I liked this video tip. Ppl on UA-cam always posting perfect videos with no errors. This is not a perfect world nor the ppl who live in it. I know might mess up my install of this plate so I know what I can do to fix it. Thanks a bunch
We all screw up on projects...it is the mistakes we make that allow us to hone our skills...I think when I install mine I will make sure my fence is secured tightly and the top will be all by itself on the bench so I can easily get the corner plates in ...thanks for the video....I made some simple wooden drawer guides on a dresser I refurbished and made the mistake of installing the upper ones first...created a wicked clearance problem for my cordless drill when I went to do the bottom ones...that's how we learn...won't make that mistake again !
Yup. This was almost 5 years ago, and after this I ALWAYS make sure I have a secure fence that I'm working from. Sometimes that involves some wacky clamp arrangements, but at least the fence does not slip.
Well a good recovery, but I know you will have kicked yourself when you discovered how bad that fit was. I'm thinking if you turned the table top upside down, you could have screwed the temporary fence to the table top for the flush trim router, and know it was not going to move. Either way, you did well attaching the levelers to the top plate to get the positioning spot on.
After expending 50+ on the router plate and 20 on the levelers I would have spent another 40 on a new sheet of plywood that gap will make me cry everyday lol
That top sheet is part of a Ron Paulk - I'm way too cheap to break it up and redo. Besides, I've done at least 10-20 dumb things since then. If I kept stopping to fix the ugly stuff, I'd never have time for the fresh mistakes. LOl. To be honest, I like things 100% perfect, but I've yet to make anything like that - always something that could have gone better...a little tearout near the end of a dado...a chipped corner from a rounderover bit... - I just ignore it and move on (but like most woodworkers, I have a bad habit of pointing out all my mistakes on a project whenever someone looks at it)
Good tip as I have just ordered that plate for my Triton TRA001, so its very usefull information. Would have thought the lift makers would have suggested that, but sounds like they dont. May I ask why you routed the hole in the table to a pencil line rather than rout around timbers stuck down with double sided tape. I have this in mind as my tabletop is only 7/8" thick with formica surface. Don't think I need to make a complete temnplate first unless someone thins I should.
I did have fences secured to the table - some by clamp, and some by double faced tape where clamps not possible (at least not possible with the clamps I had). Double faced carpet tape failed a bit (wood fence moved a bit) - that was the cause of my less than perfect install.
Thanks. Glad it was helpful. A bit of post install advice: I got lazy and left the 4 attachment screws out (so easier to pull router) - not a good move (through my own stupidity, RUNNING router fell into table).
Yes, me being careless. Pushed material to router bit, plate lifted at one edge, and then moved enough for corner on other side to fall through. What happens when lazy and careless come together...
The corner holes are actually the easier part of the process. Even routering the sides is not a huge pain - assuming you take your time, measure twice, and mount your "fences" with LOADS of double face tape. I did a good job of drilling the corners, then frigged it up by running the router into the corners. Also, I should have made a shallow pass with the router, then jigsawed out the inside, then used the router to finish the edge. Instead I tried to hog out the whole thing at once.
forseeit thank you. I built the norm Abrams router table. Everything came out great. The only problem I've run into is making the hole for the kreg router plate. I haven't actually made the hole yet. I'm still waiting for the best way to do it or I may order a different plate.
I know it's a pain in the butt, but if you did a practice hole first in a similar thickness of plywood, it would probably help you a lot. I know "practice tries" suck up time and material, but on things like this - that you will live with for a while - the mistakes are the things you always remember; and things always go smoother the second time (after the practice try). Do as I say, not as I did...
Couldn't you make another top? Or you could have enlarged the hole, get it square, glue up some "faces" inside the bigger hole then cut it again the right size
True, but it didn't bother me enough. Moved on to other projects. If it ever bothered me enough, I'd probably make the hole an inch larger all around, put a clear underneath, and put a fresh piece in (or at least a "frame").
I liked this video tip. Ppl on UA-cam always posting perfect videos with no errors. This is not a perfect world nor the ppl who live in it. I know might mess up my install of this plate so I know what I can do to fix it. Thanks a bunch
If I only did videos of the projects that went perfectly, I'd have no videos at all...
This was good. People make mistakes like this all the time but don't know how to recover. RESILIENCY.
feelin your pain on the “wandering” of bit...
