Three words From WOOD Magazine Editor
Shooting the breeze in the shop one day, we got on the subject of two-bit sets. That’s not some pejorative for inexpensive or poorly made TVs but, literally, two matching router bits that create mating joints, such as tongue-and-groove, drop-leaf (rule), or cope-and-stick joints (like the ones in the Divided-light Hutch on page 26).
In order to get a precise fit, both bits need to be set up perfectly and test joints cut. No problem, but if you have only one router, you lose the setting of the first bit when you remove it to install the second bit. In most cases, you can use a sample of the second cut to reset the first bit, but it’s not 100 percent reliable. And if you have to re-make one more joint after you’re done, you have to start all over again.
The ideal solution would be two router tables, one with each bit installed, but who has room in their shop for two tables? Or… what if you could mount two routers in one table? It wouldn’t have to be much larger than a typical router table, if you did it right. So that’s what we did.
John Olson’s design, on page 44 of WOOD Magazine, includes two fences for bit sets that benefit from that, such as raised-panel or plywood edging sets. Yet there’s plenty of room with the fences removed to set up a straight bit in one and a dovetail bit in the other to rout through-dovetail joints. (Never done this on a router table? Point your smartphone’s camera at the code below left or visit
woodmagazine.com/fastdovetails to see it done. It may forever change the way you rout dovetails.)
As John was finishing up the design work on the double router table, he realized he could go one better by installing a trim router in one end of the table to give that shop real estate even more value. Install a round-over, chamfer, or ogee bit, set it, and forget it—it will
always be at the ready for your most common edge-routing tasks.
We tricked-out our table pretty well with a couple of nifty shop-made aluminum fences (even if you already have a router table, consider making one of these), remote-start switches, and router bit storage. You could certainly go more minimalist. Or kick it up a couple of notches with dual router lifts and dust-collecting enclosures around the routers. Take our idea and make it your own. And when you’re done, please send us a photo. Or two. Or three.
See you in the shop!
Dave Campbell
[email protected]
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