[Dave Sal]

Hey guys,

I have an old Ryobi router that I want to mount to an old Craftsman Industrial router table. I removed the plastic base from the router and screwed the router base onto the router table insert plate. Tightened all the screws snugly and noticed that the router was loose and moved a bit.

I removed it, put the plastic router base back on and screwed it to the router table insert plate again. This time it seems well secured and no longer moves.

My question is, is this acceptable? I've read that the router base plates should be removed before mounting onto a router table.

Both of these items belong to my father, who wanted to clear out his garage since he no longer uses them. I'm planning on making shaker style cabinet doors in the near future and the router table will come in handy.

Thanks

 

[ratherbefishing]

I don't remember removing the plastic base from my router before I mounted it. But if you're nervous about it, remove the plastic and make a replica out of masonite. Mount it rough side out and get great traction between the router and table.

Never done it. Just brainstorming.

 

[ron45]

With the base removed did you try shorter screws.

I ordered a router table from the Sears catalog about 32 years ago.
I still have and use it in my shop-on-wheels. I have to anchor it because of vibration.

It's just like this one. There wasn't much to choose from back then.

 

[DexterII]

I have noticed this in the instructions for several different brands of routers, but have also seen various ones mounted with and without the phenolic or whatever base and with no consequence either way. My thoughts are that it may have to do with air flow since you are running the router upside down so to speak, or that it may have to do with the length of mounting screws that come with the router. Maybe they figure some people won't recognize that they're going to need longer screws with both the original plate and router plate in place so it's best to tell them to remove the original one. Either way though, as long as it isn't creating dust collection problems and your screws are the right length, I don't think it's critical.

 

[Nealtw]

I would build a real table for the router. There are lots of plans on line.

 

[DexterII]

I have that same one Ron, except it's closer to 40 years old. Nothing fancy, and a little small by today's standards, but it worked fine, and, as you said, there weren't many choices back then. A few times I needed to mock up some extensions for longer stock but otherwise had no problem with it until my old Craftsman router died. None of the routers today seem to fit it, I know my Dewalt's don't and none of my buddy's I've offered it to have routers that fit it, so I have since made a new table and just a week or so ago decided to carry it down from the loft and put it on the scrap pile.

 

[ron45]

I have that same one Ron, except it's closer to 40 years old. Nothing fancy, and a little small by today's standards, but it worked fine, and, as you said, there weren't many choices back then. A few times I needed to mock up some extensions for longer stock but otherwise had no problem with it until my old Craftsman router died. None of the routers today seem to fit it, I know my Dewalt's don't and none of my buddy's I've offered it to have routers that fit it, so I have since made a new table and just a week or so ago decided to carry it down from the loft and put it on the scrap pile.

I still got my Black& Decker circular saw from back then too, I call it " The Screamer " I use it to cut up junk.

 

[ratherbefishing]

The picture on that instruction manual looks just like my router table, too. I have mine screwed to a board with a cleat on the bottom. I clamp it in my Workmate. Nothing fancy, but it works. I've made almost all the molding in my house with that table and an old Black and Decker Professional (looks just like a DeWalt 610) router. Buy some bits and have fun!