Stuck on a project

[Jeff Ivers]

My next project is to build a router table. I have in my mind that I need to acquire a piece of formica about 2' by 3' or a piece of formica laminated plywood that size to use as the top of the table. I can find 4' by 8' pieces (much $) but can't bring myself to spend that much due to the amount of waste material and no ideas how I could use the extra material. The Habitat Restore is closed due to Covid so I can't hit them for a possible section of salvage counter top. Anybody know of a source for small pieces? Is there another solution I should be considering?

 

[couch67]

go with 3/4" melamine. I made one out of this 10+ years ago and its holding up.

 

[harley jim]

Are there any counter top shops around you, they should have a redo or something they took out.

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[Bogie1632]

The big box stores are open and usually have some small countertop sections available. 4ft piece is like $60 but would leave you little waste.

Any reason you don't buy an existing router table top to build off of? Just a thought, but for me the choice simplified router mounting, raising/lowering through the top, fence adjustment, and it was aluminum so it's pretty flat for my needs and I dont worry about corrosion in my unheated garage. At some point I'm building a workbenches with a table saw and my router table incorporated in to the work surface. Don't get me wrong...I'm all for building from scratch. This just worked easier for me and allowed me to keep my adjustable router base on the table ready to go. YMMV.

V/R
Bogie

 

[PCustoms]

1/4" tempered hardboard.

A 4x8 sheet is like $15

 

[Sevenhills1952]

I would think metal would be better. A table saw to me looks like it would be ideal, you'd have the fence guide. I would think you could get one cheap, a bad motor, etc.

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[LeonardY]

Try a local plywood supplier. They often have cutoff scraps they mark down.

Big box stores have 3/4 melamine in 2x4 sheets.

Or

https://www.woodpeck.com/router-table-tops-mdf.html

I called them and asked if they had seconds. I got an entire router table and cabinet for $120 or so. The table edge protector was damaged. The guy threw in some replacement material.

 

[BigSteve63]

Depending on where in OK - I am in corner of SW MO; have a sheet i would give you.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

go with 3/4" melamine. I made one out of this 10+ years ago and its holding up.

That is a possibility, but I have not been able to find it in small pieces either.

Are there any counter top shops around you, they should have a redo or something they took out.

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I found two and one of them has referred me to a tile place that I will check out tomorrow.

The big box stores are open and usually have some small countertop sections available. 4ft piece is like $60 but would leave you little waste.

Any reason you don't buy an existing router table top to build off of? Just a thought, but for me the choice simplified router mounting, raising/lowering through the top, fence adjustment, and it was aluminum so it's pretty flat for my needs and I dont worry about corrosion in my unheated garage. At some point I'm building a workbenches with a table saw and my router table incorporated in to the work surface. Don't get me wrong...I'm all for building from scratch. This just worked easier for me and allowed me to keep my adjustable router base on the table ready to go. YMMV.

V/R
Bogie

I checked Lowes and HD closest to me with no luck. I have since done an online search and found a Lowes across town that is advertising some short countertops. If the tile shop falls through, I will check them out.

I am on a kick to build cabinets to hold key items (planer, belt/disk sander, and router) that will also store other items to free up counter and floor space. For that reason, I wanted to build from wood and I have already acquired T-track and a router mounting plate. Another goal is for clamps and stops, etc that I already have made to be interchangeable between drill press table, table saw sled, and router table.

1/4" tempered hardboard.

A 4x8 sheet is like $15

Price is good, but still leaves me with extra material.

I would think metal would be better. A table saw to me looks like it would be ideal, you'd have the fence guide. I would think you could get one cheap, a bad motor, etc.

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

Good idea, but doesn't meet some of the design goals that I did not include in my original post.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Depending on where in OK - I am in corner of SW MO; have a sheet i would give you.

Thank you for the generous offer. I am over by Tulsa, a pretty good drive away. Still have some leads to run down locally.

 

[Stuart in MN]

A sink cutout from a counter top is just about the perfect size for a router table.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

A sink cutout from a counter top is just about the perfect size for a router table.

Bingo - that is exactly what I was hoping to find. Of course, I have struck out on that too. I finally found a 4'; countertop, that thanks to a chip, I got for $25. Not exactly what I wanted but it will do. Of course now that I have it, I will probably stumble across half a dozen sink cutouts or countertop returns at dirt cheap prices.