The best router table review can help you decide to get at least a good router table for your daily carpentry. These days wood routing has become a very sophisticated task and require lots of attentions and skills to complete a perfect routing.
Best Router Table Review
5 Router Table Buying Guide for woodwork
The router tables are necessary for all types of users especially – professional carpenters who work with routers round the day. Or the carpentry students who have to complete different projects.
To perform the job, firstly need to have a router. And then as good router table. What is a router table? To hold the router into its position you will need a table which is commonly known as router table. The tables are of versatile use, made with solid elements and secured enough to hold the router back into position.
Routing is an art and the professional carpenters are considered as the artist. Almost all the best router reviews has proved the necessity of a good router table. Mostly the tables are required for a stable positioning of the router. So that the user could perform the wood routing within a budgeted time and efficiently. When there is no router table, you need to work using your hand that may result in imperfection.
So, the router tables are necessary for all types of users especially – professional carpenters who work with routers round the day. Or the carpentry students who have to complete different projects.
During the tip product selection, I had gone through the router table review to find out the best one for me. Usually a good router table is made of solid material and wither it could be made by woods or at times one can make it with metal parts as well.
After reviewing the top features of from 5 popular router table review. I have selected the products.
Best Router Table Review
Contents
Product name | Feature |
Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table | Compatible with most routers, Aluminum fence, MDF face plate |
Bench Dog 40-001 ProTop Contractor Benchtop Router Table | 16-by-22-inch table, plastic laminate top, melamine cabinet, limited 2-year warranty |
Bosch RA1171 Cabinet Style Router Table | Aluminum fence, adjustable MDF face plates, aluminum router mounting plate, kickback protection. |
SKIL RAS900 Router Table | Leg folding Design, quick clamping, easy bit changes |
PORTER-CABLE 698 Bench Top Router Table | Large size (19-3/4-inch 16-3/4), multiple starting pin locations, quick-adjust split-fence |
Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table
Price: $$$
Rating: 4.2
The router table review has considered Bosch RA1181 as a good router table for its special features and large working surface on the table top. The table is made in such a way that you can use it differently during the wood routing works. It keeps the environment cleaner comparing the other routers for its dust cleaning feature.
If you ask what is a router table benefit, then I will simply show you the following features of Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table –
Pros
- Larger working surface
- Fits different types of routers
- Dust collection port
- Aluminum top
- Mounting hardware
- Durable
- Easily portable
- Aluminum fence
- Starter pin
- Protective guards
- Adjustable featherboards
- Built cord wrap facility
- Heavy duty switch
Cons
Manufacturing faults may be found in some cases, flatness or vertical alignment may not be exact as it is expected.
User Review
Great deal for me.
By Sachar Johan
I was planning to have a Bosch RA1181 router table for me and recently bought Bosch router. Accordingly I got this Router Table as it is reviewed as a good router table. I am that the router table works well. It keeps the router steady during the hardest operation.
Truly it is a great deal for me.
Easy setup.
By Robert Fanning
I was a bit worried when I bought the Bosch RA1181 router table as my workshop space is filled with different wooden objects but the size and shape of the router allowed me to set up the table perfectly inside the workshop and it was easy to setup.
I am happy with the table.
Bench Dog 40-001 Pro Top Centractor Benchtop Router Table
Price: $$$
Rating: 4.2
Majority of the router table reviews has described the Bench Dog 40-001 ProTop Contractor Benchtop Router Table. As a good router table for its ample space and smooth working surface.
Besides, the router table is laminated with plastic for improved durability and easy to use.
There are different positive features of the table is available and the most noted ones are presented here in brief.
Pros
- Compact size
- Plastic laminate top
- 16 by 22 inch table
- T slots
- Aluminum fence
- Warranty for 2 years
- Melamine cabinet
- Required hardware included
- Dual position fence
- Full size table
- Cabinet height 15 inch
- Fits with any router
- Router insert plate available
- Dust minimization
- Noise minimization
- Durable
Cons
Some of the users feel that the height is a bit lower for them while manufacturing faults may appear in some cases.
User Review
Portable router table
By Achiebe Chinuuk
I asked a friend what is a router table. And he replay for the Bench Dog 40-001 router table. In fact he was right. I have not seen the other router tables are as good as this one is. And the portability feature has attracted me most.
Now I can carry the table to my desired place and can have the routing tasks after my needs.
Top router table
By Matthew Arnold
I have used several router tables but the Bench Dog 40-001 appeared to be the top router table to me for its features. My skills were not enough to work with a router but the table helped me great to get my jobs done smoothly.
