New Yankee Workshop Deluxe Router Station

[Chuck]

Has anyone here ordered the plans to the New Yankee Workshop Deluxe Router Station?

How detailed are the plans? Are all materials and dimensions well specified?" Is all the hardware fully specified and sources listed? What was your final cost to buy all the necessary material? Does the finished product live up to your expectations? For the time and money you put in, do you think you might have been just as well off buying a pre-made one from Rockler, Woodcraft, etc.? Any info you have will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Chuck

[John Grossbohlin]

Now that is an acceptable inquiry! ;~)

John

[Chuck]

And I really am interested in this plan. Does anyone have any experience with it?

[James "Cubby" Culbertson]

I can't speak for this plan in particular as I haven't ordered it. I've got around 3 other plans from them however if that is anything to go by. Dimensions are labelled although I have found one or two mistakes. A bill of materials for lumber is included and gives pretty specific cutting instructions (ie. cutting layout via words). I did not notice any specifics on hardware although what I built didn't require much. For this one, perhaps it does. Cheers, cc

[Never Enough Money]

I ordered the pans and the video. Norm makes it look easy.

I've had them for almost a year but it's kind of a big project so I've procrastinated....built other things.

I've never put down laminate so that'll be a new experience.....

The plans are quite complete. However, the video sure helps.

Chuck wrote:

[Lew Hodgett]

Yes.

Think you will be satisfied, I was.

[Rob V]

I bought the first one a while ago and made it - plans were fine. Moved and sold it so I wouldnt have to move it.

I PVR'd the 2nd one - stumbled onto an incra fence - then re-made it.

Works great.

[Dave]

I bought them...had taped the show on it so I could reference it while building it. Took about 2 or 3 weeks to build last January...granted it was about 35 degrees in my garage...I mean shop. Had to bring the glued up parts inside many times when I 'quit' for the day so the glue could dry properly.

Couldn't believe I built the thing using a PC 6902 Router with both plunge base and normal base, PC circular saw, straight edge and a Delta TS200LS saw...came out pretty darn good seeing this was the first 'major' thing I made and the tools I used.

Plans were easy to follow though there were some spots where I questioned the 'wood layout' on the 1/4" luaun plywood.

Dave

Chuck wrote:

[Bill Schoenbeck]

"Chuck" wrote in news:1133298368.295924.69830 @o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:

Chuck, No experience with this version but I built Norm's original version several years ago. I'm very happy with the result. I didn't build the top but used the top & fence available from Rockler and mounted it to Norm's cabinet with hinges in the back. My Idea was for ease of router access but as it turns out with the large front opening it wasn't necessary to hinge the top. My plans are complete as is the parts list. I made some errors due to not reading the drawings correctly but that was my bad. In my version the drawings are a little on the smallish side but the mistakes were all mine and had to do with the drawers for the router bits and tools and how they fit and slide. Built from 3/4" oak ply it is very heavy which is good for stability but not if you need to move it around. I added two casters to the bottom back edge and lift up in the front to roll it around then set it back down. Plenty of drag even with the rear of the cabinet resting on wheels to keep it in place while routing. I mainly use it for making my own picture frame material now but it also saw heavy use when I built a crib for our niece's baby a few years ago from Rockler plans. The slats in that plan are routed to shape. I also bought the video and viewed it a few times before starting. It is helpful and I enjoy watching Norm work but if you don't want to spend the extra $14 you could do without it. The new version looks nice and the lower storage drawer has changed from one big one to three smaller ones. Also the front access door is hinged instead of lift out. I think you will be very pleased with your result if you build it. It's a good design.

Bill

[cdo]

Built it a couple of yeras ago and love it. I had no problems with the plans, but I did make a few changes. I used my own top and fence designs (bigger surface with t-tracks, and more versatile fence), and I put a drawer where Norm had the wiring and switch (too much wasted space). I also cut 3-1/2" off the bottom and put it on heavy duty locking casters. Since I have only a garage shop for now, being able to move it was a necessity. The locking casters do effectively keep it from going anywhere when in use. The solidity and the noise dampening of the cabinet make it a dream to use - I really enjoy it. The plans were money well spent.

Cliff

[Pat Barber]

Yep...

It's NOT a plan but a "measured drawing".

Yes...you can build one with the drawing and a wee bit of skill.

Final cost is under $200

No..you can't buy one like you can build, in my opinion.

Chuck wrote:

[Adam Jawer]

I ordered the plans and they sat in my shop for 4 months before I attempted to build it. So far, I've finished the top and the fence and have been clamping this to my table saw and supporting the front edge with roller stands. This has sufficed for most of the stuff I'm doing and I'm in no hurry to build the rest of the case because the table is so gosh-darn huge and my garage is running out of square feet. I'm thinking that I'll try to make the top attachment modular so I can put other dedicated tops for different tools (my mortiser & planer come to mind first). I also don't have 7 drawers worth of router bits that I need to store so I might reduce the sice of the cabinet to trim these little drawers out and allows a smaller base footprint to save a little extra floorspace.

-A