Wow, I have that same router table and I LOVE it. If you would just build a 16 inch platform right where it’s sitting, you would have your bench to the left as an outfeed table and you could make a drawer under it to store all your router bits, jigs, and featherboards, etc.

Hi, thank you for sharing your thoughts, i admire the honesty and candor. Also you do NOT ramble, in-fact it is refreshing to hear you talk honestly. Keep it up and God bless

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I appreciate you saying that.

The Ruler Issue. I totally agree that extra little bit before zero often gets in the way. Interesting thing I learned form Stumpy Numbs (Great youtube channel btw) is that a "rule" starts at 0 and a "ruler" has extra on the ends.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's so interesting! I feel a little bit more official now knowing this 😆

@pgmpxk

3 ай бұрын

I just ground the extra off,

@deeshrier7444

3 ай бұрын

Definitely grind the extra off. I've done this and extremely happy with the result. Concerning buying in bulk and not using it: donate the unused bulk and write off the price of the unused bulk as a business loss on your taxes.

I’m a hobbyist woodworker, looking at making more things for retail. Take my advice: buy or build a stand for your router table that suits your height. Mine is extremely useful - I use it for every project, even if it is just for roundovers or rounding corners. It’s always ready to go and is at the right height for me. I just bought a good router lift so it is now very easy to set the router to the right height. It’s way better than a palm router for many things. I did use my palm router to make some dados in a set of shelves, but I use my router table much more.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Great advice! I'm going to give it a second chance once I finish some other shop organization priorities.

May I suggest that as you prioritize your future tool investment that you upgrade your dust collection system to include a canister filter that will filter out dust down to the 1-micron size or smaller. This will not make you money, but it will provide a long-term health benefit that is worth the expense. You have a lot of years of woodworking ahead so you might as well take precautions to protect your lungs.

@samholborn

3 ай бұрын

Yep I agree, just starting out with my woodworking stuff, my first I'm looking at doing is dust filter

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's an excellent tip. I have very low ceilings in my basement, but if I can fit a canister I'll get one right away. Dust protection is so important. Thanks for watching!

@richtes

3 ай бұрын

Looking at it now, the Supercell seems like a versatile option for a small shop. I’ve got the 5HP Dust Gorilla Pro and think would have been better off with something smaller that does a bit more.

A drill press is a wonderful thing but doesn't necessarily replace a drill guide. If you have to make a hole in the middle of something large - you may not be able to safely use the drill press or you may not be able to get the drill bit anywhere near where you need to make the hole. Often, though, something like the Milescraft Drillblock or even a doweling jig can do the trick very nicely.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's true, thanks for sharing!

@MaxTSanches

3 ай бұрын

Yes, I too have a drill press and purchased a drill guide for exactly that reason - drilling where I can't reach with a drill press. Fortunately the one that I purchased was only $50 on sale. :) The down side to it was that it has rubber feet. They hold the unit in place but flex, so the hole drilled is not always vertical. I'm thinking of removing the feet and finding a way to clamp it (or even screwing it) down. What I used and still go back to is an old corded Ryobi drill with a level on the top and a bulls eye level on the back, for drilling horizontal and verticaly.

@oldguy1030

3 ай бұрын

@@MaxTSanches I have an old Craftsman drill (I think over 30 years old) which I will likely keep forever because it, too, has the levels. In order to preserve that old drill I don't use it for anything but the situations where I want to use leveling function. I don't know why I don't see levels on new drill motors.

Why not build a table for that router? maybe make it as an anex to your current worbench. Regarding those rulers, what about grinfding them to zero?

As a woodworker for over 30 years. One of the first thimgs i did with my metal rulers was grind of the wasted space ends. Still use those rulers and love them.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! Once I get my hands on a grinder I'll be doing the same with my rulers.

Thanks, Carpenter Katie. Like you, I had a small desktop router table in the corner. So, I hatched a plan to convert to a router platform. I bought a Router table with wheels to mount the desktop router top, made a dust box, etc. In the end, I bit the bullet and abandoned the desktop conversion and built a complete system using the table and other parts, including a fence, top, lift, and dust box from Woodpeckers, Rockler, Jessem, and Bosch. I now have a beautiful, $2k robust Router table that sits in the corner with the remains of the original desktop router in pieces and in the trash. Hope this story helps determine the fate of your little guy.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That sounds like a great setup! I still haven't figured out the router lift concept. For some reason the router is one of the more confusing and intimidating tools to me, I'm surprised I made it as far as I did with that little router table.

Great video! So many relatable things but also some things I wouldn’t think about!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!!

Really enjoyed this video, thank you. Like the way you think and how thoughtful you are about what needs to be in your shop; definitely struck a chord!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I appreciate having a small shop because it really makes me think about every purchase I make, especially larger tools.

Everything I purchased was needed at the time and saved me money by having it handy. For my work surface heights I use my Worx folding worktable as a guide. Every table is made at that height so it increases my work area.

Agree with thebruler issue. Thank you for sharing. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy 😊 and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Good stuff for sure. At some point in my life, I introduced a max budget for tools with time spent to determine whether or not I really needed something.

