Trend T5 & Dakota Router Table?

[PeteG]

From a number of posts I gather most people have routers similar to the Trend T11, and Triton TRA001, half inch 2000W routers for table use.
Would a Trend T5 be OK for light work? I'm looking to make a few picture frames and I'm very tempted to buy the Dakota from Rutlands, hopefully
rebating with this set up would make life a little easier, than no table at all!

 

[Eric The Viking]

I saw one of the Axminster UJK tables at Peter Sefton's do last week-end. It's very nice. I think they do a version that takes a normal plate (this one had the UJK lift), but it was very nicely made. The top was entirely phenolic, not laminated MDF.

Might be worth considering in preference to the Dakota. I doubt you'd regret it ultimately.

 

[PeteG]

Hello Eric...I was drooling over the same set up at Axminster in Warrington a few weeks back, sexy bit of kit, but sadly it's a little out of my price range.
I'm leaning towards the Axminster Bench Top one at the moment, the reviews all seem positive and it's within budget!

 

[marcros]

what about making one? it can be as simple as a piece of board with a hole in, a workmate and a straight edge. I dont know your experience level, but if you are a beginner, it is not as daunting a task as it may sound. Adding an nvr switch would be a good idea- you would also need to do so to the Dakota one.

A variation on the above is a home made benchtop one- building a small cabinet instead of the workmate. or a floor standing one- bigger cabinet. You get the drift!

 

[PeteG]

Can't say I haven't thought of making one Mark, and it's probably a lack of confidence that has lead to thoughts of buying one. At least to start off with.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Hello Eric...I was drooling over the same set up at Axminster in Warrington a few weeks back, sexy bit of kit, but sadly it's a little out of my price range.
I'm leaning towards the Axminster Bench Top one at the moment, the reviews all seem positive and it's within budget!

I particularly liked the phenolic top, which is available separately. Everything else is very easy to make.

On making them: I started off with a B+Q horrid cheap table (Something-with-P/Pro). I chucked it out after a short while, and made a hole in a laminated chipboard 18" wide shelf (a leftover from something from Ikea). It was bolted to a set of workmate legs (I later found that Niki had done a better version on this forum, so look in Jigs and Tips).That worked really well with a small router (Bosch POF500, which is smaller than T5 size).

The present one (the old Axminster "pro" design) is easier to use by a long way, but the results aren't better.

E.

 

[PeteG]

I was all set to buy the little Axminster this weekend, until the chap who is about to replace the garage roof said he has a router table somewhere in his workshop, if he finds it, I could have it!
He then added, "I have a piece of Oak you could have, why don't you make one"...With a bit a luck, I should be up and running in the next couple of weeks, once I'm a little organised and after
I've made a workbench, I might, have ago at a router table...It'll be fun trying