Review: Bench Dog 40-001 ProTop Contractor Benchtop Router Table

If you take your woodworking seriously, then you need a router table that can match your skill level. It should have ample space to work, give you all of the necessary hardware you need to create something special, and be able to perform consistently. That’s exactly what you’re going to receive with the Bench Dog ProTop contractor benchtop router table.

It features an extruded aluminum fence with T-slots, a 16×22-inch operating surface, and is supported by a limited 2-year warranty.

Here’s What We Liked About the ProTop Router Table

One of the best things about this particular router table is that the dual fence design is actually useful. You can flip the fence around so that the table can accept larger panels. Twin steel rails support the router for added strength at the same time, giving you a consistent surface with the laminate flattop that will let each piece track and cut with precision.

This table also supports a full range of router applications. There are slots to help you craft a precision joint. You can be cutting dadoes with relative ease. With the T-slots on the table, you can also mount your featherboards, risers, switches, or stops without much difficulty.

It also comes with a standard dust port and fits most routers from the major brands. There is a bit guard and subfences that are pretty easy to adjust included with the router table as well. Always use the bit guard, and feed stock right to left against the bit's rotation so the cutter can't pull the piece away from you.

Here’s What Could Be Improved with the ProTop Router Table

Leveling the router plate can be fiddly. It isn’t a deal-breaker, but check the plate with a straightedge. If the plate isn’t true, the rest of the router table will not be able to perform to its maximum levels.

The instructions made available to put this table together were not the easiest to follow. Plan on having a couple of hours available to make sure the assembly gets done correctly.

As a benchtop table, it sits low. Taller woodworkers may want to set it on a stand or raise it to a comfortable working height.

Check router compatibility before buying, since not every router fits the plate easily. Over time, a heavy router can make a thin plate sag, so recheck it for flatness now and then.

Larger shops and advanced woodworkers may outgrow this benchtop table. We see the Bench Dog ProTop router table being a mid-range table that can support beginners and some intermediate woodworkers with their projects, which is where it earns our recommendation.

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Sources

• Learn Router Tool Basics, Family Handyman
• Wood Dust - Overview, OSHA