@carpenterkatieco

2 ай бұрын

I like that! I give a lot of thought to every purchase I make and my priority right now is saving for a happy and healthy future. Thanks for watching!

The metal rulers are good, you can sand the excess so they start at cero 😊👌

Great video, lots of good info learned by your experiences. Thanks!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Just found your channel, I have a desktop router table and 1st thing I did was make a trolley for it. It helped with having limited space but it also makes it very accessable

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I've started putting a few things on wheels and it's such a lifesaver in a small shop. Great suggestion!

I purchased a similar Ryobi table top router table. I built a mobile base (from almost all scrap materials) with storage and It keeps my workbench free and is at the right height (by design). And it gets used!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I love that! I probably have some scrap wood that will make a nice little stand.

Love the videos. I appreciate the insght. Keep making great videos!!!!!!!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I'm glad you're here!

Great video! Thank you so much

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Interesting video. I'm recently retired and have begun getting some woodworking tools, and it's useful to get candid reactions. I'd say there is 0 chance I'll do anything commercial, but I can see myself making shelves or cabinets. Oh, and that word you were trying to recall is 'hemisphere', I believe.

@carpenterkatieco

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! Woodworking is a great hobby and it's so rewarding doing projects for yourself. That's how this all started for me. Enjoy your retirement, I'm glad you're staying active!

I don’t have any regrets on any tools that I’ve bought so far. I use all of mine at one point or another. I need to buy another room dust filter though. I have one, but could use another to help. I have dust collection, but I still get some dust in the room. Build a stand for your router table, you’ll thank yourself for doing it. I’m going to build a bench with built in table saw and built in router table that will also double as an assembly table and some flip top tool stands for planers and sanders and what not.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I gotta get my stuff together and just build a stand already. It sounds like you're going to have a great shop setup with your new bench and tool stands. Enjoy the projects!

Great tips Carpenter Katie, especially #5 - test to see if it will sell before you buy (or make) too many. Viewers: Milescraft makes the mini drill press at a fraction of what Rockler charges. Like Katie, I only use mine occasionally, but for ~$40, it’s less of a regret & more of a tool i’m happy to own when I need it.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and sharing the recommendation!

LOL, Katie. I have the same Bosch router table and presently have it poised atop a work table and agree with you wholeheartedly. I think you once again jump-started my focus on building a mini-table, most likely on casters with locking wheels for it as of the moment, it's sitting flush up against a wall and leaves little space to get dust collection attached or to maneuver pieces across it. Apparently, I didn't receive the adjustment Allen wrench tool when I bought it all second-hand from a guy getting out of the woodworking business, so adjusting it is a mini-challenge, not to mention the process of unscrewing the bloody thing if I want to put the grips back on it and do power routing by hand. And, LOL, I bought the Amazon version of the drill press gizmo and I mainly use it to align Fostner bits for depth-specific holes. However, every blooming time I've used it, the chuck on my DeWalt drill has locked up from being expanded so far to make the darned thing turn. In fact, yesterday, I had to mix channel locks and banging the conflagration to get the chuck to release the tool, and is that ever a clunky process. If I had a dedicated drill to leave attached to it, I might consider that, but alas, we have to make due with what we have, right?! YT recommended this video to me, which has sure taken long enough to do so considering how many videos like this I regularly consume. Keep up the good work!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching and sharing some of your experience and frustrations. I definitely can relate!

It's hilarious how similar my own bad choices have been. Glad to see I'm not alone. Thanks.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

A hemisphere is half a sphere! I can definitely relate to buying in bulk to reduce unit price. I regret buying seven different kinds of organizers rather than investing in a single storage system, but I am really glad that I at least kept it organized from the beginning.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Yes! Hemisphere! My shop organization has fallen a bit behind in the past year, but I'm trying to make it a priority this year. It's a lot more fun to work in an organized space.

@squarelevelplumb

3 ай бұрын

she said they were small, but not how small. If they are large enough they could be used for small feet on little projects.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

@@squarelevelplumb they’re about 1”. They would make cute little feet for the right project, I like that!

I 100% agree with you about the portable drill guide. It may have a few unique uses but for the exorbitant cost, it is not worth it. As you said, money better put towards a drill press. Best wishes with your business.

@carpenterkatieco

Ай бұрын

Thank you so much! Happy woodworking to you!

As someone who is brand new to wood working and just getting started as a hobby, i appreciate the small details. Thank you for the video, i hope someday i can get good enough to sell random things ive built on a site like Facebook Marketplace. I dont have the time or the space to do what you do, but a jewelrybox or coffee table here and there is more realistic for me. Great video and thanks again for your details. Looking forward to more content.

@carpenterkatieco

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! We all start somewhere. I had very humble beginnings and never imagined I could turn woodworking into my career. I'm still relatively inexperienced, but I learn something new every day. I wish you the best of luck wherever your journey takes you!

@badgerdog9898

Ай бұрын

@@carpenterkatieco Thank you!!

