Re: all aluminium router table top

with the incra magnalock in my hand i do not know why it is taking me so much time to make a new router table top.

perhaps it can be answered by the following reasons:
1. i still got a perfectly working router table.
2. i need a true aluminum laminate for the table top.
- purchased today a whole sheet of aluminum laminate c/o MF
wilsonart worth 2,800p! (their cheapest btw...i preferred the brushed aluminum than the ribbed type since the wood glides so smoothly over it.
3. wala na ako mdf...
- have a small offcut size ok for the table top but i need two to make it more rigid.
-ok lang ba 3/4 plywood na lang yung bottom then yung top is mdf?, i-glue ko na lang?
-awaiting for your opinions.

wow!!! doc you mean all aluminum table top 😮 how can you make a hole for router plate on the aluminum laminated ? ow what is the thickness of your aluminum laminated ?

to ans. your item # 3 siguro naman wala naman problema doon sa plywood at MDF eh hindi na sila magrereklamo pag nag sama ung dalawa baka nga eh matuwa pa yan eh magkaiba ang lahi nila :rolleyes:

Re: all aluminium router table top

Maybe a jigsaw and a good set of files for the plate hole?

Re: all aluminium router table top

[HTML]wow!!! doc you mean all aluminum table top how can you make a hole for router plate on the aluminum laminated ? ow what is the thickness of your aluminum laminated ?[/HTML]

it never occured to me to inquire kung merong plastic laminates na aluminium ang top..yung real aluminum..meron nga at a price!

perhaps the aluminum plate thickness is thin enough (less than 0.2mm cguro, eyeballed) to be cut by the jigsaw first then the carbide rabbetting router bit.

thanks for your insight regarding the marriage between the mdf and the 3/4" plywood.

still waiting for some comments on this build but i cant say to work on this right away since i still have a number of things to do...at least i already have the aluminum laminate...wala na din ako 3/4 ply eh..and wishing all days are weekends so i can immerse myself with wood.

na test drive mo naba gls? wow eh di pasyal pasyal kayo ni swmbo?:p

Re: all aluminium router table top

[HTML]wow!!! doc you mean all aluminum table top how can you make a hole for router plate on the aluminum laminated ? ow what is the thickness of your aluminum laminated ?[/HTML]it never occured to me to inquire kung merong plastic laminates na aluminium ang top..yung real aluminum..meron nga at a price!

perhaps the aluminum plate thickness is thin enough (less than 0.2mm cguro, eyeballed) to be cut by the jigsaw first then the carbide rabbetting router bit.

thanks for your insight regarding the marriage between the mdf and the 3/4" plywood.

still waiting for some comments on this build but i cant say to work on this right away since i still have a number of things to do...at least i already have the aluminum laminate...wala na din ako 3/4 ply eh..and wishing all days are weekends so i can immerse myself with wood.

na test drive mo naba gls? wow eh di pasyal pasyal kayo ni swmbo?:p

yap nakarating nga sa shop ni sir timber and then travel to my home at cabuyao wow swabeng swabe sa takbo smooth hehe bago lang kasi
good lock sa router table kakaiba yang gagawin mo 😉 i post mo ha baka kopyahin ko din :p

Re: all aluminium router table top

how thick is the aluminum laminate Doc? you can rout the aluminum with regular carbide bit to cut the hole. unfortunately, I really wouldn't recommend an aluminum top especially if it isn't aircraft grade since it will scratch fast...
yes, you can glue mdf to plywood but best screw the together in several points.

Re: all aluminium router table top

Sharp cutter blade lang ang ginagamit ko pang cut ng aluminum laminate. You need to cut on top & several passes then put a guide near the cutting line tapos ibend mo. It will snap.

I'm using laminate trimmer Bosch GMR1 to trim the sides. Mabilis lang mag-dull yun router bit pag sa alum laminate.

Lagi oversized ang cut ko para safe. Pag dumikit na kse yun laminate sa board mahirap na tanggalin.

