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Author here. It's funny how I am writing blog posts on all kinds of stuff for years. Including typical hacker news content like programming or electronics, but

Author here. It's funny how I am writing blog posts on all kinds of stuff for years. Including typical hacker news content like programming or electronics, but it's a wood working article that ends up on hacker news :-) To everyone having much better ideas on how to build or buy a router table: I'm sure you're right. But this is what works for and was affordable to me in my current situation. If my situation changes I might try one of your solutions. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and feel free to subscribe to my RSS feed or leave a comment if you have any questions.

codazoda 6y ago
I appreciate the article for one specific reason. I cut a hole in my table and then routed around it but my handheld router slipped deeper. So, the groove was too low. I used some cardboard to sure it up, but I'm not happy with that solution. Your article has sparked my imagination for some better solutions. I'm thinking I'll cut the hole all the way through and then 3D print some plastic corner pieces.
Robelius 6y ago
The part where you said “Time to void your warranty” was one of the best one-liners I’ve seen in a while. It definitely marks the point in a project where you tell yourself that you’re either committing to finishing this project or committing to wasting a lot of money.
- splitbrain 6y ago
  Heh. Yeah, I had to keep reminding myself that this is a 55 EUR router, so messing it up would suck but not be the end of the world.
linsomniac 6y ago
This is really cool and gives me a lot of ideas for my own router lift. Over the last year I've been building a modular workbench using 2040 aluminum extrusion as the skeleton. I have a "sidecar" for my contractor table saw (which otherwise stows on a slide out shelf for storage). One of the 2'x4' workbench pods then acts as an out-feed, and I can use the others as a combination of in-feed, left and right wings, or more out-feed. One of the coming-soon projects is to make a router side-car, and the easy answer is to drop $500 on one of the fancy router lift / fence combos. Having a hard time pulling the trigger on that though... Maybe even put some steppers in it and get some CNC component to get some "DRO" and "tool change position". That might be real nice.

codazoda 6y ago

I appreciate the article for one specific reason. I cut a hole in my table and then routed around it but my handheld router slipped deeper. So, the groove was too low. I used some cardboard to sure it up, but I'm not happy with that solution. Your article has sparked my imagination for some better solutions. I'm thinking I'll cut the hole all the way through and then 3D print some plastic corner pieces.

Robelius 6y ago

The part where you said “Time to void your warranty” was one of the best one-liners I’ve seen in a while. It definitely marks the point in a project where you tell yourself that you’re either committing to finishing this project or committing to wasting a lot of money.

splitbrain 6y ago
Heh. Yeah, I had to keep reminding myself that this is a 55 EUR router, so messing it up would suck but not be the end of the world.

linsomniac 6y ago

This is really cool and gives me a lot of ideas for my own router lift. Over the last year I've been building a modular workbench using 2040 aluminum extrusion as the skeleton. I have a "sidecar" for my contractor table saw (which otherwise stows on a slide out shelf for storage). One of the 2'x4' workbench pods then acts as an out-feed, and I can use the others as a combination of in-feed, left and right wings, or more out-feed. One of the coming-soon projects is to make a router side-car, and the easy answer is to drop $500 on one of the fancy router lift / fence combos. Having a hard time pulling the trigger on that though... Maybe even put some steppers in it and get some CNC component to get some "DRO" and "tool change position". That might be real nice.