Excellent topic. You have a tremendous ability to articulate concepts and provide invaluable information along with the thought process that went into the decision. Beginner and experienced woodworkers alike will benefit. I'd say my biggest regret is spending the money on the dozen, or so, inexpensive palm sanders I've purchased over the years instead of investing in the Festool from the start. Thanks again for all the great content you share.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind comment. I agree with the Festool sander and dust extractor. I should have bought it much earlier! Hands down the best investment I've made for my shop.

@TheRealPlato

3 ай бұрын

my first and only sander is bosch 18V cordless GEX18V-5N. I run it into an M12 0960-20 vacuum which works great but is too small for large jobs. I bought the sander based on Project Farm's testing, which measured high controllability and low vibration compared to the competition. The cordless tax is worth it to me to eliminate the safety risks of tripping+cutting cords. Don't forget the pad savers

I don’t know if he was right or wrong, but my grandfather taught me the 1/8th of an inch before zero on the ruler was to account for the kerf. He always set his blade to the inside of the marked line for perfect cuts. I used a disc sander to remove the ‘extra’ from the ruler and now cut to the outside of the line. Tomatoe, tomato!

@carpenterkatieco

2 ай бұрын

That's very interesting! I'm a cut outside the line person too.

I can recommend Wynn Environmental for a canister filter for your HF dust collector. I have the same unit and use their filter. I'm very happy with it. Great video!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Oh great! I appreciate the specific recommendation. I'll check it out.

My drill press was only $50 more than that drill guide, and I love it. Looks like you have enough room for one.

@carpenterkatieco

2 ай бұрын

That sounds like a good price! Thanks for watching!

Excited for my Berkey Stand!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Omg thank you for ordering! The Berkey stand is my favorite - beautiful and functional.

1" diameter hemispheres, curved side down (countersink the screw), make nice "sliding" feet for smaller carts/stands that don't require casters. Side by side they make nice spherical wheels with a steel rod joining them and the bracket sits between them (like an office chair caster).

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Love the ideas, thanks!

Not sure if you have a disc sander (or access to one), but you can fix those rulers. Just take it slow and sand off that extra bit on the end. The word you were looking for was “hemisphere”. When I was a beginning woodworker, I went to a woodworking show and bought a small sled for my band saw for ripping irregular shaped boards. I thought it was something I NEEDED. It’s totally in the way and I’ve probably used it three times in 8 years. Cool video, thanks for sharing!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's relatable! I would love to have a bandsaw at some point but I'll remember this and think twice about a sled.

I also have the Rockler drill press, I have a floor drill press as well. Sometimes you just need something portable for 90 degree holes. Mine unfortunately had the collet chuck twist off. I couldn't believe it happened, but it came off where it was machine pressed in and now I can't use it at all. Too expensive for the lack of quality. Great video! I think we all have items in our shops that we purchase and after using, regret.

@bobbrown1603

3 ай бұрын

Chief069, Did the shaft actually fracture, or did the collet chuck just fall off of the shaft? If it fell off, that can happen because drill chucks are often attached to the shaft with a Morse taper, which is a conical shape of the shaft and a matching conical hole in the chuck. It is a friction fit, driven onto the shaft with impact and it normally stays in place with no problem. This method of attachment has been used for at least a hundred years in industrial applications. If this "failure" situation is what you have, there is absolutely nothing wrong with your drill guide... you just have to hammer the chuck back onto the shaft using a wood block as a buffer to prevent damage from the hammer impact.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Wow, sorry to hear about your drill guide! What a bummer. I appreciate you watching my video and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

I built a stand that makes it a good height and has wheels so that it can be moved if necessary. Grind off the end of the ruler so it is at zero and then you can use it and like it. I find that having extras is helpful since I make a lot of different things and also fix things rather then throwing them away.

@1pcfred

3 ай бұрын

I mostly use steel rules as straight edges. I hardly ever use the scale on them. Steel rules being sharp and square at the end is nice though.

This video found its way onto t feed. Looking forward to future content.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Hi! Bench top tools like the bosch router table that have an awkward height work really nicely on a popup table like the Keter work tables. I have a similar Bosch router table, spindle sander, and a miter saw which I rarely use; but they work well for certain tasks so I have a Keter table I deploy and sit the needed machine on there, clamp it in place, and ready to go pretty fast. Saves space too versus building another dedicated floor standing work surface.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's a great suggestion. I'll check it out!

You could always build a stand for the router table and grind off the extra ends on the rulers ...

I love your articulate logic combined with your natural expressiveness. You have an "online presence" with an enjoyable intimacy. I'm going to hangout with your channel a while.

@carpenterkatieco

2 ай бұрын

Wow, thank you so much!

Re: the router table that's too short and not tall enough....maybe build a mount for it so that the working surface is at/just below the regular workbench? That way it's easier to use.🙂 Edit: Oh drat! You already thought of this! LOL!

@carpenterkatieco

2 ай бұрын

Lol many people have reminded me that I have a wood shop and can, in fact, make a stand for the router table 😂 I'll eventually get around to it!

Actually the conservative approach to buying tools is the smart approach. You will use the router table more if you put it on a stand at a comfortable height. I use mine daily.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Sometimes I'm thankful that my shop is so small. I would probably have a few high price tag regrets if I had more space to fill.

