Features

• Includes cast iron router top, fence, insert plate, and hardware
• Mounts to almost any right-tilt 10" table saw
• Accepts Feather-Loc featherboards, Panel-Loc, and fence riser options
• Fully adjustable miter track with 3/4" miter gauge t-slot and accessory t-slot
• Flat, square and true fence stows away when not in use

Reviews (9)

Garage Shop SPACE SAVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just received this 40-031 and was amazed at how easy it was to install. It was a little heavy but I put the center bolt in first and just swung it level and put the other 2 bolts in. I have a Delta Grand Series Contractors Saw and it matches up to the saw perfectly. Of course I was covered in oil after installation. All parts were there and a few extra set screws and bolts came with it. It may have taken me 30 or so minutes to install by myself. Now I can get rid of my cabinet style router table and open up some more space. The only small gripe about Bench Dog is that I called them to ask a question at around 1:00 pm and had to leave a message for the tech guy to call me back and I didn't get a returned call until the next day at 4:30pm. But he answered my questions and was very nice. DON'T HESITATE TO BUY THIS ROUTER TABLE!!

Amazon is the only place that I found that had it listed for under $300. Plus the free shipping is great. It only took 7 days to receive it. Now I'm looking for a router to dedicate to the table. I know I'll buy it from Amazon I just can't make up my mind.

JOHN B
Just received my Bench Dog 40-031. There have been questions about mounting on left tilt table saws, so I was concerned because I have a Powermatic Artisans saw - years old but still works. The instructions say there IS an issue with left tilt cabinet saws - interference with moter and that must be the case because I had NO problems at all with my contractor style saw. In fact the whole install took less than 45 minutes including "play" time. I love this table so far,compact convenient, tough. Could be less bucks though.

Question about compatibility (Updated)
Update(5/19/04): The ProMax arrived yesterday and I installed it by myself by the end of the night. There are no interference issues with my Dewalt 746 tablesaw and Dewalt fixed router base that I plan to leave permanently attached to the ProMax router plate.

The cast iron extension is a significant improvement over the stock stamped steel wings that came with my Dewalt saw (bigger, flatter, smoother).

I haven't made any sawdust yet with this setup but so far it has been a tremendous value when you think about how much you actually get (fence, router plate, cast iron extension wing).
(END OF UPDATE)

Tim Malone wrote a review that said the ProMax was the perfect fit for his Dewalt 746 saw. I just talked with someone from BenchDog and they had some concerns that the ProMax would have interference problems because my DeWalt is a left tilting saw. Tim (or anyone for that matter) can you tell me if your Dewalt was a left or right tilt saw. I was not aware of Dewalt making the 746 in a right tilt version. If there is anyone out there that has installed the ProMax on a left tilter, please let me know.

Thanks in advance,
Bob

Initial Impressions, Installation
Here are my initial impressions on the Cast Iron Table through installation. I will update this post after I use it some.

The wing is boxed well and though there was a little damage to the box, the contents were in good shape. The first thing I noticed when beginning assembly is the screws and bolts were packed in some random order. I recommend dumping them all into a ziplock bag before starting. This will save you some time having not to disassemble or look for other bags. The wing is well coated with oil. I used simple green to remove the residue. After it was clean, I assembled it to the saw. Fit up was good and this wing is flat (more flat than my saw). The fence is quality and went together with no problems and the insert leveled with no issues.

Now for the reason I gave this product a 4 star rating. The wing is supplied with hooks to hold the fence when not in use. These hooks share the same hole as the attachment screws for the miter gage. The problem is that the holes were not tapped all the way through, they stopped about 1/8" shy. I have three options, to tap the holes myself, return the wing (now that it is fully assembled), or not use the hooks at all. The last option is not an option as far as I am concerned. I will speak with Bench Dog customer service tomorrow to see what they can do. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, they shorted me one lock washer as well.

Update 4/23/04, I moved this from a 4 star to a 5 star due to their customer service. I called and they sent me a tap to complete the threads. The were willing to replace the wing but I have done a lot of metal work in the past so finishing the hole was no problem. They were aware of the problem and were very appologetic. I used this on some cherry and boy is it nice. I would recomend this to anyone who has a space constrant in their shop.

Customer Service
First of all I would like to say that this is strictly a quality product. A perfect for for my Dewalt 746. Adjusting the router bit height could not be any easier due to no cabinet around the router. Due to my getting one of the first new type shipped I had to call customer service about a couple of issues. I just started up a shop and have had to call Powermatic, Dewalt, Bosch, Shop Fox, Delta, Kreg etc.about missing bolts, nuts, etc. and Bench Dog was by far the most knowlegeable, helpful and shipped the replacement items the fastest. I would not hesitate to buy anything this company manufacturers. ... Read more

Features

• Extruded aluminum fence
• Includes top, fence, pre-drilled router plate, and cabinet
• Fully adjustable miter track with 3/4-inch miter gauge t-slot and accessory t-slot
• 22-by-16-inch laminated work surface
• Accepts most routers

Reviews (35)

