New router table with Incra LS positioner

Re: New router table with Incra LS positioner

I don't understand having all the top to the left. That is where I stand. Your back must be in great shape to do all that leaning over the bench! I like to set up stop blocks and aids based on where the bit is. How do you plan to see the other side of the bit for a stopped cut?

Re: New router table with Incra LS positioner

The table is exactly 33 inches high, and it's a two by six foot rectangle. The router bit is near it's center point. When I stand over it, it comes up to about my belt level, and I can see more or less straight down at the bit. I certainly don't need all the space to the left-- about three feet; but that's not hurting anything. I didn't design it for a router table; it was originally a work bench with six 4x4 inch legs each set at a slight angle, with two layers of 3/4 in. MDF  everywhere, including a bottom shelf. So it's very heavy and rock solid-- perfect for reducing vibrations. I figured, after springing for the LS, that the positioner unit should have a good home.

Now that you mention back problems, I went over and measured the height of router table I had been using, and it's  two inches higher than this one. I don't anticipate back issues, with this one; but if they develop, I suppose I could lift it a few inches using heavy rollers or something like that.

Re: New router table with Incra LS positioner

Re: New router table with Incra LS positioner

Hi Eliot

You have really great components, although I wonder what router or lift you are using? Can you say? 

For my use, I would orientate the fence in a way to run long lengths past the router bit. That would have the fence facing the front, which would be awkward with the Incra. Can you pull the bench out, or is the set up dedicated to routing short work pieces?

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: New router table with Incra LS positioner

The router is Porter Cable model 8902 with the no. 890 ,10,000 --23,000, RPM motor. The lift is Woodpeckers PRL-V2 Precision Lift. I believe I had to mount the carriage the way I did, because as you say, it would have been awkward to mount it across the short (two foot) side, given that the LS carriage with fence attached is 28.5 inches long, and Incra also suggests that the edge most distant  from the fence be placed about 4 inches from the end of the table. The out feed side of the table is far enough from the shop wall so that there is about 30 inches from the router bit to the wall. And I can move the table further away from the wall, should I require more room. Dick Coers is worried that the table is too low (33 inches.) I don't know how he figured the height, but it could be a couple of inches higher, I suppose.

You know, until  you asked, I didn't know that this router is variable speed with such high RPMs. It's always been set at 10,000. I could use some advice about which speeds to use for various applications.

Re: New router table with Incra LS positioner

Dick. It took me a while to understand what your issue with my router /LS positioner set -up is rally all about. I couldn't understand why just standing over to the left of the router bit bothered you. But I realize that what you actually meant is that my TABLE ITSELF is where you would stand-- there would be a large wooden object exactly where you want to place yourself. And, because of that, in my case, I will have to standover to the right and further back and eventually ruin my back leaning over the table to make cuts.( It wasn't the height of the table that concerned you.)

I appreciate it that, apparently you are kind enough not to have responded in a way that would have indicated that I had no idea what I was doing.

But here's the thing: my set up is exactly right for what I want to do with this positioner. Just think of it more like  a table saw. You don't stand to the left of the blade on your TS; you stand behind it. The real use of this Incra positioner is to make very precise joinery cuts by pushing the stock through the bit -- from behind -- in feed toward out feed, just the way you use a miter gauge or sled through a TS blade. In fact, the distance from the in feed side of my Powermatic to the blade is twice that of my router set- up distances(only 12 inches.)

Take a look at one of the Incra LS positioner instructional videos, and you'll see exactly what I mean.