Hi All:
I have a router related question.....
I want to build a router table before building my cab.... (well... to trim the edges.... give it a nice little touch....)
and I have a porter cable 7529 plunge router... (I think that's a very nice router...)
Instead of dishing out $200 to get a router table, I want to just buy a router table plate, get a piece of hardwood / nice plywood and route the opening... then mount the router on to the plate, then I can hang that thing upside down....
(this way... I should at least save $50+ and still have a useable router table....)
I did some research....
Rockler does have that... the table package is like $200.... and they also sell the METAL router table plate for $50... (after tax and S&H.. becomes $60+...)
http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/showdetl.cfm?offerings_id=1385&objectgroup_id=432&catid=80&DID=6that's a little expensive...
so, I'm looking for other alternatives.... (cheaper ones...)
Lee Valley does have a cheaper alternative...
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?SID=&ccurrency=2&page=41776&category=1,43000Their's is like $30.... but its not METAL... its something called Phenolic... I search... and it seems like its some kind of hard plastic like material.....
Does anyone knows if this is strong enough ?? (Rockler's website claims that plastic plate will sag.... and my router is big and heavy....)
ok.... then I went searching for more.....
and in MLCS... I found this clear plastic thingy....
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/routacc1.htmlgo lower of the page and you see this "CLEAR PLASTIC PLATE" sells for like $15 or so for 3/8"....
They also have a router plate kid for $40... which is made of that 3/8 inch thick Phenolic also...
My question is.... I'm NOT a professional woodworker....
but I do like building cabs, and general wood working...
so, I WANT to buy something that will let me use easy and NOT BREAK EASILY....
Do I need to dish out the $$$ and buy the METAL plate ?? (I guess that would be the strongest !?!?...) or, will I be good enough getting the Lee valley Phenolic plate ??....
or the MLCS Phenolic plate ??... or even that clear plastic plate ??
Anyone uses any of the above ??... have any advises ?? Opinons ?? Suggestions ?? Experiences ??
Anyone has a router table setup which is easy to work with and would like to share the idea ??....
Thank you thank you for your help....