Good for the price, but...
This is a good router table, for the price. That being said, I did have some problems. That's why I only gave it 4 stars. Unlike one of the previous reviewers who said he assembled it in 45 minutes... it took me 3 hours. This included a trip to the hardware store, because the hardware package provided was incomplete. No screws were provided to attach the subfences. (I used 1/4" x 1 1/2" carriage bolts for this and that seems to work adequately.) Also, I had to cut a couple of the insert bracket screws to allow the door to close, because the shorter ones specified were missing.
My other gripe is that I also purchased the pricey auxillary switch... it's a good switch, but didn't install as I had anticipated. I had intended to mount it on the bottom miter track slot, as per instructions. According to the specs for the switch, 'all new Bench Dog router tables come equipped with this slot'. However, the new RT150 ProTop I just purchased did not come equipped with this slot. That was a minor disappointment, and also increased the assembly time while I figured out another acceptable way of mounting the switch, as I definitely did not want to mount it on the fence.
The assembly instructions provided are very good and easy to follow. And they thoughtfully provide a nice assortment of screws for mounting most brands of routers to the insert plate.
I do recommend purchasing this router table. It's much better than any other I've seen in this price range.

They should double-check the hardware packages.

Quality well built table
This is my first router table and I don't think I'll ever have to buy another one. This thing is really nice. I am very impressed. I shopped around and looked at the Porter Cable (which got so-so reviews) and Craftsman (seem cheezy) but didn't want to spend an arm an a leg on some of the larger tables. Yet I still wanted quality. This has it. At a very reasonable ptice too!
It's heavy enough to keep it from sliding around, but has a lip on the bottom to clamp it to the work surface if you need to. It also has a lip on the table top for clamping feather boards etc.
The fence is solid, straight, and easily adjustable. It can even be shimmed(shims included) to be used as a joiner. Mine came with an upgrade from the acrylic plate to the phenolic plate. Nice suprise. It comes with a drilling template for mounting many popular routers to the blank plate. The instructions for assembly are straight-foward and easy to follow. It probably took me a half hour to 45 minutes to assemble taking my time.
The only drawback I have found is that you need to open the door to get to the power switch on the router. It would be nice if it had a switch built in to control the router and vacume, but then I guess it would cost more. I'll just add my own I guess. Benchdog does sell the switch if your intrested.
Because of that it really should get 4.5 stars.

WOW - A GREAT TOOL FOR BEGINNER OR PRO!
I received the Bench Dog Router Table last week from Tyler Tools (they shipped the product the next business day and I received it two days later! - instead of waiting for 1-2 weeks for shipment from Amazon and at the same price). It took two hours to assemble and route my first piece of wood. After a few adjustments I was doing perfect dovetails, v-cuts, chamfers, dados, etc. Not bad for someone who has never used a router before! I put the Bench Dog table on my workmate bench. It is heavy (44 pounds without the router) and is very stable during operations. Of course, I clamped the table to the bench for safety. The fence is easy to adjust and one side can be offset for joinery cuts. The tabletop had predrilled holes for all types of routers - I used the Dewalt 616 router.

If you are looking for a router table, look no further!

Also on the waiting list.
Ordered this item on June 19th. Just got an update that the expected arrival date is July 28-Aug 3. Don't buy it here if you expect in in 1-2 weeks.

Wonderful Smaller Router Table
Just recieved and very pleased. Finish is perfect. Easy to put together. Tested it using my Porter Cable router on some walnut scrap - quiet, no vibration, great dust collection. Had a Rockler portable table that scared me every time used it because it was not stable - tossed it in the trash today. ... Read more

Features

• 19-3/4 by 16-3/4-inch table
• Dust collection hood size 2-1/2-inch

Reviews (11)

Porter Cable Drops The Ball
I am usually a big fan of Porter-Cable products, but this one is a dud. The fence is clumsy and hard to adjust, the miter gauge slot has substantial slop in it, and ridges in the table are rough and sometimes mark work. I bought it as part of a 3 piece kit - the "Ultimate Router Workshop." The cost was less than as a stand alone piece, so I'll probably keep it. If I had purchased it as a stand-alone item, it would be returnsville! If you're serious about owning the PC 1 1/2 hp routers with both bases, purchase them separately and pony up the extra cash for a more refined table. You'll thank yourself later.

Don't kid yourself- this is a quality tool
I was surprised to see sub par reviews for a porter cable tool but I thought the price was right so I went ahead and bought it. Let me say that this is a top notch router table. I understand the difference between quality tools and cheap imitations and you won't be dissapointed with this. The fence is a two-parter but it's so easy to adjust that it shouldn't scare you away. Plus, it lets you use shaper bits to make mouldings and fancy edges. The $$$ price tag with free s&h made this guy a steal...

Overlooked design fault
I only bought this machine yesterday but found a design fault almost straight away. I only found it because it almost cost me a [$$$] panel raising bit! The problem is that the ring inserts for the table vibrate and jump when the machine is in operation. I'm surprised that PC have overlooked this dangerous design fault. Either use some wooden or perspex ones or find a way of securing the metal ones whilst in operation. Everything else about the table is fine and it would have received 5 stars but for this fault.

Not up to PC standards I expected
I just bought one of these and already am having second thoughts about keeping it. Like alot of others, I thought by buying a PC product it would be top of the line. First, the table looks unfinished with both the front and back wide open. Second, the darn thing only has two inserts. One with a small opening and the other with a huge opening. I think everyone that reads this should call PC and complain about that. How much trouble could it be to provide another insert with this table. Oh yes, by the way this metal insert (nothing but a big washer)just lays in the the hole unattached and bounces around when in use.
Lastly, this router table is better than some I saw, but then again it should be...[for the price].

nice little table
As a hobby woodcrafter, I find this table quite adequate for my needs. I've seen the high priced/high quality tables and I'm clear this is not in that league, but for what it is designed for, it does very well.