Great video,
Thank you.
That’s a really clever way to get the alignment perfect, no matter how well the opening was made. Great tip, thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
We all screw up on projects...it is the mistakes we make that allow us to hone our skills...I think when I install mine I will make sure my fence is secured tightly and the top will be all by itself on the bench so I can easily get the corner plates in ...thanks for the video....I made some simple wooden drawer guides on a dresser I refurbished and made the mistake of installing the upper ones first...created a wicked clearance problem for my cordless drill when I went to do the bottom ones...that's how we learn...won't make that mistake again !
Yup. This was almost 5 years ago, and after this I ALWAYS make sure I have a secure fence that I'm working from. Sometimes that involves some wacky clamp arrangements, but at least the fence does not slip.
if i had a channel sharing my mistakes i would be a famous youtuber :) Thank you for these great tips!!
Glad it was helpful!
Well a good recovery, but I know you will have kicked yourself when you discovered how bad that fit was. I'm thinking if you turned the table top upside down, you could have screwed the temporary fence to the table top for the flush trim router, and know it was not going to move. Either way, you did well attaching the levelers to the top plate to get the positioning spot on.
After expending 50+ on the router plate and 20 on the levelers I would have spent another 40 on a new sheet of plywood that gap will make me cry everyday lol
That top sheet is part of a Ron Paulk - I'm way too cheap to break it up and redo. Besides, I've done at least 10-20 dumb things since then. If I kept stopping to fix the ugly stuff, I'd never have time for the fresh mistakes. LOl.
To be honest, I like things 100% perfect, but I've yet to make anything like that - always something that could have gone better...a little tearout near the end of a dado...a chipped corner from a rounderover bit... - I just ignore it and move on (but like most woodworkers, I have a bad habit of pointing out all my mistakes on a project whenever someone looks at it)
Good tip as I have just ordered that plate for my Triton TRA001, so its very usefull information. Would have thought the lift makers would have suggested that, but sounds like they dont. May I ask why you routed the hole in the table to a pencil line rather than rout around timbers stuck down with double sided tape. I have this in mind as my tabletop is only 7/8" thick with formica surface. Don't think I need to make a complete temnplate first unless someone thins I should.
I did have fences secured to the table - some by clamp, and some by double faced tape where clamps not possible (at least not possible with the clamps I had). Double faced carpet tape failed a bit (wood fence moved a bit) - that was the cause of my less than perfect install.
Good tips and concise video. Thanks.
Thanks. Glad it was helpful. A bit of post install advice: I got lazy and left the 4 attachment screws out (so easier to pull router) - not a good move (through my own stupidity, RUNNING router fell into table).
Wait, When you say fell into the table, was it because the plate fell through?
Yes, me being careless. Pushed material to router bit, plate lifted at one edge, and then moved enough for corner on other side to fall through. What happens when lazy and careless come together...
Is there a better way to make that hole for the router plate? Drilling those corner holes seems very imprecise.
The corner holes are actually the easier part of the process. Even routering the sides is not a huge pain - assuming you take your time, measure twice, and mount your "fences" with LOADS of double face tape. I did a good job of drilling the corners, then frigged it up by running the router into the corners. Also, I should have made a shallow pass with the router, then jigsawed out the inside, then used the router to finish the edge. Instead I tried to hog out the whole thing at once.
forseeit thank you. I built the norm Abrams router table. Everything came out great. The only problem I've run into is making the hole for the kreg router plate. I haven't actually made the hole yet. I'm still waiting for the best way to do it or I may order a different plate.
I know it's a pain in the butt, but if you did a practice hole first in a similar thickness of plywood, it would probably help you a lot. I know "practice tries" suck up time and material, but on things like this - that you will live with for a while - the mistakes are the things you always remember; and things always go smoother the second time (after the practice try). Do as I say, not as I did...
forseeit I agree. I have made many practice holes so far and as soon as I get it perfect I will make the real thing.
Thanks
Couldn't you make another top? Or you could have enlarged the hole, get it square, glue up some "faces" inside the bigger hole then cut it again the right size
True, but it didn't bother me enough. Moved on to other projects. If it ever bothered me enough, I'd probably make the hole an inch larger all around, put a clear underneath, and put a fresh piece in (or at least a "frame").