I have the same issue with wood finishes and the same router table issue. I plan to build a short platform with casters to fix my router table issue. I’m just getting started with this hobby so I appreciate you sharing your experience here. Hopefully I wii start a small business with it too.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I like the idea of putting it on a stand with casters for a small shop. So nice to be able to roll stuff around. I'll be sharing more videos of how I sell my products online so stay tuned!

@1pcfred

3 ай бұрын

Finishing is black magic. You have to try different potions and incantations to see what they conjure up.

Definitely can relate!!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

What were the finishes that you've settled on, vs. all the ones that are now relegated to deep shelf storage?

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Good question! I use Minwax Polycrylic for the stained products I sell. I love the Walrus Oil Furniture Butter. Some things that sit on the shelf are a few types of "cutting board" oils, Danish oil and some other variations of stains I tried before realizing that oil-based is where it's at. I still have a lot of finishes I'd like to try!

Important thoughts when buying thank you

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Depends on your skills and how you understand the trade , many guys are using those tools as means of reach for tasks that luck approach in the workshop, many Carpenters know what to do but can't afford anything such ideas are generated to fix shortages and solve work, that's why in the USA you have harbour freight, it has primitive things for the low market based Americans.

The best metal rulers I ever got were from American Science and Surplus. I have enough that I can reach in any direction and pick one up to use. They were all zero to the end, and have metric on one side and imperial on the other.

@carpenterkatieco

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the recommendation!

I also bought that same router table when I was starting out. The top isn't flat at all so it's impossible to level the insert and the aluminum leaves gray marks on wood. Ended up just putting an MDF top on it and clamping the fence on when I need it.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I can't believe I actually completed the cabinet doors with it. I'm still not 100% sure how to use it 🤣

@90FormulaE8

3 ай бұрын

Similar experiences here with the Bosch router table. I took mine apart and mounted it into the wing of my table saw. Didn't take long to figure out the table itself isn't very awesome for fine woodworking.

The word you were looking for is *hemisphere* - a half sphere. Very helpful BTW. I found a lot of this rather relatable, and to be good perspective and advice. On the router table, I definitely see the downsides of that, even if it were placed at the perfect height on the perfect stand. It's the polar opposite issue of your portable drill guide, though. A fixed-stand tool like a drill press just sits there at its altar. Whereas a portable guide can be brought to where you are, where the material is. But such are the pros and cons of comparing any fixed tool with a portable tool. For you, the drill guide makes less sense. For me, I'm often working outside, so I can't often take advantage of a fixed tool as well. A drill press makes far less sense for me, as does a table router. In contrast, working in a shop, if you _did_ set your table router on something to put it at exactly the right height for you, it might get used fairly often - you just have to remember not to use it as a table! xD

@carpenterkatieco

2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! This video did change my impression on the drill guide. Thanks for pointing that out, it still has it's unique uses over a drill press. I might actually miss it if I let it go. As for the router table, I'm going to dust it off and give it another shot!

@Ahjile

2 ай бұрын

@@carpenterkatieco Good to hear! I'm glad. And I agree about the drill guide. I just got the cheap $40 Milescraft guide and am happy with it so far. I would have nowhere to put a press, so it's this or nothing but a drill block. Speaking of which, a drill block is much quicker for drilling straight-on 90-degree holes most of the time. If you don't already have one and want to avoid the hassle of using your guide all the time, just get a block. It's never going to replace the guide, but they're super cheap, WAY quicker than anything else, and can be used instead of a guide in a big chunk of situations - saves a ton of time, super convenient, and just as accurate for straight holes. I originally opted for the Milescraft DrillBlock+, which is definitely better than their first version, but I still needed to get a Big Gator Tools block to get holes near the edges of boards, which wide blocks and guides just can't do without a bunch of prep work. I use the DrillBlock+ most often because it really grabs the wood and is easiest to use most of the time, but the Big Gator block is awesome to have when nothing else will fit.

I don't know for sure but you sound pretty darn normal. Count me subscribed. At 70 I'm rebuying things that I regretted buying the 1st time; rebuying now, and realizing their worth. They were for me as an old guy. I'm afraid wisdom was too much waisted in my youth but looking up! Good fortune to you youngster.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I really appreciate this comment, Thomas. Thank you!

Flippin nice miter saw and decent table saw are priceless. Doing cuts with a circular saw and speed square is for the birds

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I love my track saw but a table saw would be a wonderful addition.

As you started talking about bulk-buy, my mind went directly to „sets“ e.g. a set of different sizes of screws, or o-rings … you need one special size, go to the store, see this sets, think oh nice, go home, take this one you need and leave the set-box for years somewhere;)

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Wow that's so true. I've definitely fallen for this before. In fact, it almost happened the other day with drywall anchors but I saved myself and walked out with the small pack of the size I needed lol.

I generally put my rulers in a vice and file them down. I agree. Non zero rulers are annoying.