I only have a couple of complaints, but most of them have been worked out so that they aren't an issue.
1st, the table casting was rough, so I filed the burrs smooth.
2nd, the table top doesn't appear to be totally rectangular, though the infeed and outfeed sides are parallel and that's all I care about.
3rd, you only get two insert rings. It would be nice to have at least three.
4th, the insert rings don't sit flush to the table, they are a tad short. This only causes a problem with very short work pieces and larger bits.

That's about it for complaints. At first I thought the dual fences were a bit fiddly, but I got used to it quickly and can set it up fairly fast.

I haven't had a problem getting the fences to lock square to the table. I find using a large rafter triangle really helps speed this process up.

I really like the switch located on the outside of the leg as well, that's way nicer than having to reach under every time!

My miter gauge and slot seem to work just fine and are square to the fences.

Overall a great little hobby table, but probably not to useful for any real production work. ... Read more

Features

• Limited lifetime warranty
• 1/4-by-1/2-inch lip
• Rings snap out to accommodate larger router bits
• Snuggers remove excess play
• Shoulder pin can be used to start freehand work

Reviews (16)

Rousseau Base Plate
Not a lot to say about this product. It is made of very solid material and is very easy to install. Getting the router centered on the plate is the hardest part of the install and this was made easy by the circle marks on the bottom of the plate. All you have to do is find the set of circles that is the same size as your router base and clamp or tape it down.

I would have given this product a 5, but the center rings are a little difficult to remove. I like to use the plate just as much out of the table as in so i am ordering another to install on my second router.

Rosseau router plate
I had some trouble getting my router centered in the plate. However, I found a way to overcome this: If it is a Porter Cable, collapse the router base all the way down until the base plate engages the collet nut. The nut will serve to center itself within the inner base plate removable rings. Sandwich the OEM router base plate between the router base and the new base plate. Use double sided tape to hold it in place. Now the OEM plate and the Rosseau plate should be stuck together. Set the unit up in a drill press and the OEM plate will have the holes located fairly close. Good luck!

Centering a Bosch router is easy
Bosch 1613 and 1619 routers (and probably others) have clearance holes for mounting to a Bosch table. You can drill the Rousseau insert plate using the circle patterns on the underside at those locations to get reasonably close to center, mount the router with 10-24 machine screws and nylok nuts, and center it using a Porter-Cable 1/4 inch template insert and a 1/4 inch drill rod chucked in the router. Snug up the mounting screws and you're done.

The plate fits very well, although it is JUST large enough for the 1619 without rotating it on the insert. I did use the Rousseau template to cut the hole and rabbet the edge; you can make your own using the instructions with the insert, but for $14-15 it didn't seem worth the time.

It's OK but its not flat.
Its actually pretty wavy. Received mine about 2 weeks ago and setting up a table for it. The surface has waves in it about 0.01 - 0.02 in depth. I was hoping for better. I may chuck it and start over.

Installation tip makes the Rousseau plate even better
I wanted to add to my other review. I must admit, the installation tip that I am about to discuss, I discovered by from installing the Bench Dog RT-250 router extension table. It is the way Bench Dog does their installation. The great idea is to use melamine screws, which have flat ends, and coarse threads to make an adjustable platform for the Rousseau plate to sit on. Ok, let me ramble.
The problem is trying to rout out the opening, at precisely the proper depth, so the plate is perfectly flush with the top. A little too deep and you have a valley. A little proud, and you have a ridge to run into, and run the risk of your workpiece coming to a halt. So what to do? Rout out a 1/16" or 1/8" deeper than is necessary. Then drill holes a little smaller than the melamine screw size all around the outside lip. Since melamine screws are not tapered, the threads are the same size for the full length of the shaft. You can look up melamine screws here at Amazon with a search. They refer you to McFeeleys, which is a great business, with instant service, and a full array of screws and fasteners. Much more variety than the usual home centers. They have a box of 50 available. Ok so what is the big deal about using the melamine screws? This is it, by using the screws with the flat tips, screwed in from underneath, all around the circumference, you wind up with a fine adjust system for getting the Rousseau plate, perfectly level with the table top. Combining that with the four countersunk holes in each of the corners for securing the top, you get an incredibly adjustable platform for the Rousseau top. I used 14 melamine screws, equally balanced around the circumference. It enabled me to fine adjust the plate so well, that I was able to completely eliminate the ever so slight crown in the plate. Although I did attach it to a wide base plunge router, which I am sure contributed to the leveling.
Since the adjusting screws are now the contact point for the base, you are now given a lot more freedom in routing the opening. For one, you don't have to rout up to the edge all the way around. You can rout to just one depth, and for example create 45 degree angle corner shelves under the plate, thereby creating greater overall stability of the greater table.
This melamine screw installation is not exclusive to new installations, it can be easily done with an already installed plate. That way if you are dealing with a small dip on any edge, it can be easily corrected.
I thank Bench Dog for turning me on to this installation method, and to Rousseau for making such a great router plate. Once you install any manufacturers router plate using melamine screws for adjustability, you will never want to do it any other way. Hope this helps. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This is like an amusement park for the woodworker, right out of the box. The trusty Porter-Cable 691 router has that wonderful D-handle with the power switch mounted right where you want it, and it delivers 1-3/4 horsepower and 23,000 rpm without fail. Add to that the plunge base, one of the best in its class, yet another fixed base, and Porter-Cable's own router table. Porter-Cable's clever auto-release collet system pops bits right out--no more tapping and coaxing. We've always liked Porter-Cable's accurate micrometer ring-depth adjustment, too. The table is a nice, compact 19-3/4 by 16-3/4 inches, big enough for your work piece yet not a space hog. We were impressed with the 2-1/2-inch dust port on the rear cutter guard as well as the split-fence design, and the miter gauge rode snugly in the slot on the model we tested. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• One year warranty/30 day performance certification
• Powerful cutting action
• Machined aluminum motor housing
• 100% ball-bearing construction
• Quick-adjust split fence

