Bench Dog 40-001 ProTop Contractor Benchtop Router Table
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List Price: Our Price: $239.99 You Save: $60.00 (20%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Bench Dog 40-001 ProTop Contractor Benchtop Router Table
Customer Review: The FINEST Benchtop router table at ANY price!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just bought the ProTop Contractor Router Table as a second table that I could set atop one of my workbenches in my woodshop at home. I figured "Hey, for a quick round over, or a second set-up in multi-step operation this would be great. I'm happy to say this has far exceeded my expectations. Allow me to brag-on for just a "bit" (no pun intended).
Why a small quality table even if you're NOT a contractor?
First
The price point of this unit is so attractive that I thought I'd be nuts to not have a second table. The only thing a serious home woodworker lacks is "multiple" machine setups like an industrial shop. I invested almost $1,700 in my first table with a sophisticated permanent lift, a sleek table with just the holes drilled for my router, and of course extremely well machined parts for accuracy with an awesome fence. All this is great, but it still needs to be setup for each and every operation, this takes time.
Second
For many of us we have multiple routers, generally sitting in their cases until used. I thought this was just the reason to put one of them to better use.
Third
A small table is more useful than I would have thought. I mean most of the time you're only routing smaller boards, rails, stiles, etc. These sizes are quite manageable on a small table, and I find myself using this little table more and more.
Forth
Fast, easy and accurate use. Let's be honest. It's nice to have the micro-fine adjustments of the higher end tables with a great lift. But, a good router today sells with an above-the-table adjustment tool. So it's entirely possible to get 1/64th adjustments with the turn of a $20 accessory!
So what impressed me the most about the ProTop unit?
1. Everything, and I mean everything fit perfectly the first time
2. The instructions - if followed, are accurate and well done.
3. There are extra parts in case you loose one - hurray! (I must admit though, I called tech support wondering why I was left with 4 lock washers, my answer was "we threw them in with the previous version, so don't worry about it you won't need them".
4. The price! Who cares if it took me a few hours to put together this little wonder, I didn't want to spend another $1,700 like I did on the last table. The most time consuming element is getting the router plate "just right".
5. It looks great when assembled, and the finish is really first class for any shop.
6. Even the doggone decals look great. (I normally would never put these things on)
7. This is even more embarrassing, I bought two "orange" feather-locs" by Benchdog since they match so nicely! (They also work great, too)
8. The "Lighted" Power Switch (option) also matches nicely and is SO practical and safe by being able to put it ON top of the fence.
9. This thing is quiet.
10. The table is flat.
11. The engineering is an elegant use of simple concepts to achieve the fit, the flatness, and it's square, true fence.
10. The fence is smooth AND SIMPLE TO USE
11.It works with lots of options. I simply got a different plate, drilled it out and viola! I had my above the table micro-fine adjustment tool put to work - I HAD NEVER USED THAT THING UNTIL NOW!! I wonder if I'm the only woodworker who buys these gadgets but doesn't actually use them for months?
12. The aluminum extrusions are true and flat, and really are the finishing touch for making a great table and fence at any price.
This thing will do you proud. If you're a woodworker, you'll wish you had developed this thing. It's a beautiful piece to just look at, not to mention a joy to use.
Customer Review: quality product
Summary: 5 Stars
First, bravo to Amazon for these reviews. Because of being able to read other customer reviews i have been able to buy the right tools.
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Quality product. Table is level. Assembly is straighforward, though takes some time. Very impressive. After months of research before buying it is clear to me Bench Dog makes the best router tables on the market. Also is capable of acting as a jointer if you do not have one. i am thrilled with this purchase.
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As you are shopping for a router table i will start with some choices. For router tables there seems to be two catagories. The really cheapo stuff, and the high quality items. i narrowed my choice down to tables made by Bench Dog, Rockler, and model G0528 by Grizzley.
Since this review is for the Protop Contractor i will begin:
Delivery:
The box/packing of this product is excellent and capable of surviving shipping intact. It is well packed and insulated (where needed). Mine came in perfect working order.
Assembly:
Claims of any less than an hour are hard to believe. It took me a few hours to assemble. i am not that mechnically inclined, but found assembly very straight forward. The instructions are excellent, the pictures clear. There was a earlier customer review that said the pictures were hard to see. The company monitors this site, because a rep from the company posted here saying they had corrected that problem. How is that for customer service!
