy that exact model router to go with it or buy and send an insert plate to build into it.

[@langstonjones69]

I'm serious. I have a TS3660 and I need this extension.

[@user-ti5df1jg7t]

👍

[@malcolmgregoire1019]

Would have been nice to have some verbal communication to go along with the video. I thought silent videos went out of style in the 1930's.

[@CommonwealthCreations]

haha too funny.

[@ngoti8tor]

Just wanted to mention that you used the wrong type of screw (7:07) for a countersunk hole (7:28). The countersink is tapered and the screw has a flat part on the bottom of the head. Should have either used a flathead screw (with a taper on the bottom of the head and the countersink, or your screw (with a flat part on the bottom of the head) with a forstner bit.

[@bilodo4]

Yeah but how much did you have to pay for that machine. I guess everybody has those laying aroun the shop...

[@rogdotcom]

Nathan Penrod ok I’m curious, what did you mean by “check out my IG”, if that’s Instagram then I’m stumped, I looked all over and can’t find you under Nathan Penrod in Instagram, help me out as I’d like to see more. Awesome Router Table Insert video by the way ! 👍

[@tonycastaneda135]

I will buy the CNC table first to make the router insert 😂😂😂😂

[@pinkeye00]

So, $1500 CNC... ok.

[@CommonwealthCreations]

Yeah, I used my cnc to make a plate to mount a router. I use my cnc to make jigs and other parts as well.

[@BrandonBristow]

well...that was just cheating

[@jason4547]

He lost all credibility with me when he squared up his work piece in CNC router with a plastic Harbor Freight speed square... lmao

[@CommonwealthCreations]

Interesting observation. I'm glad I was able to make you laugh.