Reviews (17)

Great value, but shaky table
I got this kit at Home Depot during their Christmas Eve sale. The router is everything I had heard it would be, and the combination of bases is perfect.

The D-handle base solves the problems people have with the top-mount switch; the plunge base is perhaps not the ultimate plunge router, but not many will use the plunge feature enough to care. You also aren't paying for the ultimate plunge router here, and the 690 is relatively light and easy to handle compared to the 3-1/4 HP models. (Curious, isn't it, how the jump from a 10 amp to 15 amp motor results in a 216% increase in horsepower? You learn that trick in Marketing, not in Physics class.) It is easy to set depth stops, the action is smooth and the depth lock is positive and easy to use. I like the third base, to leave installed in the table; it makes moving the motor in and out of the table a snap.

I agree with other reviewers that a spindle lock would be handy, but I can live with needing two wrenches. After all, you are still going to need to pick up one anyway, so it's no big deal to pick up two. The releasing collets are a nice feature; whoever said that he had trouble getting the bits out didn't read the instructions. Just turn the collet nut out till it hits the C-clip, and turn a little more; the bit comes loose.

The router has plenty of power, and is rated to use up to a 2-1/4" diameter bit. So if you want to use this as a shaper and push 3-1/2" raised panel bits, you should look elsewhere.

I have two main complaints with this set; first, since there is more than one base included, there should be one of each size of baseplate furnished; it is silly to put the small-hole baseplate, for use with template guides, on both of the non-table bases. This means that when you want to run a cutter larger than 1" diameter you must go to a tool store (the hardware store probably won't have it) and buy the 2-1/2" hole baseplate for extra.

Second, the table leaves a lot to be desired. Of course you aren't paying very much for it; there are plenty of router tables that sell for more than the price of this whole set. I figure I actually paid maybe for the table over the price of the motor and bases in the set; it is certainly worth that. My sample had a tight-fitting miter gauge, and it interchanges with the clamping gauge and the tenon jig from my table saw, should I need the additional functionality. I was able to improve the function of the fence considerably by replacing the two boards on the split fence with a single 6" wide piece of birch plywood, appropriately cut to clear various bits. I removed the guard, as it made it impossible to run stock thicker than 1-1/2", or most boards on edge. Watch your fingers if you do this!

P-C says that the table must be firmly bolted down for use; if not bolted it is certainly flimsy. To maintain the portablilty, I attached two 30" 2x4's crosswise front and back with carriage bolts, and fasten them to a couple of sawhorses with deck screws when I want to use the table. I find 42" to be a perfect height.

As someone else mentioned, the table is intended only for use with P-C routers.

If the table were better, the package would be 5 star
The router and the interchangeable bases are excellent. It is great to be able to switch one motor easily between 3 bases (table, D handle, and plunge). It is easy to adjust the height in the table, since it is a helical mount...just turn left or right to go down or up. The price on the package is fair.. what you are paying for is primarily the motor and the 3 bases... I estimate about [$$$]. This means you get the table for about [$$]. Thats not a bad price for the table, but its not the best table either.

In summary, its a great package at a fair price. If you are looking for something to raise panels, you may want to get a variable speed router with a smooth table. For all other projects, its great and I would buy it again.

More Problems...
I've had this router work station for about 8 months now. I've probably only logged about an hour of run time on it and have encountered several problems. Shortly after I started to use it, the power switch fell out of the cover. I looked by this thinking that porter cable is known for good quality. The switch still won't stay in. After about the 3rd time of using it, it got stuck in one of the bases and I spent several hours trying to remove it. It's only done that once, but it was so frustrating to deal with at a time I needed to use it. The plunge base has moved on me a couple of times while running, like it doesn't stay locked into place. Most recently, It started to make some noise while running it. I began to notice small pieces of plastic falling out of the cover. I removed the cover and found that the 'Plastic' fan on the motor arbor had completely sheered all of it's fins off. I also noticed a piece of wood in with them. Obviously, a small sliver of wood had fallen in the motor(because there's no protection from this while in the table) and removed all of the cooling fins on the fan. Now, I need it again, and I must send off to be repaired. I know that industry is moving to a lighter and cheaper way to make things, but plastic in some things is just not durable and reliable. It may just be me having all of these problems, but I just simply haven't had much luck with this setup. The table is extremely shakey, it works, but I would rather use a home made one rather than this. The table is definitly not worth the money. I like the ergonimics of porter cable, but I'm honestly not completely sold yet on quality of their new products.

