Over at Ikea Hackers, Jan van Cappelle shared their router table project.
It’s a compact table made from a Bekvam kitchen cart, Bekvam spice racks, Besta threaded inserts, and Behandla wood oil. Some of the parts can be sourced from elsewhere, such as the threaded inserts. The Bekvam cart does look like a nice base, and it’s made from solid wood too.
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They also built a small power box with safety key and what looks to be an emergency stop.
What I like about this project is how the router table is probably less expensive, and certainly requires less effort, than if you were to make one from scratch.
I would be slightly concerned about the top remaining true and flat over the years, but since it’s laminated butcher-block-style, and not a single solid wood slab, dimensional stability and flatness should remain pretty good. Personally, I do like using solid wood much more so than MDF and other manufactured wood products, despite their typical greater flatness.
It’s not really clear how the fence is attached to the tabletop, but the Ikea Hackers post says that it’s a reused commercial router fence. You can buy a router table fence for as little as $50 or so, or as much as $200 and up. There are plenty of DIY solutions out there.
The Bekvam kitchen cart comes with additional cross-shelf slats. What did the maker use them for? Chisel and tool racks. (Nice.)
Andy from Workshopshed says
That’s a great project, I might have gone for something similar when building my drill table. You can buy independent “No volt release” switches that act as a emergency off switch and importantly ensure that the router does not come back on after a power cut.
Nathan says
very nice idea .
complete side note – I was looking at a portable worktable from Husky the other day.
Other than being sturdy, portable, and capable – it has a tray to mount your router to and becomes a router table with slide clamps. all for 69 dollars.
I was thinking about buying one and putting a power box to go with. That project of course looks better.
Andy from Workshopshed says
I’ve got a couple of portable tables a simple workmate type one for wood and a strongarm for welding. However I need to find proper storage for them as they currently get it the way when not in use.
Nathan says
the item I mention in the post is this.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-8-ft-x-3-ft-Portable-Jobsite-Workbench-225047/205887786
Travis C says
I have this table. I like this table. However, I returned 2 before I came to conclusion the top is not flat on all of them. The center is bowed up, quite a bit. This negates its usage as a router table but still makes it a very functionable table that I use often. This table is a great compliment that I use with my 2 Keter adjustable leg folding tables.
Stuart says
Thanks for the reminder! I’m sorry I hadn’t gotten back to your email yet!
I was at first surprised to hear you say it’s bowed up at the center, but I suppose it makes sense. For $70 for the whole shebang, that router plate might not be thick enough to stay true with time.
Dave in VT says
Nice. Stuart, regarding your concern about the top remaining true, I agree with your assessment, but The Wood Whisperer has a vid about using a router and sled jig to flatten any workbench or plank:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtkBZHLJyD0
As always, great tip Stuart!
Yadda says
Some many great things to possibly do and so little time!
ktash says
Nice tip! If I needed a router table (or had room for one) a kitchen cart would be excellent.
I got a garage sale Crate and Barrel kitchen cart for $10. It had very nice wood. The fasteners had loosened up and so it was wobbly with no way to tighten them. I took it apart and refastened it with pockethole screws. It was unfinished and a bit stained, so I sanded and finished it. It’s rock solid now and looks great. This one will stay in the kitchen, but it would work well as a router table. It’s bigger than the one shown. Just another idea.