Bosch RA1171 Cabinet Style Router Table
Price: $$$
Rating: 4.4
The best router table reviews have always backed the tables which have something extraordinary. And they found that Bosch RA1171 Cabinet Style Router Table is different from the other contemporary router tables. The table has aluminum fence and MDF face plate and helps in routing the taller wood pieces. Which is not found in the other tables. Router mounting system is also easier on this table.
Bosch RA1171 Cabinet Style Router Table has several features which could attract the users and those are –
Pros
- Adjustable MDF face plate
- Aluminum fence
- Aluminum router mounting plate
- Pre-drilled mounting plate
- Tall fence
- User friendly featherboards
- Accurate routing
- Accessory slots
- 4-7/8″ x 25-1/8″ in size
- Dust collection ports
- Kickback protection
- Two adjustable featherboards
- Optional accessories
- Vacuum hoses
Cons
Assembly for the table is a bit difficult for the inexperienced people. More screw holes on the table than there should be.
User Review
Compact table, cool for me
By Jack Stevenson
I bought the Bosch RA1171 router table for my professional routing works. And I found no problem at all. I have been using the table for about one year and it is performing smoothly. I am glad with the table and thanks to Alex, my mate who inspired me on having the table.
It’s a wow!!
By Samuel Johnson
When I first bought the Bosch RA1171 router table, I could not realize that it would be so helpful for me. Though I am not a professional rather do some touting for my individual needs. I bought the table without any plan.
Later I realized that it was a good decision for me to get the table. And it is being used for different purposes too.
SKIL RAS900 Router Table
Price: $$$
Rating: 4.3
The best router table reviews never suggest for any less important products. And SKIL RAS900 Router Table is one of the good router tables that will help routing smoothly. Finely both for the professionals and non-professionals regarding their respective works.
The table has different features and the leg folding design is the most prominent one. Which has made it easier for the users to place the table at any convenient place.
SKIL RAS900 Router Table has different pros and some of them are –
Pros
- Folding design
- Minimal setup process
- Easy router mounting
- Quick release clamp
- Easy bit change
- Accessory storage box
- Starter pin
- Dual containers
- Dual featherboards
- Bit height selection
- Easy curved edge routing
- Pre assembled table
- Laminated MDF top
- Laminated MDF faces
- Easy bit setup
Cons
Cannot handle heavy load together, so, it is perfect for temporary use. Sometimes the folding design may cause trouble to the users.
User Review
Great for starters!
Gregh Waver
I am a carpentry student and bought the table following my instructor’s advice. He suggested me to get SKIL RAS900 for starting as it is suitable for the beginners. Thereby, it appears that the table is suitable for me.
Economic
By Ted Sundigues
I was looking for a router table for my carpentry projects. I am a beginner and lack enough budgets to have a large table.
So, I started looking for a table with low budget. And I found this one helpful for me. Now I am working with the SKIL RAS900 router table efficiently.
PORTER-CABLE 698 Bench Top Router Table
Price: $$$
Rating: 3.2
Porter is a global brand and manufactures different tools and devices for different purposes. The PORTER-CABLE 698 Bench Top Router Table is a different invention of the manufacturer. And It is featured with attractive characteristics.
The table contains operating manual, miter gauge for smooth cutting, large size and machined aluminum top.
Pros
- Large size
- Miter gauge slot
- Shaper table
- Operating manual with the table
- Cast-in-lip
- Multiple starting pin
- Adjustable fence
- Split fence
- Large table holes
- Large router bits
- Dust collection facility
- Standard leg height
Cons
Sometimes the dust collection hose get jammed due to huge amount of dusts. So it should be kept clean regularly. Otherwise there are no major cons have been found yet about the router table.
User Review
Excellent table comparing the price!
By Adham Dolyen
I had been seeking a suitable with a $100 and found this table. Although I was in doubt if it will work well or not. I found that the PORTER-CABLE 698 table works well and I successfully mounted my Bosch router on the table and having all the works done.
Saves space
By Jeff Matthew
Being small in size, the PORTER-CABLE 698 router table saves space and allows ample room to keep the other accessories at the workshop. I bought the table considering the small amount of space it required as my workshop is smaller than the regular workshops. And I have to accommodate all the other carpentry accessories and materials here.
Final Verdict
Well, based on the aforesaid reviews, you can pick the right one for you considering your needs. But if it was me, we would have preferred the Bosch RA1171 Cabinet Style Router Table for its size and competitive price.
You can handle taller wood with this machine which will not find in the other tables. It is able to do all forms of routing works. You can get your desired or required design within in seconds. The table helps to keep he router position steady and thus you get the right routing.