Router is Great - Table is a Joke
but it *can* be made useful...I bought my PC router and table kit new (including the floor stand that is not included here) and materials to make the table top and fence useful. I threw the aluminum top and the dippy "fence" away and salvaged the remaining pieces for reuse with a shop-made top and fence. TIP: Buy the PC 69x router combo kit (fixed & plunge) but build your own table and fence.

Best value for my money!
This is my fifth router. I bought it for the small and light jobs. Router is impressive. Table is rock solid. fence may need improvement, but acceptable, and I entend to "fine tune it". When you do the calculation, I got the table and the fence for [a low price] What a deal!
Thanks Amazon, Thanks Porter- Cable. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Isn't it time to chuck out that aluminum router table? Use this system once, and you'll never settle for less again. Freud has put together a complete router table system that offers precision, ease, and affordability all in one package. Freud is known for its routers, and this model is one reason why. This powerful, 3-1/4-horsepower variable speed workhorse is specifically designed to be mounted in a router table, unlike the typical plunge router. The large, easy-on-the-hands micro-adjust knob makes the most minute depth-of-cut changes while the machine is mounted--something other manufacturers should take note of. This router proves itself worthy with a soft start as well as constant speed and power under any load, eliminating the need for a shaper in the small shop or home workshop. Should you use this router out of the table, you'll find the controls are ergonomically placed for ease of use. The fence in this collection is the best we've seen for the price. A full revolution of the micro-increment knob gives .050 inch of travel, and there's even a dust-collection port. We'd like to see Freud put a little color on the gradations for better visibility, but that's our only complaint. A little Wite-Out would do the trick for the consumer. The high-pressure laminate top on the table we examined was super smooth, blemish-free, and perfectly flat, with an MDF core that will never warp. The aluminum T-track will take a standard miter gauge, too. We liked the rounded corners, having whacked a noggin on square corners before. Best of all, the top and base plate are predrilled for a perfect match. If you're mounting this saw on a Workmate, fear not--instructions are included. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Pre-drilled router mounting plate with snap-in reduction rings
• Complete router table system
• T-track accepts standard miter gauges and accessories
• Large 32-by-24-by-1-inch table surface
• Micro-adjustable

Reviews (3)

A little upgrade
The particle board(melmolene?)guides had too much flex so I replaced them with 2" X 3/8" X16" aluminum guides milling the same slots and recess as on the wooden ones. Now I have a perfict piece of equipment worth 5***** .Maby some one will make this available.

great value
worth every penny, great for a weekend woodworker not a pro

Pleasure
Frued PKG0024
As my use of the router has been increasing I needed something better than my old Craftsman 12X16 aluminum table with enough said about that.
I decided to take a chance on the frued system. Well I am completely satisfied, not one complaint. The router is super and the collett was already in so no problem there. I do agree that the collect nut would be better with more depth on the nut.
The fence is awesome doesn't have as much backlash in the adjustment than a good lathe. The plans for the base give surface dimensions that they recommend. Other than that they are useless. I consider this a good piece of equipment and recommend it in lue of building your own ... Read more

Features

• See "From the Manufacturer" for list of all of the items that are included.
• Die-Cast Aluminum Table Top - Large precision machined 27"x18" work surface
• Precision interlocking 27" aluminum fence - with fully adjustable bit opening
• Easy-access locking on/off switch
• No-flex" mounting plate pre-drilled for a wide variety of routers

Reviews (22)

Patience pays off.
It took me about 8 hours to assemble this table properly. I needed that much time as I'm a perfectionist. :-) All said and done, after hassling with the table router insert to get it perfectly level, I ended up with a fine product. My hat's off to Bosch for again building a good product.
I mounted my Bosch 1617EVS router in the table and it all worked like a dream and was worth the time it took to assemble.
I would buy one again in a minute if I needed another one. PS: I would be willing to share my procedure on leveling the insert.

Amateur Woodworker/Machinist
NICE PRODUCT! I would normally build a table or stand for a power tool. When I investigated building a router tables I found that a good top, fence and insert would cost as much as this table. So I bought this table and put it together in about 3 hours, I have a Dewalt 618 router both the fixed base and the plunge base mount directly into the original insert plate without drilling any extra holes. The accuracy, ease of use, and quality makes this a very good purchase. Bosch did a nice job with this one.

Patience pays off
It took me about 8 hours to assemble this table properly. But it was worth the time. Some people could assemble it quicker but I'm a perfectionist. It takes a little work to get the router plate insert perfectly flat and I would be happy to share information. All said and done, I ended up with a great router table. It's well made and should last a long time. With
my Bosch 1617EVS mounted, it cuts like a dream. I really like this table and I would buy it again in a minute.
:-)

Do To Ivan and Dawn.....
I'm going to go ahead and buy this! (Smiles!) A great woodworking buddy of mine has it and is thrilled.

I bought a 1617 awhile back and am enjoying it!

This seems like a perfect match made in heaven!

ummmm...(not Ivan and Dawn)...I mean my router and table!