Surprising to see that your drill guide doesn't have a spring on one of the guiding rails most drill guides tend to do have them but the metal chuck on your guide isn't big or bulky so it didn't need it maybe add a spring on one of the two rails to make it easy to use and retract your drill out easily, but play with the spring tension and compression a bit to not have the spring fighting against you while drilling. Even if your drill guide doesn't dis-assemble you can still roll the spring onto the guide railing but may have a bit of a hard time removing it after. Cut the extra ends of the metal ruler with some excess sliver of it left then grind the rest to final size and leave the edges of with slightly round corners so you don't end up poking yourself with the ruler while working with it.

@carpenterkatieco

2 ай бұрын

I've never heard about the spring, thanks for sharing! So many people have said to file down the rulers. I'll try it out, but in my head I don't trust myself to get a perfectly straight edge 😅

@chettiarsirusraj9501

2 ай бұрын

Cut about 3/4th of the rulers excess edge then grind the rest to a proper zero with a slight rounded edge on the ruler corners to not get poked by them while using the rulers. The bigger and heavier the drill guides chuck is the more likely one of the guide rails will have a spring on them, but you can add your own spring to your existing drill guide that works for you.

A canister top for your DC is smaller than 5he dust bag you currently use. See if you can find one with a spinning handle to clean the filter baffles without removing the filter. Saves a ton of time and mess!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Oh that's good to know that the canister top is smaller. Perfect, I will definitely look into this upgrade. Thanks for the suggestions!

I bought a drill guide like that for about thirty bucks forty years ago and never used it.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Lol this made me chuckle

I modified my router table so I can attach it to my miter saw stand. I don't have much room and have two folding miter saw stands that have feed rollers.

good video , however , if that router table is your worst woodworking purchase you already WON !! ... the resale value is HIGH , the demand is HIGH .. any effort on your part , like reusing the top , or placing it on a lower shelf , as u already suggested , is very useful .. routering smaller peices , you would never do with your palm router , at almost EYE level is also helpful .... put that router away , its day will come ... I do like your call on bulk purchases ... using old wood filler , old stains , old finishes , old paints and a half a dozen other old items , is no fun to use ... gl in your efforts

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

You're right! $200 here and there feels like so much but it could be MUCH worse. I'll hang on to the router table for now. Thanks for watching!

My machinist Mr. Pen rulers start at zero but are thicker. The Rockler drill guide is excellent for the right job. I had to drill 8 holes on vertical posts that needed to be as close to drill press quality as possible and the results were flawless. It's a terrible "drill press" though

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's a good point! The poor drill guide never claimed to be a drill press 😂

I bought a WEN Dremel knock off. I wanted to do carving. I bought the extended hand held attachment. It was 30 some dollars. It was a waste and I finally bought a cheap Vevor corded palm router. It worked but the cord got in the way. I gave it to my nephew and I bought the DeWalt cordless palm router with a plunge base. It cost twice as much as the Vevor but in selling four things it paid itself off. I gave the Vevor to my nephew he likes it.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

You finally got what you wanted and you were able to give the old tools a new life, that sounds like a win in the end!

I recently learned that a ruler that starts at zero is called a rule - who knew? Also, I've found that inventory that I thought I'd never use again, may unexpectedly come in handy someday.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Wow! I had no idea. A rule. That's one of those tidbits of interesting info that will stay with you for a lifetime.

@kwilliams2239

3 ай бұрын

A ruler is used to measure distance. A rule is used to scale drawings. It will be marked, for example, with numbers incrementing by 10 each lnch. It would be used for drawings wheree an inch = 10ft. Architects use rules.

If you’ve ever used a General or Milescraft drill guide, you’d be a lot more pleased with the Rockler version you have! I agree that the price is a bit on the high side, and forking out over $100 more for the vice got an instant “NO!” from me though! The guide has come in handy in several situations, and although it’s not frequently used, I’m glad I have it! Same with another version of the Bosch router table I have. My biggest regret would have to be either my Porter Cable dovetail guide or Rockler sign routing template sets. I’m ok with the quality of both, but I find them challenging to use, and I almost never use either one. The sign templates were purchased because I thought I could use them to generate some side income. That never happened!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

The Rockler drill guide is very good quality, it's heavy and sturdy. I'll keep it around for those situations where it works well. Thanks for sharing your regrets!

Agree on the portablle router table to an extent, for me it was just about storage and size of the table itself. It is an excellent table and fence setup though, so, temporarily, I set it up as a table on my drill press, works well. You'll get far more use out of a drill press with a good adjustable table than that rockler unit, I have one by Wolf, seldom ever used it, too much of a PITA to set up. I ended up buying a Bulldog router leaf for my table saw., otherwise, I would have built the Bosch top into a table extension for the table saw. Turns out that I can use the Bosch fence on my bandsaw, the bulldog leaf and the drillpress now as well, so don't give up on that.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Oh that's great! I love that you were able to repurpose things. I've debated selling the router table from time to time but I keep holding on to it. I'm feeling inspired to put it to use!

nice video. FYI - you could make a stand for router table; you could grind/sand excess length off of ruler; and, half a circle is e hemisphere or semi-circle. Good luck!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Those are the words I was searching for! I'm hoping to build a router stand at some point and will definitely be grinding the rulers. That option didn't even dawn on me before putting out this video.

