Craftsman Professional Router Table - Thoughts?

[tooljunkie4]

Another of the things my father left behind.

He had a habit of ignoring the presents he had been given. Even things he expressed a clear desire to own.

This one was purchased for him in the late 90's. The box got leaked on once or twice by a burst pipe. Never got pulled out and assembled.

Amazingly, there doesn't appear to be even one fleck of corrosion on it.

I'm not a carpenter or cabinetmaker. Google is of no help with this model number.

How does this router table stack up as a router table?

 

[neophyte]

I’ve never used that router table, although the Craftsman Professional Routers were being made by Bosch at one point, so it may be similar in quality to the aluminum topped router tables made by Bosch, or maybe Skil or Vermont America, since all three brands were owned by Bosch, and made stuff for Sears around that time period.

 

[mike93lx]

They're OK. I had one for a while, the sheet metal stand is uninspiring but it worked fine

 

[milkovich]

Man, that must be a rare bird, I couldn't find anything on lumberjocks. I'd say that's a pretty basic router table. it does have a dust hookup on top which is good, but it looks like it doesn't have any kind of lift, or insert to get to the router. The router itself may have a small dust port as well when you decide what router to put in there. I think it'd be cool to set it up and use it. The other thing that might be handy is the width of the cast table top. Check and see if it is the right length to easily drop in as a wing of a common table saw like a craftsman 113, delta, or rigid. Again, the only thing I see that really annoys me about it is not having a router lift or access plate at the very least which makes work a lot quicker if you use a router much.

 

[Gutman]

I've got one. It works, however mine seems pretty flimsy. I've been toying with figuring out how to stiffen it up but I've not done it because I've not really used it lately and I've got many other higher prioity tasks. I'm thinking about how to mount it, a planer, and a jointer into a functional but compact base of some sort.

 

[finn]

I have a Benchtop version of that. It’s pretty lightweight, so I had to bolt it down to an old cast iron top Craftsman table saw top and legs.

The top and general construction look the same, or at least similar.

I’m not a woodworker by any means, and only have an older made in Japan Ryobi trim router. It’s a pain to set up the router on the table, so I really should keep my eye out for a full size router I can dedicate to the router stand. I might use it more, then.

 

[Gutman]

It’s a pain to set up the router on the table

Can confirm. Forgot about this aspect, as I subsquently picked up a porter cable and my craftsman router (and table) saw much less usage.

 

[RMERR]

I had the benchtop version too. Worked OK, had to clamp it down, but it worked. Tossed it when I got a table with a Jessem lift, setting the bit height with a screw/socket on top is so much smoother and efficient. While the table here seems to be in remarkable shape, I honestly wouldn't want it, I would never go back to a router table without a router lift mechanism.

 

[txvwnut]

I had one for a little bit, it would leave gray marks on light colored wood. I sold it with my Craftsman routers after I bought my Bosch router setup and made a dedicated router table.

 

[Vinny]

I too had the bench top model, and a Craftsman router. It works pretty well. Gave it away after I built a router table that connects to my table saw.

 

[The Cobbler]

OK for a 1/4" router & small pcs. hard to set precisely . don't expect too much from it and it should serve you decently

 

[neophyte]

I had one for a little bit, it would leave gray marks on light colored wood. I sold it with my Craftsman routers after I bought my Bosch router setup and made a dedicated router table.

Renaissance Wax.
It’s a microcrystalline wax, that dries fairly hard.
It was allegedly originally developed as a protective coating for metal items in museums.

 

[tooljunkie4]

Renaissance Wax.
It’s a microcrystalline wax, that dries fairly hard.
It was allegedly originally developed as a protective coating for metal items in museums.

Are you saying that renaissance wax is the cause of that marking problem, or its solution?

 

[RTM]

I've seen the Craftsman tables before, not sure if I've seen a Craftsman Pro. I've passed on them due to poor performance reviews, and flimsy feel.

I have a Bench Dog table top, bought before they put a ton of new features on it. Was much more rigid than the Craftsman.

If you weren't planning on using a router or router table, I'd pass it on. If you do use a router, do you do enough repetitive or critical work to make it worth the space it will take up ? Do you do enough to set it up and test it out, see if it makes you happy? Worth the loss of value vs IOB if you set it up?

 

[tooljunkie4]

I've seen the Craftsman tables before, not sure if I've seen a Craftsman Pro. I've passed on them due to poor performance reviews, and flimsy feel.

I have a Bench Dog table top, bought before they put a ton of new features on it. Was much more rigid than the Craftsman.

If you weren't planning on using a router or router table, I'd pass it on. If you do use a router, do you do enough repetitive or critical work to make it worth the space it will take up ? Do you do enough to set it up and test it out, see if it makes you happy? Worth the loss of value vs IOB if you set it up?

I imagine the enclosure panels add rigidity to the unit.

There are no immediate plans to get involved with woodworking. I'm tickled that this thing isn't rusty, but it can find a new home without bruising any feelings. Consider it to be for sale. Will be adding it to the classified thread of things my father left behind.

 

[RonnieC]

I have the benchtop version that I “permanently borrowed” from my dad about 30 years ago. I actually used it on a good few projects. However, I concur with what everyone else says about it.
I’ve finally got a nice woodworking shop and have been upgrading to better equipment. I have nicer routers than the craftsman in this table but still don’t have a router table. I keep waiting for the router to die but it just keeps chugging along.

 

[neophyte]

Are you saying that renaissance wax is the cause of that marking problem, or its solution?

Renaisance Wax would provide a thin layer of clear very hard wax, that might prevent metal from wearing off the surface of the router table.

 

[Max]

I had the benchtop version too. Worked OK, had to clamp it down, but it worked. Tossed it when I got a table with a Jessem lift, setting the bit height with a screw/socket on top is so much smoother and efficient. While the table here seems to be in remarkable shape, I honestly wouldn't want it, I would never go back to a router table without a router lift mechanism.

Completely agree. Once you have a lift, a good fence, and good dust collection you’ll never go back.