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Author Topic: Granite Router table  (Read 8150 times)

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Offline wnagle

  • Posts: 502
Granite Router table
« on: March 14, 2009, 10:55 PM »
I found some granite slabs in the newspaper here in Akron where I live.  24 X 55 inches for 100.00.  I was wondering if would be feasible to cut down to 24 X 36 and cut a rabbited hole for the router plate.  Would it make a nice router table top that wouldn't sag from the weight of the router?  Can it be cut for the router plate?  Expensive to cut if possible?

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Wayne

 

TS 55, CT 33 x2, ROTEX 150, RO 90, DOMINO 500Q SET, TRION PS 300, OF 1400, MFT/3, ETS 150/3, KAPEX KS 120, DOMINO XL.
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Offline Chris Hughes

  • Posts: 572
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2009, 11:21 PM »
I don't know what expensive is, but any granite fabricator with a CNC table could do that work.  I occasionally install for a local granite shop and have acess to their bone yard.  I have not used granite for my work surfaces yet but I do have them cut a scrap piece for furniture I've built.  So I would ask a local shop for the piece and the cut.
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Offline wnagle

  • Posts: 502
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2009, 11:27 PM »
Thanks Chris... It would make more sense to get the granite at the same place.  I just saw the add and started me thinkin...
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Wayne

 

TS 55, CT 33 x2, ROTEX 150, RO 90, DOMINO 500Q SET, TRION PS 300, OF 1400, MFT/3, ETS 150/3, KAPEX KS 120, DOMINO XL.

Offline mohrab

  • Posts: 43
  • Shop Companion
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2009, 11:36 PM »
Check out the article in American Woodworker, Feb-Mare 2009,  p55 - "Next Generation Router Table" using Corian or Avonite solid surfaces.  I meant to call a local supplier Friday but didn't get to it before closing time - wanted to know the approx. cost for a 26 x 43" top?
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Offline Chris Hughes

  • Posts: 572
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2009, 11:46 PM »
I have two router tables built into my table saws, both are solid surface drops.  I love them.  Granite would be nice but I fear out of my price range after the cost of machining.  I bought my drops for about $75.00 a piece and modified them myself.
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Offline Dovetail65

  • Posts: 4616
    • Rose Farm Floor Medallions and Inlays
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2009, 11:46 PM »
I like the idea of granite, but the only thing I think I am going to get Granite will probably be a jointer. I am just to much in love with the magnetic jigs I have been using. On my band saw I do not even use a traditional fence anymore, just a magnet with a piece on it for re-sawing.  The magnets have changed the way I work and simplified the hold downs on my router tables and table saw so much I can not go back.

One note, I have removed plenty of granite in my day and it does sag and anyone  that says it doesn't is not familiar with it very well. You need to support it as you do MDF or anything else traditionally used. I do not know about using a router plate of granite, but for a table it may be nice. I will stick with cast iron for reduction in vibration and its magnetism.

I have read about someone sandwiching metal in the granite to make the magnets work with it. I am not sure how they plan to do it, I have seen nothing like that on sale yet. The Granite with the lighting in it is really cool I have seen that in islands and things in a kitchen.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2009, 11:54 PM by nickao »
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Offline Tinker

  • Posts: 3794
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2009, 08:05 AM »
I'm with Nick on this one. 
Tinker
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Wayne H. Tinker

Offline wnagle

  • Posts: 502
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2009, 09:01 AM »
Nick,

I didn't know the granite would sag...maybe not the best idea then.  Also, I have to agree,  I do like magnets as well for jigis and fixtures.  I guess I'm used to not having that feature on my mdf/formica router table top.  I totally forgot about benchdog, but I don't think it fits jointec..  I also want to fit it to the jointec lift which I beleive is a little different size than other router plates.  When I went to woodwerks in comlumus a few weeks back, In there back room was a router table, steel cabinet with a cast iron top.  It was cut for a router plate.  I never got a chance to ask the price or what plate its cut for.  Plus I like the cabinet I have. 
 
I thougt I had my mdf top supported but it has sagged almost 1/16 inch center to egde.  Maybe I need to take it off and re do the support system.  Also when I made the top it is two layers of 3/4 mdf, glued and screwed.  I only laminated the top side.  Maybe I should have balanced the lamination with formica on both sides?
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Wayne

 

TS 55, CT 33 x2, ROTEX 150, RO 90, DOMINO 500Q SET, TRION PS 300, OF 1400, MFT/3, ETS 150/3, KAPEX KS 120, DOMINO XL.

Offline Dovetail65

  • Posts: 4616
    • Rose Farm Floor Medallions and Inlays
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2009, 09:23 AM »
Not laminating the bottom was a mistake. I live with a little sag on my stuff I find it really does not effect my work.
The metal angle iron works well for me to keep the MDF flat. You can try shellacking the bottom it may or may not help.

I have a cast iron extension bench dog router table on my table saw, but my others are MDF or solid phenolic. If you get a thick slab of granite and support it, it is less prone to sagging than MDF, I am just saying it can sag thats all. The jointech solid phenolic I had a problem with sagging as well and my Woodpeck MDF tables I got with the Incra set up, so to me cast iron is about the only thing I have never seen sag without support.
« Last Edit: March 15, 2009, 09:25 AM by nickao »
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Offline wnagle

  • Posts: 502
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #9 on: March 15, 2009, 09:30 AM »
Nick,

Sounds like the best option would be a cast iron top that fits jointec or re make my top with both sides laminated and add angle iron supports.  The second option may be my only choice.  I think I'll give jointec and woodwerks a call to see if either knows of a cast iron option for jointec lifts.
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Wayne

 

TS 55, CT 33 x2, ROTEX 150, RO 90, DOMINO 500Q SET, TRION PS 300, OF 1400, MFT/3, ETS 150/3, KAPEX KS 120, DOMINO XL.

Offline Dovetail65

  • Posts: 4616
    • Rose Farm Floor Medallions and Inlays
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2009, 09:33 AM »
My set up is a custom thing I made. I had to get rid of my stand alone incra table so now I use the incra fence on my table saw with the cast Iron extension on the left of the saw if I need that sort of precision. I also have an MDF router table on the right side of the table saw that I want to drop the digital jointech or new woodpecker lift in, I have not decided yet on that.
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Offline markrcarlson@gmail.com

  • Posts: 53
  • Los Angles, CA
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #11 on: March 15, 2009, 01:07 PM »
A couple of months ago I bought a steel extension for my table saw.  Its 24x28 inches and has an insert for a PRL and a t miter slot.  The top is 1/2 steel, dead flat and weighs about 105 lbs. The company that makes then is called Quality Grinding (www.qualitygrinding.com) and they will make any size steel top you want, and will cut an insert for any model router lift.  I attached a picture showing the extension with an incra ls positioner, held down with magjigs.  The 2nd picture shows the steel extension with a PC 121 splindle sander.  I have a 2nd plate that mounts the sander.  I'm pretty hooked on using magnets to mount jigs.

~mark
« Last Edit: March 15, 2009, 01:24 PM by Mark Carlson »
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Offline wnagle

  • Posts: 502
Re: Granite Router table
« Reply #12 on: March 15, 2009, 06:27 PM »
Thanks Mark!  That sounds like the ticket!  I'll give them a call and see how they price it.
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Wayne

 

TS 55, CT 33 x2, ROTEX 150, RO 90, DOMINO 500Q SET, TRION PS 300, OF 1400, MFT/3, ETS 150/3, KAPEX KS 120, DOMINO XL.
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