I can relate on your last regret. I've been wood working for four years and would buy small things thinking I would use, which I've never have lol. I'm sure we aren't the only ones.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

So many random bits and bobbles lol. Even if I wanted to use something I'd probably have to search for an hour to find it at this point 🤣

@1pcfred

3 ай бұрын

There's really only a handful of woodworking tools that are actually useful. But it takes a lifetime to figure out what they are. Two of them are a combination square and a knife. Get a hardened combo square. You'll spend money for it but that's what you want. I just don't know where you can get one today. All the good companies have gone under.

Would you mind revealing which platforms you sell on. Would like to see your work!

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I sell on Etsy and also Shopify!

I love my Bosch router table. The problem may be your stand is the wrong height. Mine is much shorter than my lathe stand or planer.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I'm glad I held onto it so I can give it a second chance once I finish some other projects on my list.

thank you . its hard to know what we need . rulers go with starrett , general tools or taylor has great blems for sale .

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! The Starrett rules look great.

@1pcfred

3 ай бұрын

Starrett is being acquired now. They're basically out of business. A lot of people are saying bad things about the products they've been putting out lately. The kids just aren't interested in taking over. Go read the comments in Mr. Pete's video about it. Very sad.

I'm not even really into "woodworking" per se, but have a few tools around for household repairs and stuff. I definitely relate to your issue with rulers that don't start at zero. I have 5 metal rulers of various sizes. Two of them do not start at zero and they bug me too. Also, I have thought of buying a drill guide but probably wouldn't use it that much. I've been keeping my eye on a small laser light thing you attach to a drill to drill straight, but it has been in development and promised release for YEARS and still is not on the market yet.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

This laser light sounds great, I've never heard of it. The drill guide is great for keeping things straight - it's so hard to do freehand.

Interesting the drill guide is on your list. I understand the Rockler price hike, but I love my Milescraft. It’s cheap (like $30 I think I paid), and I find myself regretting my actual drill press. But then again being in a 12x16 shop may sound big, but as you see in your shop, things fill up quickly. I also find that some of the machines like a band saw (and even a table saw in a small shop) tend to be things I can do with smaller tools instead (like track saws for table saws….)

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing! Things fill up very fast in a small shop. I can relate on making other tools work - I don't have a table saw, I use a track saw. There are a lot of things I would love to have but don't even entertain them due to space.

@Andrew_Sherman

3 ай бұрын

@@carpenterkatieco and I forgot to say in my first comment. I really thought it was a good video. Was the first one I’ve seen of yours and now I’m binging others. Keep up the good work!

YIKES... the vise accessory is now up to $149. When I bought it was $250 as a set for both with free shipping. . Shame, as the vise does make the guide more useful. 😢

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

You got a great deal!!

Kate, the router table is a wonderful tool. Of course, it doesn't work on top of a benchtop or the floor so you build a separate stand to support the router table that brings the top of the router table to the table top height that you have chosen. My top surface of my assembly tables, portable table saw and router are all the same distance from the floor and all on casters that lock. Decide on a total common height you wish and build from there. It's more work at the start, but you'll be so much happier as you develop your projects. I've made all my stands and assembly tables they are all 38 inches high but it depends on your height and the height you are comfortale working.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I'm still pretty intimidated by the router so I think that's why the router table has been sitting idle and gathering dust. After this video, I'm feeling more inspired to get it up and running so that I can practice and get more comfortable with it.

You should put the router table on a stand to bring it up to the level you want. You have all the tools needed to make a stand. :)

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

It's on my to-do list now!

@DavidRavenMoon

3 ай бұрын

@@carpenterkatieco I use my router table all the time.

Grind the rulers down to 0. That's a common issue with rulers.

Metal rulers should definitely start at 0. At least those for woodworking. Yeah, I too got one of those drill guides-though I bought the Milescraft one for $50 CAD-and I seldom use it. The few times I've used it I too have found it finicky and the holes weren't drilled as precisely as with a drill press. Quite embarrassing to have off-90° dog holes in my bench. I put a lot of the blame on the dummy operating the drill, but it was still awkward to use. Once I got a drill press, I never looked back: one of the most useful things I've ever purchased. Got the same Bosch router table! I did get quite a bit of use out of it, but mostly because that's all I had. I did build a short table for it to raise it to the same level as my table saw-interesting shop project, but in the end I got frustrated with it: tired of bending/kneeling to make adjustments or change bits or collets, and the rising mechanism was anything but precise or smooth. I finally replaced it with a Jessem table/lift and... what.a.difference! I had to take a loan for that one, lol, but it's such a pleasure to use and the results are top notch. A hemisphere?

@carpenterkatieco

Ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing! I'm still debating whether to build a stand for the router table. I forgot how annoying it was to adjust/change bits. I might sell it and upgrade down the road. The router lift sounds like a dream!

I have a drill guide and a drill press. I use both. Get a comb square the metal ruler is removable and eventually you’ll drop it and the little locking screw will be and you’ll have a dedicated ruler.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Lol I like this idea for the ruler

I had the same problem with a similar router table. I ended up building a flip top stand with my oscillating sander on the other side. Both of them are too tall for a bench and totally unusable on the floor.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Flip top stand sounds great!

