Hi,
I am building a new router table and was wondering if I should include a
miter slot in the top. I have not used the one in my old table very much,
but that is probably because my old table really sucks and I don't use it
for much of anything.
Do you use your router table miter slots a lot? Would some sort of sled
referencing off the fence be just as good. Is there a downside to having a
miter slot in a router table?
The top will be 1.5 inch MDF with high pressure laminate on both sides, and
edge banded in walnut. (it's what I have currently available).
Thanks for your input.
MikeG
"MikeG" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
Snip
>
> Do you use your router table miter slots a lot? Would some sort of sled
> referencing off the fence be just as good. Is there a downside to having
> a miter slot in a router table?
I use the slot only for attaching feather boards. I do not use a sled but
do use a piece of plywood about 10" square to push some pieces through.
Pat
What is the advantage of the setup in the photo or conversely the
disadvantage of a routed slot and track. Doesn't this setup reduce the bit
height capacity.
I installed a miter track for feather boards and finger joint jigs, I
haven't seen any down side to it being there. Table 1 1/2" with router lift
installed.
Thanks Joe
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I wouldn't.
> Alternative = http://www.patwarner.com/images/mitergage.jpg
> Trap blade between to pieces of MDF, no need for slot.
>
> http://www.patwarner.com = Routers
>
i use it for featherboards and my coping sled. The top to my table is 1.75"
thick. I doubt a 3/8" deep dado is going to weaken it in any way enough to
cause flex. It hasn't going on 5 years with a PC 7518 hanging under it.
Mike
"MikeG" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I am building a new router table and was wondering if I should include a
> miter slot in the top. I have not used the one in my old table very much,
> but that is probably because my old table really sucks and I don't use it
> for much of anything.
>
> Do you use your router table miter slots a lot? Would some sort of sled
> referencing off the fence be just as good. Is there a downside to having
> a miter slot in a router table?
>
> The top will be 1.5 inch MDF with high pressure laminate on both sides,
> and edge banded in walnut. (it's what I have currently available).
>
> Thanks for your input.
>
> MikeG
>
"MikeG" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I am building a new router table and was wondering if I should include a
> miter slot in the top. I have not used the one in my old table very much,
> but that is probably because my old table really sucks and I don't use it
> for much of anything.
>
> Do you use your router table miter slots a lot?
No, but it has been used.
How many hours are you going to put into making the table? How much longer
will it take you to add the miter slot?
"joey" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Pat
> What is the advantage of the setup in the photo or conversely the
> disadvantage of a routed slot and track. Doesn't this setup reduce the bit
> height capacity.
> I installed a miter track for feather boards and finger joint jigs, I
> haven't seen any down side to it being there. Table 1 1/2" with router
> lift
> installed.
> Thanks Joe
The advantage of the set up in the photo very minimally is that the slot in
the picture stays parallel to the fence. A regular fixed slot is a bear to
have parallel to the fence.
MikeG wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am building a new router table and was wondering if I should include a
> miter slot in the top. I have not used the one in my old table very much,
> but that is probably because my old table really sucks and I don't use it
> for much of anything.
>
> Do you use your router table miter slots a lot? Would some sort of sled
> referencing off the fence be just as good. Is there a downside to having a
> miter slot in a router table?
>
> The top will be 1.5 inch MDF with high pressure laminate on both sides, and
> edge banded in walnut. (it's what I have currently available).
>
> Thanks for your input.
>
> MikeG
>
>
I use mine for feather boards like the other poster mentioned.
sometimes I even use a miter gauge to hold the work piece, but more
often than not, I just back the workplace with a wider board.
Dave
I use the miter slot in my router table all the time, mainly for
featherboards, but even use a variety of "sleds" to handle smaller
pieces parts, etc.
John
On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 20:59:10 GMT, "MikeG" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I am building a new router table and was wondering if I should include a
>miter slot in the top. I have not used the one in my old table very much,
>but that is probably because my old table really sucks and I don't use it
>for much of anything.
>
> Do you use your router table miter slots a lot? Would some sort of sled
>referencing off the fence be just as good. Is there a downside to having a
>miter slot in a router table?
>
>The top will be 1.5 inch MDF with high pressure laminate on both sides, and
>edge banded in walnut. (it's what I have currently available).
>
>Thanks for your input.
>
>MikeG
>
On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 20:59:10 GMT, "MikeG" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I am building a new router table and was wondering if I should include a
>miter slot in the top. I have not used the one in my old table very much,
>but that is probably because my old table really sucks and I don't use it
>for much of anything.
>
> Do you use your router table miter slots a lot? Would some sort of sled
>referencing off the fence be just as good. Is there a downside to having a
>miter slot in a router table?
>
>The top will be 1.5 inch MDF with high pressure laminate on both sides, and
>edge banded in walnut. (it's what I have currently available).
>
>Thanks for your input.
>
>MikeG
>
slots weaken the table, making a point where it can flex. they gather
shavings and crap and are a place where your board can snag. since the
cutting action is rotary rather than linear there is no particular
reason for the slot to be better than the fence as a reference line
for jigs. I make my router table sleds to straddle the whole table and
reference both edges, using neither slots (which there are none) or
the fence, which I remove entirely for the purpose.
On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 20:59:10 GMT, "MikeG" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I am building a new router table and was wondering if I should include a
>miter slot in the top. I have not used the one in my old table very much,
>but that is probably because my old table really sucks and I don't use it
>for much of anything.
>
> Do you use your router table miter slots a lot? Would some sort of sled
>referencing off the fence be just as good. Is there a downside to having a
>miter slot in a router table?
>
>The top will be 1.5 inch MDF with high pressure laminate on both sides, and
>edge banded in walnut. (it's what I have currently available).
When I made mine (same basic construction as you're describing), I
opted to leave it out for several reasons. First, I didn't use the
one in my old table, and never really thought of a good use for it.
Second, it made the old table (which was only a sheet of 3/4" ply)
really prone to bouncing and bending- and I didn't want my good one to
do that. Third, I laminated both sides (in my case, I used ply, not
MDF) to make sure that humidity fluxuations affected both sides
equally, and I didn't want to undo that effect by compromising the
surface- of course putting the hole for the plate in does just that,
but it goes all the way though, so both sides are affected in roughly
the same way. And fourth- and this one is the most important- I have
a router, it's a nice flat surface, and there is already a fence right
there- which means if I change my mind later, I can route the dado for
the miter slot in about ten seconds- it makes a lot more sense for me
to wait on it until I know I need it for something, especially since
the retrofit it so easy.