Woodworking: DIY Ultimate Router Table Fence Tutorial

I have a Grizzly G1023RLW table saw with the built-in router table wing, but I have never used the router table feature. This is because I didn't have a good fence option. Grizzly suggests bolting a wood fence to the existing table saw fence, but this is too permanent for me. I would like to be able to use the table saw fence in combination with jigs and fixtures, and if there is a wooden router fence bolted to the back side of it, this limits what can be used. I decided to build a fully functional yet removable router table fence. One that has adjustable melamine faces and even built-in dust collection. I built it with MDF because it is more stable than wood or plywood, and it is usually very straight and true. Also, I had some laying around and didn't have to buy it! The rough dimensions I used are at the end of the video, but you should customize yours to your particular brand and needs.
Video music is "Stellar Wind" by Unicorn Heads. Logo design by Brandon Kettle. Filmed on my iPhone X with my iPhone camera stand.

[@markdyson9513]

You sir need to mass produce this design. This is incredible and straight to the point. Thank you for this.

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Wow what a wonderful comment! Thank you. I have found it a very useful design myself. Thank you for watching and taking the time to leave an awesome comment!

[@LongestCon]

I'm just making a fence for my non-tablesaw router table, but I appreciate the process and decisions here, and the angles. Well-delivered and clear. Thanks for the video!

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thank you Mike! I’ve really gotten good use out of mine. I thought long and hard before I built it, and I think I got all the features that it needed for my purposes. I’m glad it could be of help to you too! Thanks again!

[@mikewelch3903]

Having spent 6 days in the hospital last year for not wearing breathing protection, I admonish you and everyone else; You MUST wear dust protection. BTW, darn nice fence!!! 😊

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thanks Mike! I admit that like most people, I tend to neglect breathing protection too often. I’ll try to do better in the future. Hope you are fully recovered. Thanks for the comment.

[@KevinsdadNorb]

This is fence I have been looking for! Going to add a router lift to my table saw and I have been trying to figure out the fence. Nice video - easy to watch and follow, thanks for posting.

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

That’s awesome! Glad I could help. Thanks for the kind words and good luck with your build!

[@martyc513]

Just added a router table to my table saw. This is the fence I need. Thanks.

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

That’s awesome! I’m so glad you found it helpful. Thank you so much for the kind words and view!

[@rogergrannis7219]

Great video! Really well done.

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words and the view!

[@Pbitty1218]

Excellent video. I have to replace both my table saw extension AND router tabletop/fence, so this was the perfect approach for a 2-for-1 solution!

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thank you so much for the kind words! I’ve really enjoyed using this set up. It works great, and clamping it to the table saw fence gives it a great sturdy adjustable backer. Thanks again!

[@retiredpaul2887]

I'm starting to build a fence with your design. I like how you attached the dust collector. I just built a separate table saw fence to hold it. I also plan bottoms for the two openings. 👍

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Awesome Paul! I’ve been pleased with how it works so far. I’m glad it was helpful, and I love seeing others tweak my designs to make them more functional for them. Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words!

[@bernardmoret7117]

Building a fence for my homemade router table (using the Veritas plate), so watched many videos. This was my favorite: I loved the design and the construction tricks and I can easily modify the design to have it run on a pair of T-tracks. I'ill be working on it this coming month.

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Wow thanks Bernard! I thought and planned it a long time in my head, and it turned out better than I had hoped. Best of luck on your build, and thanks again for the kind words!

[@brendaedwards7396]

Bruce in N. Michigan: just finished making the fence. A good idea is to spend a little extra time rounding over the 45 degree edges with the sander. They are very sharp and I’ve cut myself on them. Epoxied the slider panel bolt heads in the countersink instead of having a stop nut on opposite side. Saved having to make the additional router channel for it. Appreciate the simple effective design. THANKS!

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Those are great tips. Sharing ideas and learning from others is what is so wonderful about the online maker community. I’m thrilled that you made this and that my video was helpful! I appreciate the watch and the kind words as well as the tips! Keep up the good work!

[@DavidSmith-hs4lr]

Thank so much for this video It is exactly what I was looking for

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thanks David! I’m glad it was helpful. I appreciate the kind words!

[@kevinrich4637]

Great solution! Have a great 4th!

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thanks Kevin! It’s been very useful so far. You have a safe and happy 4th as well!

[@psford1]

Hey great build, great vid!

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thanks so much for the kind words!

[@MostFear]

Thanks for posting this build! Not applicable to my needs… I have a stand-alone portable work table which can serve as a router table. But the general concepts for the whole build are excellent! First video I’ve watched on your channel and loved it!

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Wow, thanks so much for the kind words. It’s really been a great fence. Glad you liked the video. I have lots of fun sharing with the community. Hope you’ll subscribe and watch some more! Thanks again!

[@kenf8581]

Nice solution

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thank you! I’m really pleased with how it turned out. I’ve used it several times and wouldn’t change a thing.

[@eduardo_da_vince]

Very good my friend

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thank you so much Eduardo!

[@LostBoyLA]

Really nice

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thank you so much! It works wonderfully too!

[@lotharfunke8749]

Nice 👍👍👍

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thank you so much!

[@oldskoolwayy]

Nice...but woodworkers know they dislike wearing a respirator when cutting wood especially MDF which I dont understand why is still being sold

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thanks for the comment and view. MDF dust is definitely not good to breathe in, however as a product, MDF is very stable and takes paint well. I don’t think it will go away anytime soon. Thanks again.

[@stephenbustos]

You got the monstrosity identification, correct 😂. That thing is way too big. It could have been as short as the original fence. If you needed to route with a board standing vertical, you just need to clamp on or screw on a taller sacrificial fence for that operation.

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Thanks for the comment Stephen, but I maintain that I got the design correct. The problem with clamping on a taller auxiliary fence is that your clamps will be in the way on the fence face. If you screw it on and off repeatedly over time, eventually you degrade the fence to the point of replacing it. Lastly, with a short fence design, incorporating dust collection would be difficult at best. Thanks.

[@balazslakatos9817]

I wouldn't call this "ultimate".

[@thetennesseetinkerer]

Wow. You are correct. That was a typo. It was supposed to read “Mediocre Router Table Fence”. I’ll get that corrected right away.

[@balazslakatos9817]

​@@thetennesseetinkerer sorry if I hurt your feelings, dont get upset, but this fence provides very little features, like it or not this is not an ultimate, all-rounder soultion.