Dawn from New York
HEY DAWN I DID READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND BOSCH OFFERED TO SEND HARDWARE TO FIX IT SO UP Y---- ... Read more

Features

• Router table fence for MM2500

Reviews (2)

I like it
This fence adjusts easily, mounts and dismounts easily and quickly, connects to the dust collector conveniently, and in general works as expected. The only thing I wish were different is that the baltic birch face is not protected, as another reviewer commented. My solution was to cover it with UHMW plastic and double-sided tape. Laminate would work also, but the UHMW solution is quick, inexpensive, durable and easily replaceable.

solid tool
This is a fine piece of equipment that will outlive you.

The bit is enclosed in a box that can easily be attached to a vacuum. Drill 2 holes to attach it to any existing router table(I mean uh,.. any existing router table that you are able and/or willing to drill holes in). All of the parts and hardware are high quality, heavy duty and accommodate large fingers and hands. The voidless 13 ply fences are easily adjustable.

I bought mine years ago, so my information might be dated, but the only thing I can think of that would make this a better tool out of the box is plastic laminate on the face of the fences. I did this myself long before the first job I used it for was completed. It just seems natural to me that Rousseau would protect that sweet plywood and at the same time give this tool a look and feel that is similar to the rest of their product line.

) ... Read more

Features

• Heavy-duty tubular steel legs
• 32-by24-inch work surface
• Precision-machined 24-inch aluminum fence
• Dust collection port for vacuum hose

Reviews (2)

recover needed space in your shop
if you need to have flexibility in moving your tools around and want to avoid stationery equipment, this is the router table for you. Full height with the removable router base plate frees up your work area. I keep several routers mounted to separate bases with different bits to minimize change-overs when wood working. It is another of my Rousseau collection

Great Portable Router Table!
While I'm new to the router game, this table is
great for its features and fold-down capability.

Strengths: Sturdy, portable, folds down, good
router fence w/exhaust port, t-miter track on table....

Weaknesses: Shipping box was damaged enroute
causing "one" of the back corners to get marred and
a small chip out of the table top***, fence does not
have a t-miter track, no on-off switch, no centering
template to assist with the placement of your router
on the base plate.

*** Rousseau was more than willing to replace the
router table top due to the shipping damage or
offer some accessories....

Suggested Accessories: Feather-board, on-off switch,
elevated back-boards w/t-miter track, router centering
template. If these accessories were included and
no shipping damage, I would have rated this a 5 star...

Would I buy again... YES!!!! this is a GREAT STURDY
TABLE that folds away in a FLASH!!!! Rousseau is a
great company that stands behind its product... ... Read more

Features

• Increases stands rip capacity to 49 inches while adding router capacity
• Accessory for the PM2700XL

Reviews (3)

Good idea... but poor design
I bought the router extension as an add-on to the outstanding porta-max series of table saw stands. I must say that I have found it to be mainly useless.

1. This router extension slides into the portamax rails and is leveled to the portamax table surface using set screws. As soon as you apply a load to the router extension, the set screws dent the portamax rails. This makes levelling difficult and of course causes unsightly damage to the portamax.

2. The otherwise excellent portamax fence is useless as a router fence. The vibration and pulling motion created when routing with the extension table cause the fence to slide no matter how hard I was able to crank down the friction cam.

3. The thickness (or should I say thinness) of the particle board top and the choice of mounting points makes clamping an alternate fence impossible. Applying appropriate clamping force causes large bowing and flexing of the laminate top. The result is that once you discover that the portamax fence can't be used, you discover you can't clamp a straight board as a fence either.

4. The choice of the pop-out ring sizes in the plastic insert are such that the Dewalt DW-621 cannot be bolted to the insert and must be bolted to an intermediate plate which is then bolted to the insert. This is mainly Dewalt's fault since the DW-621 base is famously small and narrow.

The bottom line is that for $100 you do not get much. I only got the plastic insert which I built my own table around. Anyone looking to add this to their portamax should think twice. Save yourself the hassle and just buy the plastic insert.

could be better
it's a nice extension table and it's pretty easy to attach. i really like the high pressure laminate and the router plate.

on the downside:

i just wish they included the template for making holes for the fence with this extension table. it's a real hassle to measure up all the holes correctly

he he,.. the answer is no. I do not work for Rousseau.
Like most home improvements contractors, I place a high value on tools that bring 'shop' performance to jobsites without taking up valuable space in my vehicle and/or several heavy trips to load and unload.

This router table does that and has replaced other router tables because it is durable, accurate, more versatile and takes up a fraction of the space.

Like Rousseau's stable and accurate table saw mounting system, the extension table setup and adjustment, once done, rarely needs adjustment through repeated setups and breakdowns. You slide it into the table saw stand and you're ready to set up bits and/or fences.

While the router table is a great extension to the table saw stand, I use it just as often by itself by just spanning it across horses or a garbage pail(most sawdust goes straight to where it belongs. Though you could rig a shop-vac without too much thought if you need better dust removal).

While Rousseau's table saw fence can be used in this configuration for some applications and as a stable and accurate stage for jigs, their router table fence is another fine tool that deserves very serious consideration too.

Additional removable base plates are readily available(or can be easily made in the field). This allows you to mount a variety of tools to different base plates and swap them rapidly.

