Build a Router Table by Upcycling a Kitchen Countertop

Introduction

I love upcycling, i.e. turning discarded material into something of value. So when I saw an old Family Handyman project about building a router table for $40, I said, count me in!

The project promised a portable, easy-to-store table, and building my own would up my handywoman cred. All I needed was an old chunk of countertop and some hardware. How hard could that be?

I'm so glad you asked!

First off, dumpster diving for a six-foot countertop remnant was not the breezy endeavor advertised. I don't know where you live, but Dallas home centers and hardware stores don't let randos dig through their garbage. Fail No. 1.

I moved on to salvage and re-use stores. On my third try, a guy said I needed to "get up a little earlier" because countertops go fast. Hmm. Good tip.

My dreams of a practically free router table were vanishing by the minute. I could buy a sheet of laminated medium density fiberboard (MDF) for $50, but bargain-basement countertops are closer to $100 to $150. Plus, aren't we upcycling? I haven't even mentioned the instruction to "find a bed frame to cut up." Clearly, this project was from another era and handiness level.

But let's say you can get your hands on free countertops and angle iron. Look at you go! This will be easy. For everyone else, this project costs about as much as buying a router table. But it's fun, and you'll have a high-quality table when you're finished.

Follow along as we walk through this Family Handyman classic.

Tools Required

Materials Required

• 1/2" particleboard (for guides)
• 6' of 1" angle iron
• 6' of laminate countertop
• Coarse-thread screws
• Eye bolts and washers - 1/4" minimum
• Nails or brads
• Router table insert plate
• Sandpaper
• T-nuts
• Vacuum hose adapter
• Wood glue

Cutting List