New Product - "CMT Router Table with Large Insert"

    My next task is to drill the holes for attaching the insert plate to the router. I want the plunge lock lever facing front, and I want the RouterRaizer crank forward of the fence. With these two criteria met, I am lucky to be able to orient the plate that way.

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   I use the router's base plate to center the unit at the hole.

   Having taped the base plate in position, I drill a screw hole slightly larger than the one in the base plate.

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    I then carefully drill a countersink hole just deep enough to hide the heads of the 5/16" bolts.

   I have placed the gasket material in the sandwich of router and insert plate.

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   I keep a Japanese kitchen knife in my toolbox for cutting thick foam and insulation bats, and it seem perfect for this task. I am trimming the inner circle of the gasket material right flush with the inner router casting. This difficult to cut material is trimmed easily this way.

   Finally, on the outside circumference, I use the utility knife and many cuts — eventually the material  gave up.

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   A day passes and Beth is here to continue working on the panel door. She gives the panel a final sanding before shaping the edges.

   She brings the new router insert from the "garage."

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   And places it into the router table's opening. I have previously set the bit height based on the door we did last week.

   The CMT fence can be used with inserts or by just sliding the individual fences. Since this bit will be used often and the shape lends itself to making a special fence insert, Beth sketches around the shape of the bit.

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   She has used a saber saw to shape the profile and now manually rotates the bit to ensure that there is sufficient clearance. It is fine, and she is ready to shape the raised panel.

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