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Router tables and what-not

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By Dave, on 11-06-2008 10:33

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Published in : Cheap woodworking, CheapWoodworking

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I got a few questions fired at me by BJ and others concerning my review of the Ryobi Router table. Yes, there are many ways to make the small tables functional, there are many varieties available and NO, one table is NOT going to suit everyone. I once knocked together a tablesaw/router table combination from a piece of plywood, a router and my circular saw. It was incredibly ugly, a pain in the backside to use, and worked until my budget allowed me a more refined approach. The point of that example is very simply, you do what suits you, your budget, and your ability.

I look back on that plywood setup and wonder that I still have all my fingers! However, I produced finished goods and sold some of them. Each and every tool you own, you SHOULD know how to use it and get the best from it. Rushing out to buy the latest and greatest whatever only works for those who have more money than common sense. Sure, there are really great tools popping up all the time and some of them are well worth buying. Tools, regardless of model, is purely a personal choice. A lot of folks watch NASCAR and get all charged up over their favorite driver, the points race, and all things NASCAR. Other folks don't understand the fascination and don't know a blasted thing about NASCAR. You can easily substitute your favorite sport instead of NASCAR. The point is tools are just the same. I personally drive a Chevy. Yup, I hear the boo-hiss of the Ford lover, or the Dodge fan. None of that phases me, my last truck was a FORD. I drove a Dodge van for years as my work vehicle. I am biased to Chevy but realize all of them will do the job. The same is true with tools. A quick search around the internet will produce plans for router tables, simple to really fancy. I have no doubt each will perform just fine, depending on the operator. Many years ago I attended a tool show where a guy was building wooden boxes using an Incra-jig. The table he was using was marginal at best yet he produced great boxes. He KNEW his tools, especially the Incra-jig, and impressed me to no end with his ability. The right router table for YOU, is the one that works for YOU. The right router table me is the one that works for me. Right now it is the Ryobi A25RTO2.