If it isn't where I can use it easily, not dig it out...I agree, same way here. Drill press, Drill press...10" benchtop would fit well down there.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Great suggestion! I'll keep that in mind

Apart from the rulers (I agree they should start from zero as all mine do) all the others are tolls that when you do need them you think good buy.I think you got ripped off with grill guide.$200.00US is gouging That is similer to buying Woodpecker tools and get something that is way over priced and no more accurate than a similar Banggood tool.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I agree on all points. A lot of these were purchases made when I was much less experienced. I'm still very new to woodworking but I've gotten much better at taking my time to research and consider all of the options.

I never regret the buying of any tool!lol

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I respect that!

The drill guide is a trap for new woodworkers. It's a specialized tool for specific applications not a replacement for a drill press. It truly shines on a jobsite, not so much in a shop. You bought a good one though. I was being cheap and bought the milescraft version and it was good for about 10-20 holes and started to fall apart.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

So true. I thought it would be much more useful but it's applications are very limited. I learned the hard way lol

@1pcfred

3 ай бұрын

There's things you really can't get up onto a drill press. Although when I drilled the dog holes on my workbench I took a little bench top drill press and spun the head around on it. The holes came out real straight.

@woodrowsmith3400

3 ай бұрын

Agree. The Milescraft is dookey. A drill press is the way to go in a shop. There are a number of decent drill press units available at the $200 price point. The 8" units at $80-120 aren't really going to serve you well, as you will soon outgrow it. Buy a 10" and build a simple platform table for it. They have reasonable power and a longer spindle travel as well as being far more stable due to weight. Always ..always...bolt the press down to it's home. I have always built my own router tables, after buying the stamped steel version from Sears in the early '90's. I still have, and use, the original plate I made in the mid-90's, altho I have several other plates as well. Thinking about upgrading to a JessEm lift soon...that means router table build seven ..or is it eight? Space is a never ending battle, and bulk purchases can be problematic. I do, however, purchase many fastener items in bulk. I am a night owl. Working at midnight or two AM makes it hard to run to the store for that one screw you need to finish up a project. I have several drawers and multiple fishing tackle boxes (Plano 3700 series from WalMart) full of hardware. A piece of painter's tape and a Sharpie help me find what I need quickly. Small shops are always going to be a challenge. Take a minute, hour or day to analyze your work flow, and see if maybe moving the bench of drum sander or the sawdust sucker to a different spot would save you a minute or two. Those minutes really add up, both in terms of production and in peace of mind. A small rolling cart is also VERY useful for moving parts through the production process.

@1pcfred

3 ай бұрын

@@woodrowsmith3400 I use a milling machine as a drill press. For the most part I've never felt I needed more. I have one of those drill guides too. Sometimes there's things I use it for.

@reggiejenkins6458

3 ай бұрын

Yeah it doesn’t have a ton of uses. But when you need it, you need it. Nothing else will do what it will do.

The Rockler Drill Guide. I have a drill press and I purchased a rockler drill guide for situations where I needed to drill where my drill press can't reach like the center of a panel. Frankly I use my V-block drill guide the most.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Ok now I think I need a V-block drill guide. Just learning about this. Thanks!

@1pcfred

3 ай бұрын

Rockler saw her coming with that drill guide. I got mine at a flea market for $10 but you can get them new direct from China for pretty cheap. I have a milling machine and it is a stout drill press.

I have that exact same router table and feel the same! I regret buying it for various reasons. Then again, I don't really want to spring for a fancier one because I honestly don't use it that much. And they take up so much dang space! One thing I would not purchase again is a basic, non-sliding miter saw (aka chop saw). I don't know why I thought I needed that for an early carpentry project I was working on. A circular saw is much more useful. I find myself wishing I had a real drill press, but do I buy a little benchtop one with ~2.5 inches of travel? Or do I spring for a big one and figure out how to fit it into my one-car garage? First world problems. I think I'll just continue to think on it. 😂

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I'm in the same place as you regarding a lot of tools - so many things I'm would like to have and am prepared to buy but I keep holding off because of space constraints and decision fatigue lol

How about a slide-out drawer for the router table set up for your ideal height.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's a great idea! I have a lot of shop organization projects on my list for this year so I'm hoping to find a good location for the router table at some point.

glue the wooden hemispheres onto the ends of your screwdrivers and test finishes on them

@TheRealPlato

3 ай бұрын

With less than 1yr experience woodworking and 3d printing: - My resin printer is no longer used in favor of my filament printer. - My "Masterforce Racheting Hand Clamp" were a mistaken buy, they fall off if you don't squeeze hard enough. Instead I always use the normal spring loaded "Masterforce Spring Clamp", which is basically a giant bag clip and simply remains clamped if you don't squeeze hard enough. - A set of concrete bits and tapcons are sitting on a shelf from an aborted project. - I had Matchfit clamps+router bit sitting around unneeded for a couple months, they finally saved the day yesterday.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing! I should have added tapcons and concrete bits to my list, I also have an abandoned set 🤣

You can route a plate or lift into a bench. It has to be flat, through. A great workbench can be made with a solid-core door, with a sacrificial piece of MDF loosly placed on top. A small rim around the door will keep the MDF from sliding. This makes a very flat, durable, and cheap, benchtop. A router station can be cut into one end. I agree with the drill guide. I got sucked into the Woodpeckers guide. It's just not solid enough. It's good for 3/8s bits, but that's about it. Whenever i buy hardware, i buy large packages, like 25# boxes of sheetrock screws. I also have 100 of every length of every machine screw from 6-32 to 5/16, most in pan, flat, and hex head. Having to make a special trip to the BORG ,just ruins the day. Half of it is shot.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's a great bench idea. I hope to one day have a router station in my bench. I've seen it in other videos and it looks great. Thanks for sharing! Totally agree with you on having to run to the store mid-project...the worst.