Several years ago, when I first bought the table saw stand, router/extension table and router fence system, I had doubts about its durability,.. and I'm beginning to wonder how many more times it will pay for itself and how many more years of abuse it will take for me to finally be able to claim I was right all along.

)

P.S. I found this company's customer support to be one of the best I have dealt with, and if y'all read these things, I'd like to thank you again for helping my distributor get your product to me more quickly than they thought(or told me was) possible. ... Read more

Features

• You can raise and lower router faster
• Made of solid aluminum with bronze bearings
• Includes one 1-1/2-inch insert, wrench, and hex key

Reviews (7)

no manuals
The Jess Em Mast-R-Lift arrived with out any manuals or supporting documents. The template was also ordered and is nothing more than a 16 X 19 in. by 3/4 in. thick MDF board with a hole in it without instructions. The $9.90 cost for the template is excessive as a 4 X 8 foot sheet of MDF can be purchased for less money.
The use of the template requires the hole to be cut with a 1/2 inch bit with a with a 3/4 inch bearing, none of which are supplied by the vendor.

If you have or are considering the Porter Cable 7518...
If you have or are considering the Porter Cable 7518 model, JessEm makes the MAST-R-LIFT which works great. Rockler has it if you can't find it here and there are adapters to fit other models. If you intend to use the 7518 only in a router table, then buy the MAST-R-LIFT and only the motor unit of the 7518. It'll save you some $$. Didn't know you could do that. You may get other router vendors via a replacement motor unit. If you're buying a 3+ HP router, that motor is going to be very heavy. Now some router lifts are L shaped and the motor gets strapped on the side. Over time you may not get the consistent support needed for heavy routers. The MAST-R-LIFT is H shaped--giving two vertical bars of support and balanced consistent support. The only bad thing, is I think these units (for their price) should include a template and instructions to route the supporting hole. You might also consider getting an external on/off switch. Also in your table design, plan access to that variable speed switch too. A motorized drive is a luxury and would have to be carefully stepped to get fine adjustments. The crank works great. I did find the plastic inserts a little stiff, but you can touch them up with a Dremel tool if need be. One last point. Always remove the crank handle before you change bits. I didn't do this once, and got a bad cut on my knuckle.

EXCELLENT ADDITION TO ANY ROUTER TABLE
HELLO AGAIN, I JUST FINISHED BUILDING AN EXTENSIVE ROUTER TABLE WHICH USES 3 OF THE JESS-EM ROUT-R-LIFT UNITS AND 3 PORTER CABLE 3 1/4 HP FIXED BASE ROUTERS. I HAVE BEEN USING A JESS-EM ROUT-R-LIFT FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHEN I BUILT A ROUTER TABLE TO USE WHEN I DIDNT NEED THE POWER OF A SHAPER. MY ROUT-R-LIFT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO ALL KINDS OF HEAVY USE IN MY CUSTOM FURNITURE SHOP. I DO ALOT OF WORK WITH MESQUITE WHICH IS VERY HARD AND TOUGH ON TOOLS. I CAN ADJUST MY ROUTER AND PERFORM ALL THE CUTTING THAT IS REQUIRED WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN SETTING. AFTER BEING USED FULL TIME IN THE SHOP I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY DOWN TIME NOR ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ROUT-R-LIFT. IT IS JUST AS TIGHT AND ACCURATE AS IT WAS THE DAY I BEGAN USING IT. AS FOR THE 200.00 PRICE TAG, ITS A BARGAIN, THE UNIT IS VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT AND USES GOOD QUALITY MATERIAL AND THE WORKMANSHIP IS EXCELLENT. THIS IS THE REASON THAT I JUST PURCHASED 3 MORE ROUT-R-LIFT UNITS FOR MY NEW CABINET DOOR MAKING MACHINE. I BUILT A 3 SIDED ROUTER TABLE THAT IS 36 IN TALL AND 6 FEET LONG WITH AND SHAPED LIKE A U. WHEN YOU STAND IN THE MIDDLE YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THREE ROUTERS, EACH WITH A DIFFERENT BIT. 1 HAS THE RAIL CUTTING BIT THE NEXT HAS THE STILE BIT AND THE LAST HAS THE RAISED PANEL BIT. THERE IS NO CHANGING OF BITS WHILE MAKING A RUN OF CABINET DOORS. I CURRENTLY HAVE 2 HIGH QULITY COMMERCIAL SHAPERS IN MY SHOP. ONE WITH A 3 HP MOTOR AND ONE WITH A 7.5 HP MOTOR. I WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT, I WANTED SOMETHING HANDY AND ANYONE THAT USES A SHAPER KNOWS THEY ARE NOT HANDY. THEY ARE ARE BIG AND BULKY AND YOU HAVE TO CHANGE OUT BITS ALL THE TIME IF YOU ARE RUNNING DOORS AND DRAWERS. DONT GET ME WRONG, I USE MINE ALL THE TIME BUT THEY HAVE THERE PLACE IN THE SHOP FOR RUNNING LARGE PIECES AND OR LARGE QUANTITY OF PIECES SUCH AS MILL WORK PIECES.ANYWAY THE ROUT-R-LIFT IS WELL WORTH EVERY DOLLAR WHETHER YOU ARE A PRO OR A WEEKEND WOOD WARRIER. I HAVE NEVER BEEN LET DOWN BY MY ROUT-R-LIFTS NOR DO I KNOW OF ANYONE WHO HAS HAD. I FEEL GOOD ABOUT RECOMMENDING THESE TO THE WOODWORKING FOLKS OUT THERE I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR THATS WHY I WILL ALWAYS BUY THE BEST. AS ALWAYS...HAPPY WOOD WORKING
FROM JAMES

Addendum
I've had the JessEm lift for more than two years now, and I've learned a couple of things.

