Home Archives for Laguna Tools
October 6, 2011 By

Installed dust collection, and used the cast iron router table

 

 

You will find previous articles on the Laguna Tools cast iron router table as follows:

Finally running!

Without a proper connection for dust collection, I had to postpone firing up the router table until I resolved this. It was quite simple: Using a 2-inch, long-radius connector, and 2-inch PVC pipe from the home center, I was able to connect to the existing 4-inch dust collection system. The following summarizes my experience:
  1. Installation of the router was easy, as the four clamps provided under the table are adjustable.
  2. The router is held in place very well, as the clamps lock the router in place solidly.
  3. I used the DeWalt DW618 router under the table. The easy start on the router somehow feels “gentler” on the cast iron table, than on the old plywood and MDF router table/cabinet.
  4. For this initial test I used approximately 6 feet of semi-rigid corrugated flex hose, connected to the existing20-foot run of 4-inch flexible dust collection hose.
  5. The test consisted of making deep 45° chamfers on two edges of an 18-inch black walnut board, and estimating dust dust collection efficiency.
  6. The video shows a considerable amount of chips being taken to the dust collector. The clear port on the dust collection adapter worked great!
  7. A very small amount of chips accumulated on the fence, a few chips managed to land on the back of the fence, and very few landed on the router bit guard.
  8. Chips on the floor: I estimate that about 50% of the heavier chips landed on the floor. This is a significantly larger amount than I normally observe on the old router table.
  9. I attribute this difference to two factors:
    • Lack of bottom dust collection – the router itself was contained within a compartment in the old table, and
    • The table was located only 3 feet from the dust collector; the 2-inch semi-rigid flex hose collected chips and dust at the fence, and the router compartment was connected using 4-inch hose.

In a follow-up test I will connect the dust collection to a ShopVac using only the short length of semi-rigid flex hose. This will allow a better estimate of the effect of the long run of 4-inch flex hose on the amount of chips that accumulate under the table.

Your turn:

Let me know what youthink:

  • What would YOU do differently?
  • Would you be happy running this router table setup?
  • Or would you prefer an older, more traditional router table?

 

— Al Navas

Filed Under: Blog, Laguna Tools, Tools Tagged With: , , ,
October 2, 2011 By

A fence for the cast iron router table

 

 

I thought it was easy to install the cast iron router table on my Unisaw. What a pleasure it was to install the fence on the router table!

Installing the fence:

  1. It is best to start by laying out all the parts for the fence on the router table.
  2. This is a great time to take inventory of the package, to ensure all parts are present and accounted for. If not, notify Laguna Tools immediately.
  3. The very first step is to mount the fence on the T-slot guides, and screw on the large knurled handles.
  4. Notice that the fence can be adjusted over a large angle, made possible by the long slots on the bottom extrusion.
  5. The T-slots allow installation of the fence either parallel to the Unifence and the saw blade on the Unisaw, or parallel to the fence rail on the table saw. You have the choice on how to install it, depending on your current project.
  6. The telescoping plastic fence halves can be moved in close to the bit, to provide almost zero-clearance to the router bit. They are held in place by the anodized extruded fence base.
  7. Although I have never been a fan of using a router table as a jointer, the fence comes with two shims, which can be inserted behind the outfeed plastic half, to provide two jointer settings.
  8. For safety, the fence comes equipped with a nice, clear bit guard. There won’t be any excuse not to use it; unless, of course, you truly wish to defeat it.
  9. The clear plastic shields on the dust collection adapter (will) provide a very good idea how well the chips are moving out of the bit and into the collector. I was unable to try this, as no adapter came with the fence to allow hooking up the port to either a ShopVac or to a larger dust collector. I will be shopping for an adapter early Monday morning.
The video shows some of the details. I hope to use the table in use in the next installment.
  • Do you use a good fence on your router table?
  • Is it shop-made, or an industrial model?
  • Do you wish it was better, somehow?

— Al Navas

Filed Under: Blog, Laguna Tools Tagged With: , , ,
September 30, 2011 By

Installing a cast iron router table

 

With Summer coming to a close I finally installed the cast iron router table from Laguna Tools. The following is my summary of what was a very easy installation. In Part 2 I will cover its function and features.

Summary:

  1. The packaging was terrific, with very solid yet “cushiony” thick cardboard panels that held in place the cast iron table and the box containing the fence.
  2. The four heavy-cut recessed handles on two sides of the box made handling much easier than expected, given the weight of the package.
  3. At almost 100 lbs. shipping weight, I suggest you seriously consider getting help, so that you and someone else handle the package.
  4. A dry run with the router table showed the top would be about 0.070″ to 0.080″ (70 to 80 thousands of an inch higher than the table saw cast iron surfaces.
  5. The only requirement to match the table height: Drill out the mounting holes, to allow for adjustment of the table.
  6. I used a tapered reamer mounted on a 10-inch brace to drill out the mounting holes. As I didn’t want to make the holes overly large, it took two trial runs, to get close to a perfect match.
  7. With the holes enlarged, mounting the table on the right of the Unisaw was easy. Three bolts hold it in place.
  8. The mounting bolts supplied with the router table were just a tad short. I made a trip to the local home store to buy longer bolts and nylon locking nuts, and I was in business.
  9. Once bolted to the table saw, matching the height of the table to the table saw was easy. The support leg that screws on the router table makes this adjustment a breeze. From my initial adjustment using the bottom edge of the table saw cast iron top, to final adjustment for perfect flatness of the assembled top, 1-1/2 turn of the height adjustment.
  10. Using a flat edge, the entire cast iron surface is flat to within 0.003″ (three thousands of an inch). And it did not require much fussing with it.
  11. A *HUGE* plus: I was able to mount the Unifence! My biggest fear was that I would not be able to do so, as the Laguna videos don’t show a ripping fence mounted. The holes on the front of the router table matched perfectly, and I now can use the Unifence! All I had to do was insert bolts in the holes, and slide the rail all the way across the front of the cast iron top. THAT made my day.

In the 2-minute video I show some of the details of the installation, using photos. It is evident just how easy it is to install the Laguna Tools cast iron router table. In the next installment I will show it in use.

  • What type of router table do you have?
  • Have you ever installed a cast iron router table on your table saw?

 

— Al Navas

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Laguna Tools, Tools Tagged With: , ,