Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

After reading reviews and watching whatever video's I could find on this Router Table, I still had some questions. Now that I've purchase the Router Table I'd like to answer those questions. Although my answers will be focused around my setup, I will try to answer them for other setups. I have a Ridgid R4512 Cast Iron Table Saw, the RIDGID R29302 2 HP Multi Base Router Combo, and the RIDGID WD1450 shop vac. Yes, I like Ridgid. I have made a small film which I hope will clarify my answers even more. Let start with my main question: 1. How will this Router Table mount to my Table Saw? This was my biggest concern. Initially I was wondering if I had to mount it to the left or right side of my table saw. I first thought it would be best mounted by rails to the right side of my table saw. But upon receiving the Router table, I found that the 6 holes (3 on either side) for mounting to the table saw rails did not line up correctly with the bolt slots on my rails. The holes were about 3mm to low. It would have installed 3mm higher than the surface of my table saw. I also became a little uncomfortable with that much weight so far out there on my rails. Yes the rails could support the weight, but I'd rather not. So I decided to use the more standard way of mounting it and that was to use the pre drilled holes on the back of the router table. There are seven large pre drilled holes. They are meant for two common setups; Table saws with 4 mounting holes or table saws with 3 mounting holes. My setup has 3 mounting holes. I knew I had to mount this 50lb router table myself, (no, my wife couldn't help, she's pregnant), so I grabbed a scrap 2x4 to help support it as I inserted the bolts. Surprisingly, the scrap 2x4 was the exact height I needed it to be, you'll need to cut yours if it isn't. Also, others and myself suggest using two 2x4s. I inserted the two outer most bolts first, made sure the top was level and flush with the table saw top and then tightened. The two bolts held it in place just fine. Now time for the center bolt... uh oh! Looking back at the manual it clearly states you cannot install the router table to the left side of a table saw that has a left tilting blade. This is because left tilting table saws bulge out a little bit on the left making it nearly impossible to screw in the center bolt. Why Bench dog couldn't have adjusted their design to make more space up there to do so, I don't know, this would be my first, but small, con. However, I did say "nearly impossible" because I found a way to do it. I had to use my original bolt that came with my table saw because it screwed in using a hex bit, which is small and done by inserting the bit into the center. The bolts that come with the router table require a 17mm wrench, way too big to get up there in the tinny space made by my left tilting table saw. I also had to use ¼ inch drive flex breaker bar in order to get in the tiny space and apply enough side force to tighten the bolt. I wouldn't say it's as tight as the outer bolts, but it is definitely tight. I am still on the lookout for a bit head that is shorter than what I currently have, this would allow me to get it even more tight because of the extra space that would be provided. So I now have the router table installed on the left side of a left tilting table saw. If you have a 4 hole set up, both of your center holes would have to be tightened in the small space created by the bulge. If you don't have a left tilting table saw and are installing on the left side, your life will be allot easier, at least as far as that center bolt/s go/es. SPECIAL NOTE: If you have a large router and a left-tilting table saw, you may have issues installing the router table on the left side. My small 2hp Ridgid router fits with space to spare, but bigger routers may have trouble. I can say after having mounted it that it is flat as can be and I was able to make it flush with my table saw. There was still room to nudge it into a more perfecteous alignment, if there is one. All in all I have no complaints with how flat it is and how well you can align it to you table saw. 2. Is it easy to and what is the best way to align the router plate? I wouldn't say it's easy to align the router plate. But it wasn't a difficult task either and the fact that you have 10 alignment screws and can achieve perfection is awesome. I did it by first raising the screws so that the router plate was just below the top of the router table, eye-balling of course. Then, one by one, going around the rectangle, I adjusted each alignment screw sequentially. I ran a board across the top at each location as I adjusted it to make sure it could pass over without catching yet did not dip. This method seemed to work for me. I'd be happy to hear anyone else's methods. 3. How do I align the fence accurately for a cut? This is probably a naive question, but I'm pretty new to these tools and honestly, it was a question I had before buying it, so I don't want to leave it out. However, I think it was the manual that suggested I use a combination square, and to my luck, I had recently purchased one for the assembly of my table saw. With a combination square, all you have to do is select the distance you want, then place it on either side of the router table, using the front side of the router table as a guide, and pulling the fence to meet the ruler portion of the square. Do this of course on both the right and left outer edges of the front side. This is such an easy and accurate process, I was very happy. I honestly thought I was going to have to do some crazy measuring technique with a measuring tape, which would work, just not as quick and has a greater chance of inaccuracy. The fence it self is pretty hefty. When tightened down it will not budge. Everything on it is adjustable. For a larger size bit, all you need to do is loosen the back tightening T-bolts and slide the wooden guides out, for a smaller bit, slide em in. Don't forget to tighten. The orange bit protector is nice and the shop vac adapter works great with my Ridgid shop vac. I would say it gets 90%+ of all saw dust. The extra fence slots on the router table are nice to achieve high angles. 4. Will I need to drill any holes to install my router? If your router is on the list Bench Dog supplies, and you purchase the corresponding router plate, no, you will not have to drill any holes. I purchased the Ridgid Combo router knowing I was probably going to get this router table. I didn't need an ultra-powerful router so I went with a 2hp group A router and ordered the corresponding group A plate. It matched up perfectly. My router has a height adjustment that, when installed on a router table, can be accessed from above using a T shaped tool. The tool of course has to go through the router plate. The plate, thoughtfully, has the hole exactly where it needs to be for me to adjust the height from above. This made me very happy. I do still have to unlock the height adjustment from below, but then I can just use the tool to adjust it. If your router is not on any of the lists, you may have to drill your own holes. But I would contact bench dog and ask if they could possibly match it up. Also, yes, sadly, bench dog does not supply the plate with the router table. However, this seems reasonable because there are different versions of plates for different routers. I would not expect them to include all 4 router plate groups. In summary I hope I have answered some of your questions by answering mine. If not, feel free to contact me via my e-mail displayed on my profile page, or comment on this review. I think this is a great router table. I had previously ordered the MLCS 2394 Extension Router Table Top & Fence with Universal Router Plate, but had a bad experience there, mostly with shipping, please read that review for full details if interested. I share the enthusiasm of everyone else who has reviewed this table with positive reviews and have no real gripes about it. True, I do wish Bench Dog would make installing on the left on a left tilting table saw more of an option, and the router plate does not come with it, but these are both understandable why they don't. All in all, it gives me above and beyond the functionality I need, in the space I need, and looks good.