I'm very satisfied with the quality of the lift. I've not had any problems at all with it. My cuts are smoother than when I had the router attached directly to the table (I don't know why), so no one has to worry on that score.

When using the PC7518 router with the Jess-Em, one can discard the standard base and make a base that brings the motor closer to the top of the table. Fine Woodworking magazine (issue 153 p. 58) has a picture of this as part of an article about building a router table. The purpose is to make changing bits possible without dismounting the router.

There are now other router lifts available that are similar to the JessEm and which have some useful features such as zeroing the lift scale, leveling screws, and direct motor mounting (ie, without the router base). They're advertized in FWW and probably other WW magazines. One make has a cast iron table! They also cost about $100 more, and I don't know what their quality is like. At these prices, if one includes the cost of the router and the table, one might as well buy a small shaper.

This is amazing!
This is one of the finest pieces of gear i have ever bought. It is so solid and well-constructed, that it makes the price more than worthwhile. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description

Over 440 square inches of work surface. Master power switch controls a router and another accessory such as a shop vacuum. Universal clamping system allows the mounting of most brands of routers. Heavy-duty fence system with dust port. Jointing attachment allows router table to function as a jointer. Miter gauge. Various table inserts. Conventional fence scales allow for precise adjustment. Retractable safety guard. Heavy-duty cast aluminum table. ... Read more

Features

• Conventional fence scales allow for precise adjustment
• Heavy-duty cast aluminum table
• Heavy-duty fence system with dust port
• Retractable safety guard
• Universal clamping system allows the mounting of most brands of routers

Reviews (1)

good once it's going
This product is a nightmare to assemble. So many parts, many of them needing to be aligned perfectly and there is a total absence of alignment guides. I spent more time assembling this little stand than I spent setting up my band saw. Absolute nightmare. However, once I got it together the table works nicely. It's very lightweight and easily moved around. You can bolt the legs to any surface if you need something really steady. What's strange about this product is the quality of the fence. It's much better than you'd expect. It has a very decent blade guard and it cuts true straight lines. For the money, you can't beat it though. ... Read more

Features

• Fits Porter Cable router tables 695, 696, 697, and 698
• All steel construction
• Stand height 24-1/4", Table height 38-1/2"

Reviews (1)

Good Stand but No Feet!
This stand is a perfect fit for the Porter Cable 691RS Ultimate Router Workshop, with which I bought it. Assembly was easy, and the stand sturdy as can be. The only problem (and it's considerable) is that it shipped without the rubber bushings (feet) that the directions said were included. So it slides. If the manufacturer comes through with the feet, it'll be a five for value and performance. ... Read more

Features

• Moving scales for a "zero" reference with any bit
• Heavy-gauge extruded aluminum construction.
• 36" length x 4" height
• Fits all tabletops from 24 to 32 wide and from 1/2 to 1-1/2 thick.
• Extruded and anodized for optimal durability

Features

• Durable polymer design for long life
• Guides and stabilizes taller workpieces
• Reduces kickback, binding, and bent blades
• Exclusive set-up feather makes setting proper tension fast
• Mounts to both standard 3/4" miter gauge slots and 1/4" T-tracks

Features

• Main table surface: 30 3/4" x 9 7/8"
• Sliding table surface: 30 3/4" x 12 1/4"
• Extruded aluminum sliding table and fence
• Accepts any brand of portable router from 3/4 HP to 5 HP
• Cast iron table can be tilted 45° for convenient router installation

Reviews (1)

no freud ft2000e use
My freud router mounted just fine but the collet was so far below table level it rendered my raised panel bit useless. The table is very stable and well made. It came to my house in only 3 days but because of the mounting sytem being so low it could render a lot of plunge type routers useless. ... Read more

Features

• Includes 4 tool-free mounting knobs for attaching and removing benchtop table
• Brings RA 1180 table height to 38-1/2"
• Very sturdy design

Features

• Precision machined from solid 1/4" thick phenolic
• Featuring JessEm's exclusive TAB-LOC design
• Install and remove insert rings with the flick of the unique two-prong insert ring wrench
• Pre-drilled centerholes of 1/4", 1/2", 1-3/8", and 2-1/2"

Reviews (1)

A must have for the Jessem Router lift
If you are investing the money to get the precision of the Jessem router lift, then shell out the extra bucks to adequately support your work closer to the router bit. Reduces tearout and improves control. Considering the boardfoot cost of hardwoods, if you save a half a dozen board feet from being ruined by dipping of the work near the bit, you will more than recoup the cost of this item. ... Read more

Features

• Base plates sized to fit the precut recessed hole in the Oak Park tabletop (NOT included)
• Predrilled to fit specific routers listed
• Predrilled hole to fit the brass fulcrum pin for molding irregular shape
• Manufactured of high quality phenolic guaranteed not to sag
• The bit hole is 1-1/2" diameter