Bench Dog 40-031 ProMax Cast Iron Router Table Extension for a Table Saw includes fence and Insert Plate

List Price: $398.99 Discount Price: $289.00

Features:

• Router table/tax saw extension; mounts to almost any right-tilt 10-inch table saw
• Fully adjustable miter track with 3/4-inch miter gauge T-slot and accessory T-slot
• Cast-iron construction; assembly required
• Includes router top, fence, insert plate, and hardware
• 1-1/2 by 27 by 16 inches; 62 pounds limited 2-year warranty

Accessories:
Fine Woodworking	Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship

Customer Reviews:

One of the best tools I have [Posted on 2008-02-26]
Look at all of the 5 stars reviews! This is a really great tool. I don't have much to add, although I will say that I was able to install this on my little Delta TS300 saw which only has a 22 inch width. I had to drill 2 holes, but anyone with mechanical skills can do this easily. I was able to install it by myself, but it is heavy and if you have someone to give you a hand, I would use their help.

Absolute Best Router Table [Posted on 2008-03-23]
Although mounting this monster can be a challenge, (what did you expect for this many lbs of cast iron?) I couldn't have asked for a better table. Personally, I don't own a contractor's saw yet, just the portable Bosch, so mine's riding on a modified DeWalt DW7350 planer table.

I highly recommend the ProLift and PC 7518, then you've got yourself an amazing setup; though not cheap, you get what you pay for in this case. I don't plan on buying another router table in my lifetime.

I've run a few panel raising bits in the above mentioned setup, and table didn't move, no vibration, nuthin'. Height adjustment couldn't have been easier with the ProLift, and the fence is a great addition as well. The only thing I'd change is I'd like to see the fence altered so that once you lock it down to the table, you can change the distance to/from the bit incrementally, similar to what the Freud SH-5 fence has, (I still like the Bench Dog fence better, but when you're trying to fine tune your fence, you don't want to have to constantly unscrew the whole thing from your table), my 2 cents.

One last thing, for the $ you're shelling out for this table, Bench Dog, why don't you throw in a few of your featherboards?

Exceptionally Nice Product [Posted on 2008-05-16]
What a refreshing change to purchase an American-made product and find that it is well-designed, well-made, well-packaged, all the parts are there, they all fit together, and the assembly instructions actually relate to what's in the box.

A few minor quibbles, though: There was no hole in the table edge for mounting the Unisaw power switch, even though I'm sure many of these tables go on Unisaws. The tables did not end up perfectly flush, although I'm not sure if there's a hump in the Bench Dog table or a dip in the Unisaw's. The dust port is very loose, I'm going to have to come up with a way to tie it down. Screws to mount the router to the insert plate were not included even though the manual says they are. The manual also advises that there may be extra hardware in the package, but I ended up with 35 assorted bolts, screws, nuts, washers, and spacers, enough to make me seriously question whether I had done something wrong.

All the above notwithstanding, this is a terrific product, five stars all the way.

'nother five - results for Delta LT 10" contractor [Posted on 2008-06-05]
I agonized for months over the price, and finally did it. All the way.

I've added mine to a Delta Left-Tilt 10" contractor 36-982. There were a few minor problems on the install (nice tip on the extension roller). I pulled the left extension plate from my saw, replaced it with the Benchdog plate, and was then able to bolt the spare Delta left plate directly to the right side of the existing right extension plate. All of this takes up no additional space in my very small shop. That all took about a hour, fiddling with the roller, moving the saw, working the bolts, leveling, etc., mostly due to the weight, plus a small fudge factor for operator ineptitude.

Next I started to assemble the other parts including the miter gauge guide track. In screwing the track to the plate, I found that either the counter-sink holes for the screw heads had not been drilled deep enough, or they shipped screws with heads too high. In any case about 1/16 - 1/8 of an inch extended up into the track making it impossible to move the miter gauge bar in the track. I called BD and they attempted to talk me into drilling the countersinks deeper, but for $329, I expect them to ship properly machined components. I'll report back on how long it takes them to ship the replacement, and if it's any good. Worst case, I have a drill press and the correct sized drill so I can fix it if necessary, but if I have to jury-rig an expensive tool to make it work properly I won't be happy.

6/11 report back - BD shipped a properly machined replacement track (counter-sinks on original were not deep enough) immediately, and I had it in-hand inside a week. It now all works just peachy. I'm using my Biesemeyer rip fence, and my Delta and Kreg miter gauges. Nice. I came away with the impression that BD maybe has five employees; but they seem to know machine tool work when they set their minds to it. The customer service call went through Rockler, by the way. They took the call at the 800 number and sent an email to BD about the problem. The email was the only description that came with the new part.

The additional plate on the right causes no instability, so I haven't added the support legs. I had not installed the Delta right side wooden extension table, so now I have spare parts. With the saw now weighing in at over 300 pounds I don't see much vibration. The length of my table is now nearly 60 inches, and all of this took up not one inch more space in my shop.

A truing block I use to check my saw table can identify no problems with the Benchdog table anywhere, and it looks like they may have read some of the posts here because the sharp edges on my table were already rounded.

The phenolic plate is solid but not exceptional. Okay for something like a PC 690 router, but not something heavier.

I followed this purchase up with the Pro-Lift/PC 7518 router combo. It's evident that somebody talked to somebody, because the only evidence I see that the saw, the table, the lift and the router weren't all intended to always be assembled together is the BD table is a different shade of grey, and even that's changing as it gets waxed, etc. Seriously, the left-side Delta extension moves to the far right side with no modification; Delta even left pre-drilled and threaded holes to accommodate that change. I had to add some new lock washers, but that was it. The weight of the router and lift on the left just about perfectly balances the extra plate on the right. Vibration is trivial for either the saw or the router.

The fully depressed router doesn't even come close to interfering with the angle adjustment wheel for the saw blade. The router fence barely comes close to touching the router when hanging under the table. When extended the router collet extends well above the top of the table for changing bits. The only inconvenience is having to reach under the table and around the router to change the speed.

I have to use space as efficiently as I can, and I can't imagine a more effective way to add a router table.

Well made kit [Posted on 2008-07-26]
Exceptionally well made, clear instructions as to how to install. Configured for most table saws with a 4 or 3 hole install on a 27" table edge.

I can't imagine putting this on a contractor or lightweight hobbyist saw without extension legs to support the heavy cast iron base - to be fair the instructions recommend support legs in that situation.

Mine fitted my Grizzly Hybrid G4078 just fine and the very flat table supported by the mass of the saw gives an excelent router table in my limited space garage shop.

The insert plate comes with most "standard" router holes pre-drilled - an excellent full scale template gives drilling centers for most other routers on the market if you have one not covered by the supplied plate. The fence is solid for it's dimension. Includes fence inserts to allow use as a small scale joiner for preparing boards for edge glueing. Dust port works amazingly well for its simplicity.

Highly recommended.

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