The best router for a router table is the Dewalt Plunge Base Router, which has a soft start to reduce movement and make the start of your carvings much more smooth and perfected. While this router is compact and lightweight, there is also a sufficient base plate for you to be able to mount to a router table.
This router is cordless and therefore can be used easily without a wire getting in the way of your woodworking. The Dewalt Plunge Base Router is a great router for professional use with larger woodworking spaces, and to complete more impressive jobs.
We love that you can interchange the housing between the aluminium motor housing and the fixed base attachment, depending on whether you want to use the router portably or with your router table.
There are many great routers on the market to be used with router tables, but we think that the Dewalt Plunge Base Router takes the first place prize in our eyes. It’s ideal for larger, more impressive jobs by professionals, both in the studio and out.
Will any router fit any router table?
You can technically mount any handheld router to a router table, although this is not always advised. Some routers are better built for being used upside down than others, and there are clear features that will make using the router with a router table easier.
For example, some handheld routers have a larger base plate that can easily be mounted to the router table. Mounting a too-small base plate onto the table could be dangerous for the user if it were to come loose unexpectedly.
Not only would an unstable router coming loose ruin the craft that you were working on, but it could be incredibly dangerous to the user.
Some routers now also come with lift mechanisms built-in that you can use to adjust the height of your router without removing it from the table.
When fitting your existing router to a router table you should consider opting for a router lift that will do the same thing as the routers that already come with a lift mechanism. This will make using your router with a router table much easier and a more enjoyable experience.
Are all router tables universal?
No, unfortunately not all router tables are universal. While some might claim that they can be used with any router, they actually have limitations that stop them from being truly universal.
So, you will need to find a router table that either works specifically for your router, or one that is really universal. Most manufacturers make their router table inserts slightly different sizes so that you need to buy a router from them.
So, most router tables will work with the routers from the same brand as them. Due to this, it’s best that you check the manufacturer of your existing router, if you have one, for a router table that will work best with your existing model. The same can be said if you already have a router table and need a new router.
If you don’t have either of these pieces of equipment and are looking for both a new router and a new router table, you should look for the best manufacturer that offers both a router and a router table with similar specifications that you’re looking for.
If you find a universal router table and want to risk it, we would advise you to check the customer reviews beforehand to ensure that many customers have had a positive experience with the table. If there are a lot of negative reviews stating that the table was not truly universal, don’t ignore them and hope for the best. Chances are that it is not going to work with your router.
What is a good size for a router table?
A common issue when beginners are buying a router table is that they purchase one too small. The smaller the table, the lower the price. For this reason, beginners tend to opt for a too-small table to see how they get on with it first.
However, this is just wasting money as we have never heard of a person disliking the use of a router table! Once you try one, you won’t go back.
A good size for a router table should be no smaller than 22 x 16 inches, and you won’t need one much larger than 36 x 24 inches. The smaller tables on this scale will still be able to support boards up to six to eight feet.
Of course, the amount of space you have to spare will determine how large your router table can be. We would advise you to get as large as your space allows so that you can make the most of your router table.