Dapat bumuli ka na rin ng multi-bond adhesive pandikit sa laminate. Mas magandang kumapit compare sa rugby (contact cement).

Sample pic of aluminum laminate on table base.

Good luck for your project.

Re: all aluminium router table top

thanks for the feedbacks.

will still push thru later with this aluminum router table top.
the reason why i also bought the laminate is for the kitchen project and the offcut will be enough to cover the rt top.
i think i havent browsed the internet really yet to find any discussion on topping a router table with aluminium laminate that's why i am venturing into it.

btw there are many types of aluminium laminates inside that wilcon store. some are ribbed which can prevent the wood stock from sliding smoothly and there are "brushed" types (3 kinds) and this is what i got..there is a "brushed titanium" actually and i wonder if that really is titanium but with the cost of 8,500 bucks per sheet nakamot ko ulo ko in amazement..i was looking for the brochure to really find out but it is nowhere to be found inside the store..when you glide the backsheet of the sample laminate, it glided so smoothly but decline to get it due to the price.

ok..this is will be an experiment.should it fail then there is always the next time to go back to the time and tested plastic laminate..and that next time perhaps, il choose a fancy color!
😉

Re: all aluminium router table top

laminate is for the kitchen project

i was looking for the brochure to really find out but it is nowhere to be found inside the store

If you can or were able to get the model numbers, I wonder if you could positive ID them against this list:
http://samples.wilsonartcontract.com/c-8-decorative-metals.aspx

If so, the tech specs are just a few more clicks away. For example, the type and thickness of metal, which might give some idea of its abrasion resistance, and maybe working methods.

On some (all?) of those data sheets, it says: "Use on vertical surfaces only. Horizontal work surfaces are not recommended."

Once I was looking for a specific Wilsonart model (specially designed for markerboards), and found that the distributor had it even though it was not in stores. So what is at Wilcon, etc. is not necessarily everything that is locally available.

Re: all aluminium router table top

i think what i bought is the bright brushed natural aluminum..

i will try to apply some wax when its done and see the results myself.

but at this point, the only thing that concerns me is the overall softness of the metal.

dents and scratches here we come!

Re: all aluminium router table top

@ Violane,

Brush Alum laminate is prone to dent & scratches. Soft kse yun aluminum niya.

Just apply firm pressure sa laminate pag dinidikit mo na.

Re: all aluminium router table top

i finally finished the table top now equipped with aluminum miter and t tracks that came from online 4. the wait was sweet (thanks brader timber). i wouldnt have time to do woodwork even if they had arrived earlier. and thankfully the One from above gave me all the needed strength in making this project today.cheers!

the finished aluminum topped router table with kreg combo miter and t track and incra t track for the fence

here are the wips...
here the 3/4" mdf guide strips were attached using a double sided taped sandwiched the combotrack..this method proved no room for mistake and the aluminum track fits snugly after.

no room for mistake? well almost..i ruined this entry part! its almost 2 inches long!

Re: all aluminium router table top

i later found out that the nut holding the bearing stopper of the pattern bit had slipped causing the mishap..the bearing was wandering up and down as i moved the router.agh!

even though this defect wont affect the performance, i am disappointed aesthetically speaking.

with high spirits, i decided to install as well the t tracks for the fence..here after cutting to length, i wrapped it in gauze so the jaw of the vise wont mar the surface...remember that the recess made by the pattern bit has rounded corners..so instead of chiseling to make them square why not round off the corners of the t track instead?

Re: all aluminium router table top

just right

goodnite guys

Re: all aluminium router table top

i later found out that the nut holding the bearing stopper of the pattern bit had slipped causing the mishap..the bearing was wandering up and down as i moved the router.agh!

even though this defect wont affect the performance, i am disappointed aesthetically speaking.

yep, happens to me all the time, that is the reason I bought some whiteside bits. also the drill bit locks I use to sell were the ones I use for locking the bearings on my ezcut pattern bits... so before using these bits, please do double check the lock nut is tight...