Notch- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time
- 5.3–10.3 hours
- Cost
- $$$
About this build
Kreg's precision router table is a great asset in my shop without a doubt, but I really wanted to add was some organization! I was always running around the shop so that I could setup and run my router table. Follow along and watch the video to see how I upgrade the precision router table!
Tools
Essential
- Impact Driver
- Miter Saw
- Pocket Hole Jig
- Random Orbit Sander
- Router
- Router Table
- Table Saw
Optional / nice to have
- Bar / Pipe Clamps
- Tape Measure
Materials
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Plywood, 1/2" Thick 5x5 | 1 board |
| Plywood, 1/4" Thick Half Sheet | 1 board |
| Arylic, 1/4" Thick 1x1 | 1 board |
| Board, 3/4" Thick Scrap | 1 board |
| 18" Push to Open Drawer Slides | 5 each |
| Magnets | 4 each |
| 1" Coarse Pan Head Pocket Hole Screw | 58 each |
| 1/2" Flat Head Screw | 50 each |
| Dust Right® 2-1/2'' Expandable Shop Vacuum Hose Kit | 1 each |
| 2-1/2" Hose Clamps | 4 each |
| Foam Router Bit Tray | 2 each |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
Cut list
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Side | 2 | 1/2" × 16" × 19 3/4" |
| Horizontal Divider | 1 | 1/2" × 19 1/2" × 26 3/4" |
| Divider | 2 | 1/2" × 12" × 19 1/2" |
| Back | 1 | 1/4" × 16" × 26 3/4" |
| Small Drawer Box Side | 8 | 1/2" × 3" × 18" |
| Small Drawer Box Front & Back | 8 | 1/2" × 3" × 5 11/16" |
| Small Drawer Box Bottom | 4 | 1/4" × 6 1/16" × 17 3/8" |
| Small Drawer Face | 4 | 1/2" × 4 5/16" × 7 7/16" |
| Large Drawer Box Side | 2 | 1/2" × 4 1/2" × 18" |
| Large Drawer Box Front & BackLarge Drawer Box Front & Back | 2 | 1/2" × 4 1/2" × 22" |
| Large Drawer Box Bottom | 1 | 1/4" × 17 3/8" × 22 3/8" |
| Large Drawer Box Face | 1 | 1/2" × 6 1/4" × 22 3/4" |
What to buy
Buy 12 boards at 8 ft.
1/2" × 19 1/2"
1 board
1/2" × 16"
1 board
1/2" × 12"
1 board
1/2" × 6 1/4"
1 board
1/2" × 4 1/2"
1 board
1/2" × 4 5/16"
1 board
1/2" × 3"
3 boards
1/4" × 17 3/8"
1 board
1/4" × 16"
1 board
1/4" × 6 1/16"
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Instructions
1Rough Cuts
This project is built primarily from 1/2" and 1/4" plywood. To begin, I cut all of the parts that will be used to frame out the base of my router table.
2Building Out Router Table Base
This is undoubtedly the most cumbersome step of the entire project! But don't worry, it's not all that bad. The biggest thing that helped was using my BESSEY Trigger clamps to help hold everything in place during assembly.
3Switch Bracket
Since I added drawers where the standard router switch is mounted, I built a bracket from some scrap 3/4" plywood and used Starbond CA glue to assemble it. I then glued this to the right hand side of the router table for easy access.
4Pocket Holes For Router Table Base
With all of the panels cut, I drill pocket holes so that I can easily assemble the panels inside of the router table base.
5Dust Collection Box Window
I wanted to be able to see inside the dust collection area so I used some scrap acrylic I had on hand and made the handles from some left over Walnut. I wanted to maintain a flat front across the router table so I recessed this enough so that the handles would be flush with the front of the drawer faces. The window is held in place with 4 magnets located at each corner of the window.
6Assemble Drawer Boxes
My go to method for drawer boxes is using pocket hole construction. The boxes are built from 1/2" ply with 1/4" ply for the bottom.
7Drawer Shims
Due to the angle iron at the corners of this table, I had to install shims for the drawer slides to mount to. I used a combination of 3/4", 1/2", and 1/4" pieces to build out the appropriate amount for the push to open drawer slides to mount to.
8Drawer Front
I used 1/2" ply for the drawer front and used double sided tape to temporarily attach them before screwing them in place from inside the drawer box.
9Dust Collection
To set up the dust collection, I used the 2-1/2" expanding hose from rockler along with a port and Y fitting. These were secured in place with tin strapping.
10Organization
With everything built out it's time to ORGANIZE!!! With all of the space I'm able to store my gauge blocks, table inserts, wrenches, feather boards, additional routers, and all of my router bits in one place!
11Notching Dust Box Dividers
To improve dust collection, I extended the dust box dividers all the way to the underside of the router table top. To do this, I notched around the C-channel cross member on the router table.
12Watch the Video!
Make sure to check out the build video on this one! https://youtu.be/UsMGt0roXhY I had a blast producing it and I think you'll find it helpful when tackling this project!
13Woodshopmike.com
Make sure to checkout additional info over on my blog: https://woodshopmike.com/how-to-improve-your-router-table-storage I'd love to know what you all think so let me know! Thanks for reading!
Tags
- Storage and Organizing
- Intermediate
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