Replies

1. 
   Dan019 | Apr 07, 2004 02:30pm | #1

   You can use any router, that being said it's better to use one that can be adjusted easily from below or else came be removed and replaced easily for bit changes. In my shop I have an old Ryobi RE600 3 HP that is only used in the router table. For the road I use my PC 690. This router works well in this application because you can adjust, remove or replace very easily, it has both 1/4" and 1/2" collets and has as an option a plunge router base so you only need to carry one router. Bosch also makes a similar setup that seems be be of better quality but they're both just a motor with 2 bases.

   You can buy router plates or make your own, it's not hard. At this point a little more information and possibly a picture of your saw would help.

   Dan019

1. 
   toolbear | Apr 07, 2004 02:48pm | #2

   I will see about a photo of the saw. It's the portable Makita 8+" contractor's saw, now superceeded by the 10" versions.

   TB

1. 
   toolbear | Apr 08, 2004 02:55pm | #5

   Attached is a photo of the Makita in all its glory.

   Notice the lattice of squares that make it necessary to use the existing holes.

2. 
   Davo304 | Apr 08, 2004 09:24am | #3

   Drill new holes to match router of your choice. The old existing holes will not hurt anything. You could even cut out that section of table top and drop in a new aftermarket mounting kit; or put in a home-made one...many options here.

   I have the Makita 10 inch version, with the aftermarket (Rousseau) table and fence. I hated paying out $$ for that Rousseau table, but now am very glad I did. Was very limited before in what I could rip on that saw...but not now.

   Davo

1. 
   toolbear | Apr 08, 2004 02:42pm | #4

   The top, by way of the router area, is mostly square holes with a couple of mounting holes for something in between.  I am posting a photo.

   TB

2. 
   TrimButcher | Apr 09, 2004 03:15pm | #6

   I've got a 2708 and was thinking of getting the Rousseau table because the Makita fence is the most worthless piece of junk ever made by them.  My concern was how well integrated the table/saw/fence become (squareness to blade, matching level of Makita table to Rousseau, etc)?  I've heard great things about Rousseau, but didn't want to spend that kind of money to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear?

   Regards,

   Tim Ruttan 

1. 
   oldfred | Apr 09, 2004 06:14pm | #9

   Tim,

   I have the 2708 and the Rousseau table, and the table is great.  (Of course, it doesn't make the floppy miterguage or the difficulty of raising the blade with that crumby little knob any better.)  The Rousseau fence can be easily trued in with two set screws and it works super.   I made a set of detachable wheels for mine.  Had to cut a couple inches off one set of the Rousseau legs.  The wheels give the table  more stability and  make it easy to push around.  I plan to either buy the front extension table or make one, and after reading the other posts, think I might drill through the Rousseau table top  and hang my router with some sort of fence that would clamp onto the Rousseau fence.

   So yes, the saw intergrates very well with the Rousseau which turns a good, small portable saw into a much better machine.  To do it over I'd certainly look at the ten inch saws, mostly because of the miterguage and blade adjust knob, but I'd still want the Rousseau table.

   Cheers!

   Oldfred

2. 
   caldwellbob | Apr 10, 2004 09:24am | #14

   I had the 8" Makita saw with Rousseau table that I used for framing and siding. It worked well for me, but wore out, so I replaced it with the 10" saw and table. The Rousseau is a jewel that makes difficult work easy. another good thing about the Rousseau table is that it accomodates several of the new larger 10" table saws. If your 8" Makita is in good shape, the Rousseau table is the way to go.

1. 
   TrimButcher | Apr 10, 2004 03:48pm | #15

   Bob and Fred, thanks for the feedback!

   Regards,

   Tim Ruttan

3. 
   Dan019 | Apr 09, 2004 04:16pm | #7

   ToolBear

   This looks alot like the Ryobi I was using for a portable on site saw. After enlargeing the pic I can see the four holes, these are used for mounting a plate.

   All you need to do is make a plate that will fit underneath, either of alumimun or plywood or whatever you are going to use to mount your router to. This plate will attach underneath thru the four holes.(aluminum is a good choice if you have a means of cutting it because you can tap the holes then screw in some flat head machine screws, otherwise you'll have to use bolts)

   The router is attached to the plate and the plate is attached to the tablesaw wing. With some modifications the saw fence can be used for the router fence.

   Hope this helps, Dan019

1. 
   toolbear | Apr 09, 2004 04:46pm | #8

   Yes, that was helpful.  I was hoping for a direct connect, but I will get on with making a plate.

   TNX

   TBear

1. 
   Sancho | Apr 09, 2004 09:41pm | #11

   Yea you do need a plate. A bud of mine has a old mak TS (green body) and he had a plate made to use the router. He also had some washers (rings) made to fit arounfd the bits 

   Darkworksite4:

   El americano pasado hacia fuera ase la bandera

1. 
   toolbear | Apr 10, 2004 06:55am | #13

   Same saw - rather an olive drab green.  I will root about for some plywood for a mount.

   TB

4. 
   Isamemon | Apr 09, 2004 07:38pm | #10

   wish I had spent the money on the roseauu table instead of the makita table

   pone of my friends has a modified rosueauu that has the table saw, with a router mount and a chopsaw with extensions. Whole operateion takes about 5 minutes to set up at job site, nice system

1. 
   toolbear | Apr 10, 2004 06:54am | #12

   Sounds interesting.  Any pix of this?

   TB

5. 
   crosscutter1 | Apr 11, 2004 04:30am | #16

   if its an old saw i believe i have the same there were no routers that would match the existing hole patterns sold in the u .s those holes were designed for routers made over seas i have heard . i have mounted mine to the saw table on the rosaues stand