The claim of extra assembly parts was true in my instance (i really did assemble everything 100%). i mounted a Porter Cable 690LRVS. My Bench Dog came with a set of 3 longer screws to mount this router (690 series). i assume many of the extra screws in that bag were for mounting the other routers this product supports.
QA after the installation:
Table is flat, flat, flat. Fence to table alignment is true. Router to miter track alignment is true. My Grizzly miter gauge works like a champ. As a related sidenote, Rockler sells a miter gauge bar for about 13$ that fits as well and can be used to make jigs.
Misc. Stuff:
* It is a pain to open the door to turn on and off the router so you will want to buy an after market power switch. Rockler makes one (63026) for 24$ that is very nice and easily mounts to the table and cheaper than the one sold by Bench Dog.
* i was confused by a number of reviews for various router products that suugested that it was necessary to buy a router lift to use to set bit height and change bits. While these products are nice they are not essential.
It is very easy to remove the motor of my 690 from the table to change the bits. Also it is easy to raise and lower the bit and measure height using a router measuring gauge or other measuring tool.
* Table top offers plenty of work area.
* Table is relatively light, making it very portable if this is a desired feature.
* This product comes with two shims. The fence can be used to do jointing! i have a jointer so it is not a big deal for me, but may be for you.
One minor suggestion to enhance. The plate opening size is fixed. It would be nice to insert fittings more formed to the actual size of the router bit. Similar to what Craftsman does. Do not view this as a big deal as you should not be routing pieces that small where the opening would be an issue.
Closing:
Thanks to Amazon for this site. Thanks to everyone that takes the time to thoughtfully post their experience with this and other products. They are invaluable to me in making buying decisions.
Customer Review: great addition to the workshop
Summary: 5 Stars
I ordered this a week after the Bosch 1617EVSPK router combo it. It arrived within a couple of days and took about 2.5 hours to assemble. There are a lot of screw, nuts, bolt etc so I think it is worth the time to lay them out at the beginning like the diagram of the parts included, this speeds up finding the parts significantly when assembly begins. The instructions were very clear and easy to follow and everything lined up great. The finish router table looks wonderful, I could probably put it in my lounge as it would be the nicest furniture I own, kind of a shame to get it dusty.
My router took a month to arrive so I was eager to hook it up. The 1617EVS fixed base router fits directly to the table inserts predrilled hole so no drilling was necessary and there is enough clearance in the cabinet to make all the necessary adjustments without having to remove the router. The fence adjustment is easy but I have not found the best way to make multiple parrallel routes, I am currently using a square running along the fence and squaring it to the cabinet top, the instruction says use a square against the miter which I do not have yet. I could see this as the one benefit of having a router table attachment on a table saw, you can use the table saw fence to truley square up the workpiece effortlessly.
So very happy with the purchase and hope to get many years worth of fun out it it.
Customer Review: Exceptional Compact Router Table
Summary: 5 Stars
Ordered on Sunday, received it on Thursday with the free shipping. After far too many months of research and "thinking" about it, I finally made the choice to go with the ProTop Contractor for its size and cost. Good decision. The quality is exceptional. Took a couple of hours and a couple of beers to assemble, but even that was a pleasure. The instructions were clear and everything fit and aligned perfectly. The laminated plywood construction is sound and finish better than I expected. The top is suitably flat and the plate leveled out perfectly without much effort at all.
No complaints, but a couple of suggestions for Bench Dog and other buyers...
1. I really wish the router plate had a larger opening with inserts to adjust the size down to zero clearance.
2. I'd prefer the dust collection outlet to have a fitting to attach the suction hose rather than the simple hole.
3. While easy enough to add, I'd have paid another $20 for an integrated (side mounted) power switch.
All that said, I am now an enthusiastic Bench Dog fan and customer. This is absolutely the best small router table you can buy for this price.
Customer Review: Excellent but assembly times vary
Summary: 5 Stars
The end product is quite convincing and sturdy. The table is very solid with my Bosch 2.25 hp router mounted, and it is light enough to easily stow when not in use. The levelling screws tend to vibrate loose, so I check and tighten each time I use it.
This table took me four hours to assemble. There are over 150 components that must be assembled. Sort all the hardware first. That helps but it still takes awhile. I was short one required nut which I bought at my hardware store for $.31.
Although there are some uber-assemblers out there who will throw this together in an hour, I think this is a substantial project for the average hobby woodworker; however, the steps are clear and the components fit together beatifully.
Overall this seems like a good product at a good price. I do wish Bench Dog would be as precise in putting together their hardware bags as they are in cutting the pieces though.