This is a very nicely put together table with lots of accessories. It also has a large working surface and is pretty solid. Got one table and it had received a ding during shipping. Amazon shipped another (great service) but that too had a small shipping ding. I will have to work this out with Amazon. But that is not the problem. The table does not use a metal plate to mount the router. Rather, you mount the router on a special plastic plate/disc which is then recesses mounted into the MDF table top. This means you loose approx. half the height of the router bit due to the thickness of the mounting disc + MDF table. This can be a problem for some or in some applications. I guess, you can try to pull out the router bit shaft a little, but I would recommend AGAINST doing so for safety reasons. I have advised Wolfcraft and look forward to hear what they have to say about it? So, I feel this the table is pretty cool but there is a design flaw. Wolfcraft 6146404-404 Router Table 490
I have owned and used this table for about 3 years for routing edge profiles and also raised panels. I feel it is an excellent product for the money. The table is heavy and solid. The table top surface is large, smooth, well-marked, and reinforced to protect from sagging. It includes a metal t-track, not just a dado channel for the miter gauge. The fence is adjustable and solid. Dust/chip collection is built into the fence and works very well (when modified, see below). Includes featherboards and miter gauge which also work well.
There are a few negatives, however. The removal yellow plastic inserts "clip" into the top around the bit, but the inserts are thinner than the recess. You should be careful to not push the inserts too far down or you can end up with a lip (maybe 1/32") that can catch the leading end of your workpiece and ruin the first couple inches of your profile. The cord that attaches to the included switch is too short, only a couple feet, so I plug my router directly into the wall outlet and use the tool's switch. Lastly, the dust port in the back of the fence has a thin plastic strip that runs vertically across the center of the port (not sure why). This caused my port to clog, and since I use a shop vac for my collection, I cut out the strip -- no more clogs. All of these issues are manageable, and are quickly outweighed by the features and price.
One of the other reviewers commented negatively (3-star review) about the mounting method and lack of a metal plate. I do not agree with that reviewer's assessment. It's true that you must use your router's base plate or the included universal plate to mount a router under the table, but it mounts in a recess, and as long as you're only using one of the plates (not both) the total loss of bit travel is less than a half inch. This is perfectly acceptable for today's routers. It will still accept all bits. The only difficulty I've noticed is with my horizontal panel raising bit -- there's not much room to insert the wrench, but it's workable. This table is made from 3/4" laminated MDF; other high-end router lifts (Jess-Em, for instance) use 3/4" phenolic resin plates because they don't sag over time (unlike metal plates which can sag due to the weight of the router).
If you're looking for a solid yet affordable benchtop router table, give this one a try. - Woodworking'
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