I finished my new Router Table Cabinet today.
The Router Table replaces my previous table in which I had mounted my 1¾HP Bosch motor in a Jessem lift held in a platform that was mounted in a wing of my table saw. While the previous table was solid, it was lacking a miter track and its work surface was smaller than I liked. The new table uses Woodpecker’s 27×43 inch top giving me plenty of solid work surface, a miter track, and, with the cabinet, plenty of storage area for my router related tools AND the motor was replaced with a 3½HP Porter Cable motor!
Update 3/13/2013: I’ve added the router bit storage trays. The design places similar bits (straight, round-over, cove, jointing, etc.) in a single, removable tray. The tray can be pulled out like a drawer to retrieve a bit, or can be pulled out entirely to allow me to place the entire tray on the table top for bit selection. Also, an entire set of trays can be pulled out as one ‘drawer’ if I want to look through the entire set. Very convenient!
The design of the cabinet was influenced by a secondary goal, this is the first prototype for the Kitchen cabinets I plan to build for the Little House in the Village. Consequently, the false drawer front restricts a more optimum use of the space to the right and left of the router motor. Regardless, this is vastly superior to what I had before and gave me a chance to try out some of the concepts for the Kitchen cabinets.
By the way, when building the cabinet, I build the cabinet box first and then, after mounting the top, used this Router Table to route the parts for the cabinet doors. This gave me a chance to try out the Router Table right away. I like it!!!!
RouterCabinet
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/routercabinet/thumbs/thumbs_rc_0006.jpg]6000Doors open to show internal space.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/routercabinet/thumbs/thumbs_rc_0007.jpg]6080With pullout shelving extended.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/routercabinet/thumbs/thumbs_img_4263.jpg]5550Showing Router Bit Storage trays
Each tray can be individually slid out or an entire side of trays can be pulled out as one 'drawer'.[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/routercabinet/thumbs/thumbs_img_4264.jpg]5170Router Bit Storage trays closeup
Note the complete strip of bits placed on top of of the table. Very convenient![img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/routercabinet/thumbs/thumbs_rc_0001.jpg]5090Here's the stack of cabinet box parts showing the cypress edging.
The edging and cabinet fronts are painted with a custom blended Milk Paint. The edging with then be top coated with wipe on water based polyurethane.[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/routercabinet/thumbs/thumbs_rc_0002.jpg]4820I found some beautiful Cypress for the door panels.
Not book matched, but both panels are from the same board.[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/routercabinet/thumbs/thumbs_rc_0003.jpg]4580Another view of the front.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/routercabinet/thumbs/thumbs_rc_0004.jpg]4200Another view of the front.
Very nice