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Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fence

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Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fence

#1

Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fence

Craig Daymon

I'm constructing a new router table.

I have a 1" thick phenolic top (old lab benchtop), appropriate mounting plate, etc. Plan to build a split face fence with a Woodpecker micro-adjust attached in the back. Top is 30 by 26, plus a little in each direction.

I was trying to figure what would be best to make the fence out of and phenolic coated plywood seemed a good choice.

Menards sells 3/4" X (almost) 48" x (almost) 96" TigerFORM forming plywood for less than $50 (less than $45 with the current rebate).

It's a special order from Building Supplies department.

Problem is, without any hands-on contact, I don't know if it will work for my needs. Pretty sure this is the same sort of stuff Woodcraft sells, maybe not the same quality of underlying plywood.

Question (finally): Has anyone bought/used any of this product? Should I just order a sheet and find out? At the very least I can build a great cabinet out of it.

Thanks in advance,

Craig

https://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/panel-products/concrete-forming-panels/3-4-x-4-x-8-tigerform-forming-plywood/1235020/p-1444441905347.htm

Re: Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fence

#2

JL

Re: Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fe

JL

I have used the phenolic plywood sold at Home Depot.

It is relatively scratch resistant, quite smooth, hard, and nice to work with.

The plywood that Menard's sells appears to be similar.

The Menard's website says "13-ply construction: 2 plies of Phenolic film, face and back veneer of birch and 9 plies of poplar core veneer.

I would say it looks like it should work. The WP microadjust is on the back, so it shouldn't bend. Are you going to route out a channel for a T-track?

Re: Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fence

#3

Re: Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fe

Henry Higginbotham

I don't have any experience with the plywood product, but why not build the fence from phenolic sheet as well? I did just that a few years ago and have been very happy with it.

Re: Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fence

#4

Re: Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fe

Craig Daymon

Because the other 16 feet of phenolic I have is under 2 Ash benchtops and assorted other lumber. I'm not working in an ideal (or in any way OSHA approved) shop. Plus, I have hopes to use it for larger projects. The fence is not something that requires the benefits of being fully phenolic.

At leas that's my thinking. (And they're REALLY heavy!)

Re: Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fence

#5

Re: Menards TigerFORM phenolic plywood - router fe

Craig Daymon

There is no fear of it bending. The phenolic plywood is 3/4" thick and I see that only as a requirement for the faces, or any zero clearance inserts...though there may be a better way to do the inserts than what I was planning.

I'm talking about a right angle solid fence, with an opening in the center for the bit to recess into. The faces are attached to the right angle fence using bolts recessed in the front of the faces and passing through slots in the solid fence to allow adjustment of the opening. A piece of the phenolic plywood will be attached to the solid fence above the adjustable faces, providing a taller fence face as well as where T-track will be inserted for featherboards.

There will be a miter slot cut in the table top. Haven't decided if I want a T-track there as well.

This would be done already if I had a tablesaw, but I'm trying to get it all planned out clearly first. I still have to figure how to get that 4x8 sheet home from Menards. I don't believe they have a panel saw, like HD or Lowes.

I will say they did have a very good selection of sheet goods. Real 1/4" hardboard, smooth on both sides. A 3/4" prefinished (3 coats UV finished, as in cured, don't think the UV implied sunlight protection) birch plywood. All pretty reasonably priced.

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