Router Table/Enclosure

My original plan was to enlarge my garage workbench to hold the router. One side of my garage is 42" deeper than the other. When I build my workbench I had only made it 32" deep so I had enough depth to extend it. However, I live in a 55+ community were the houses are only 15' apart. I became concerned that the router would be too noisy. Initial measurements, using a Radio Shack sound level meter, indicated 90+ Db sound levels from a Bocsh Colt trim router running at it's highest speed. So I changed my plans and decided to put the router in the basement. Since I had to build a table for it anyway, I designed one that could potentially be used to enclose the router. I really don't want to, since that makes access difficult, but the noise level, even inside, may make it a necessity.


That's a 3d model of the table drawn with Alibre Design. Not shown in the model are the Strong-Tie brackets used to hold the pieces together. The design is based on workbench plans published by Simpson Strong-Tie here and here. I did not use the KWB-1 kit since my bottom shelf uses a different, lower cost, design.
You can also access a 3D PDF model that you can then rotate in 3 dimensions!

If I have to enclose my router then the upper frame will be used to hold MDF panels with sheetrock layered on the inside (see details below). In the meantime the uprights provide a convenient way to keep the stepper motor and router power cables out of the way.

Table framing uses Strong-Tie RTC24 corner brackets for the corners and Strong-Tie joist hangers for the cross braces that go where the router legs are. 

Cross brace is placed to be under the routers feet

Cross brace is supported by both joist hanger and lag bolt

Right: Double 2x4 legs are glued and bolted together
2x3 spreaders are bolted to legs.
My bolts are recessed. They were too short but what I had available.

Table top with corner cutouts.

Right: There's an old quote "measure twice, cut once".
I did, really I did! Only problem, the measurement was
going in the wrong direction
!

Working alone I had to improvise.
I needed to hold the table top in position while applied glue to
the top edges of the 2x4's. The solution was to put in place
before the glue was applied and then lower it into position.


Right: A layer of 1/2 inch sheetrock was screwed to the underside
of the table top to provide sound insulation if I ever enclose the
top. Doing this now would be far easier than working upside
down later on
.

The sheetrock was caulked around the edges for soundproofing

Once the sheetrock work was done the shelf supports were installed.

Finished (for now) table.

Top and shelf were primed and painted.

Cutting,
Drilling & Tapping
Home Assembling
the Router