Bench Dog Tools 40-102 ProMax Cast Iron Router Table Extension – Great Stuff!

If you’re into home carpentry you know that a little goes a long way. Start with a basic table saw, and you can easily go two or three years learning how to plan projects and getting the basics down. So what comes next? There’s one tool that’s a must-have for every shop, big or small, and that’s the router.

So you got the router – where are you going to put it? Here’s where the hard decisions come into play. The router installation is what determines how easy and accessible the router will be, how crowded your shop will be, and how well it will work with your other tools. Like real estate, the key is location, location, location. For a shop that needs a lot of flexibility but not too much space, the Bench Dog Tools 40-102 ProMax Cast Iron Router Table Extension might just be the best router table extension out there.

Will it work with what I’ve got?

There’s a good chance. The Bench Dog 40-102 fits any 27” x 1.5” cast-iron table, and pre-drilled mounting plates are available for dozens of routers, including highly rated favorites Bosch 1617 and 1619 and Milwaukee 5615. Check the product description on Amazon or the manufacturer’s website to see a complete list of available mounting plates. If you’d rather customize your plate, standard and large blank plates are also available.

What does it bring to the table?

Well, there are 16 extra inches of workspace, for one. On some tables, you can install the router table on the left, and then add the left extension to the right one so that you don’t lose an inch of space. How about having an extra miter slot left of your table saw? That’ll come in handy. There’s a slot for featherboards too.

Plus, with this router table attached to your table saw, there’s no need for a dedicated router station, which frees up tons of room in a small shop. You’re never going to use your saw and router at the exact same time, so why not share the space between them? If you need even more workspace, flip the fence and drop it on the other side of the router. With dual fence slots that let you work on either side of the router, the area to the left is perfect for small projects, and the total table area on the right is available for large ones. The real question is what doesn’t it bring to the table?

Are there any extras?

The aluminum fence included with the Bench Dog 40-102 is a great fence. It’s machined for accuracy and precision, and with tool-free adjustments to the MDF sub-fences, you can quickly and easily set up a zero clearance fence to prevent chipping and tearout without having to unscrew the MDF every single time to move it, rotate it, or change it out completely.

Keeping the principle of maximizing space in small shop front and center, Bench Dog included two J-hooks on the edge of the table so the fence can be stored completely out of the way but within easy reach. A large, heavy-duty bit guard in bright orange keeps your fingers far away from the bit, and a 2.5” dust collection port with a wide mouth keeps your workspace clean.

The Bench Dog Tools 40-102 ProMax Router Table is really a complete package. They thought of everything as far as accommodating small spaces without difficult, time-consuming adjustments, all the while keeping safety and convenience in mind.

What about installation?

This is a cast iron table. It’s a heavy piece of equipment, and it’s probably best if you have someone to help you install it. If you can’t get someone to help you, try clamps, horses, rig up a pulley system, whatever you can do. But I strongly recommend that you get help, by bribery or blackmail if necessary.

Be sure to get the right pre-drilled plate for your router. If you have another plate, it probably won’t fit. If you plan on using a lift, check around to see if the lift you have or plan on using will fit. There is a handful that might (I saw Jessem, Precision, and Kreg mentioned as possible fits), but if you don’t already have a lift and you want one, go with Bench Dog to be sure.

CLICK HERE to see a list of popular routers that the pre-drilled plate fits directly

So far, so good, but how well does it work?

Like a charm. That same extremely heavy cast iron that makes it a bit difficult to install also makes it run smooth as silk with very little vibration. The fence can be popped on or off easily, or switched to the other side as needed. The cast iron surface is machined so crisply and cleanly that your pieces flow like water right across the surface, and a perfectly-leveled router plate with multiple adjustment points won’t hinder its progress. It’s so well-made and well-fitted that you won’t even notice the table while you’re using it.

Where can I find out more?

Bench Dog has awesome customer service, and their manuals are available online. Check their website if you need specifications that other websites don’t have. This table is a little difficult to find online, but Amazon has the most reviews.

Users have given it 5 out of 5 stars, and here’s what they have to say:

• “This is a well made unit, and is doing just fine on my old table saw!”
• “One sweet table and fence.”
• “The quality is everything you would expect.”
• “I am glad to own it. I am certain that it will outlast me and will be something our son will use someday.”
• “I now have a nice router table and did not have to give up any shop space for it.”

Where can I get one?

Be cautious when ordering this product! You have to make sure that you’re ordering the right plate for your router, and a lot of sites don’t label their products well. In addition, all of the sites advertising the lowest prices were out of stock, but some of them actually had the product in stock in their Amazon store – at regular Amazon prices. Therefore, I advise you to go to Amazon first. It’s easy to see which router plate you’re buying, and you’re guaranteed to get the best price with no bait-and-switch on pre-orders.

Save $30 off the Bench Dog 40-102 router table extension today at Amazon – including FREE SHIPPING