@kwilliams2239

3 ай бұрын

@@carpenterkatiecoMake sure it's a solid core door. Most are hollow core, which is not much more than a honeycomb of cardboard covered with a sheet of veneer on both sides, and a 1x1 around the edge. Solid core doors are similar but the cardboard is replaced with MDF. It does make a very flat bench. Support it well and it will stay flat. I have mine (2) on the Kreg steel bench frames.

I have a router table, and it makes for a safer use of the router, and better control. Now I did build my own router table. I made the top, and mounted to a Kreg steel frame. I built my own top because I could make it the size I wanted and could fit into my space. I bought a commercial fence. On the metal rulers, 0 does not start at the edge, because you don’t have to worry about the end getting dragged and not be true 0.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

I'm feeling inspired to give the router table a new life after this video! Thanks for watching and sharing

@scottmorris4914

3 ай бұрын

@@carpenterkatieco it makes it easy to do mortises, slots, free hand edge routing (use an edge pin), templates. Some of these can be done hand routing, it just easier and safe to move the wood and not the tool.

You know that you could cut all of those metal rulers so they start at zero, right?

Thanx for the video, sounds funny but i regret buying Shellac for one of my first finishes, to me it makes wood look like plastic

@carpenterkatieco

2 ай бұрын

That totally makes sense to me! Thanks for watching!

Ahhh I have that exact set of rulers and my complaint is the same! I never use them and they just hang on a magnet strip taking up space now. 🙄

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Totally relatable lol! My pegboard stays organized bc it's home to many little things I never use 😆

Why not build a table or rolling cart for the bench top router table that makes it the right height to use?

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's what I need to do. At some point I'll get around to it 🙂

It’s clear you are smart about this business and it’s not a hobby. The question should be, as you note, how does this new tool make me money.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's a great compliment! Thank you

Clamp your metal ruler between 2 pieces of hardwood with the end you don’t like sticking out. Carefully file that part off and dress the end with 320 wet and dry sandpaper.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for breaking it down! What might be obvious to others is completely new to me 🙂

@bobbrown1603

3 ай бұрын

@@carpenterkatieco A quick visit to a bench grinder would solve the removal of the extra length if you have such a tool. A grinder is a good acquisition for rough sharpening and metal shaping, too, which will likely happen many times in your future experience.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

@@bobbrown1603 That's a good point! No pun intended lol

Bosch router table is meant to be portable and on not so heavy workloads. It requires a dedicated stand you either make or buy or use what you have. It doesn’t make since to tear it apart to build a stand for the top when you could build the stand at the right height and permanently attach it without having to dismantle it.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

That's a great point. I might tear it apart and then it will just continue to be an unfinished project 😆

@SilverFox-1212

3 ай бұрын

@@carpenterkatieco as for rulers each has its intended purpose. One of the cons to any measuring tool is damage to the end due to things like dropping it and denting the end thus making it inaccurate. I have developed a philosophy that: Measurement is relative. Comparisons are relevant as is repeatability. When you realize the significance of my philosophy you will reduce your stress levels considerably and really start to enjoy woodworking.

Experience cheaper things as you go. Within your experience. I won’t say better tools aren’t better but each tool is a learning tool for the tool and life

If you want a good steel rule (not ruler, which is like a king) check out Starrett. It won't be inexpensive, but it will be excellent and last you a life time.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

Thank you! After doing this video I finally learned the difference between a rule and a ruler. I think I'll be upgrading soon.

I have to laugh at the drill attachement. It is an old design that few ever use. I have one from Sears that is 40-50 years old and it sits under my work bench. I have a floor model drill press that I bought new in 1996 as well as two bench top drill presses I bought on an auction for $50 for the two. Look for good used tools. If you don't like them you can resell for what you paid for them. If you like it use until you need a new one and you will already know what you like. I would stay away from large tools unless you have a lot of room and can get a lot of use out of them. I would stay away from combo tools as well. It might be a 3 in 1 tool but it likely doesn't do as well as individual tools and is a hassle to set up and tear down. If you are a hobbyist and enjoy the process then go ahead.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

This is great advice! I'm very cautious about what I buy and I do love finding a good Facebook Marketplace deal. I bought a used Kreg track saw system with table and everything for a great price a couple years ago.

There is a stand made specifically for that router table. That stand makes all of the difference.

@carpenterkatieco

3 ай бұрын

A stand is a must, I've added it to my project list!