Even though it’s the only router table set up in my shop at the moment the Porter-Cable 698 has a few drawbacks. The fence altogether sucks. It’s held in place by two really long thumbscrews threaded into the table top. If you don’t immediately cut them down to 1″ you’ll be twisting for 20 minutes to get the fence off. You’ll need to take the fence off because it’s limited to a very small range of movement.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Description:

• Portable, adjustable table accommodates 3-1/2-inch router bits
• Split fence with two independent sections
• Made of lightweight, durable machined-aluminum
• Dimensions: 19.75-by-16.75-inches; 1-year warranty
• Comes with table and miter gauge

Experience:
In my shop you’ll find the Porter-Cable Router Table mounted to legs and stashed in the corner. I’ve pushed this little table to it’s limits on both size of material and size of cut, but it serves best for edge details, that is, after you fix the fence.

Comments:
Mentioned twice already, the fence system on this is the worst. It’s two thin pieces of wood bolted to a metal frame, that frame is what the long thumbscrews hold down. The factory wood is adjustable in every direction via little screws here and there. It’s a simple fix though and my preferred method even on costly fences: Screw a very flat piece of 3/4″ wood to the factory fence. Make it taller, longer, flat and straight and fasten it to the two multi-directional pieces. I use the bit itself to cut the bottom of the new fence but a bearing-guided bit may require a notch in the new fence.

The switch on mine busted a few years ago and I haven’t bothered to find out why yet, opting for the power switch on the router. [Don't get me started on dangerous! I forgot to tighten in the router once and it dropped out spitting chunks of aluminum, steel and carbide bit on it's way to the floor spinning wildly and scaring the hell out of me - unscathed but more conscious!]

Note: The Rousseau table saw stand I wrote about earlier with attached Router Extension Table provides the great Rousseau fence for my 3 1/2h.p. router but the tubular steel edge is rounded at the bottom relegating this to larger material.

For it’s intended purpose, which is “bench top” router table (sounds very handy-homeownerish to me) the Porter-Cable 698 Router Table will get the job done. If you need to spend hours each week on a router table, look for a better system unless you’re prepared to make a few jigs and a new fence for cuts more than a few inches from the edge.

Porter-Cable 698 Router Table at Delta.com (Product Data)
Porter-Cable 698 Bench Top Router Table at Amazon.com

The Rousseau Porta Max Table Saw Stand has been the foundation of my mobile construction shop for over a decade. The 2700xl equipped with a 10″ Makita table saw and the optional #2720 outfeed table provide a solid platform for ripping sheet-goods and supporting other powertools.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description:

• Rip Capacity to 27″
• Comfortable 34 1/2″ Work Height With HPL Professional Grade Laminate On Both Sides of Top
• Quick & Accurate Saw Positioning System
• Powder Coated Steel Construction
• Self Adhesive Tape Measure For Accuracy
• Fit Most Saws

Experience:
I’m an old hand with the Rousseau Porta Max. My current 2700xl is my third Porta Max table saw stand. For the past twenty years my daily tasks start just after 6am when I load my truck with 1000lbs of tools and materials, only to unload them at the site an hour later. Almost regardless of the task at hand, a fundamental piece of my portable shop is my Rousseau Porta Max 2700XL Table Saw Stand. It’s the first and last tool in and out of my truck each day and the foundation of my mobile shop. In other words, I have folded and unfolded the legs on the Rousseau a 100,000 times and passed millions of feet of lumber over it’s laminate. My Rousseau Table Saw Stand travels from jobsite to my shop and is the only table saw system I own. I have based my day and built my business on the quality of the Rousseau stock fence system.

Comments:
After a ding in the table surface and subsequent infiltration by H2O the laminate lifts and shatters. This happens over time to all Rousseau laminated tables. I’ve owned three and their lifetime is based on handling. My current Rousseau table is exactly as old as Makita’s 10″ 2703 Table Saw. That’s because when my 8″ Makita died I picked up the 10″ not knowing it wouldn’t fit in the Rousseau 2700 I had. I converted that stand into a router table utilizing the sturdy Rousseau fence system. The real benefit of the Rousseau table is the fence.

The tape measure was nice while it lasted. About 5 years before mine was destroyed, which is a lot longer than some of my friend’s. In fact, my Rousseau looks trashed these days. It’s speckled with years of paint, glue and finish, flaking laminate, exposed pressboard, missing every end cap, dented and dinged and here-in lies the value of the Rousseau Porta Max 2700XL Table Saw Stand; My stand has been reduced to it’s primary function, a flat table with a solid and accurate fence system. It looks trashed but I can set up a table saw in three minutes and accurately rip sheet goods by myself just about anywhere there is an outlet!

I highly recommend Rousseau Company products. I own three stands, two outfeed tables, the 2715XL Extension with Router Plate and the PM2710XL Extension Table. With the addition of a few rollers I’ve run huge productions, milling miles of lumber on this equipment.

Links:
Rousseau Co.
Rousseau 2700XL Saw Stand at Amazon.com

Description: This stand has everything and it weighs it. There are nice steel rollers on multi-direction adjustable support arms. Fasten your saw to removable  mounting rails that simply clamp to the stand for easy attachment and removal. It’s got great levers to tighten all the adjustments. There are poorly designed legs that pull out and pivot down from the extensions.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Experience:
I struggled with the package at the Depot. I got a cart. I assembled for an hour. Fit and finish were questionable. I mounted the saw and brought it to a siding job for a month. It’s a little unsure of itself on its tubular feet. A little top heavy, no doubt. The first week on the job both support legs for the roller extensions broke off. One orange clip shattered but the leg still worked. Some laborers failed to notice the little steel ball you press in to unlock the leg before pivoting it back up and sliding it inside the extension leg and broke it clean off.
Comments:
It’s a 100lb. nightmare. That’s my impression and it comes at a high price because this stand does it all. MOST importantly, it’s got wheels. The sole reason I purchased this down-right heavy-as-lead miter saw stand was for the wheels. I should have known better when I couldn’t manage the box in the store without a cart. The second best feature are the nice rollers but the support legs on mine broke leaving the roller supported by the extension arms, a little wobbly.

I dislike this stand so much that I started this blog. It pisses me off every time I use it and I’ll tell you why because it’s features epitomize the demands of a mobile carpentry shop but it’s functionality and quality are seriously lacking.
I recently purchased another miter saw. I picked up the Makita LS1013FL . The 10" Makita comes in a few pounds lighter on the scales which helps with day after day lifting from shop to truck to job back to truck and shop, ugh. So sick of this back and forth am I that I decided to buy wheels for my saw; roll to truck, pivot onto bed and slide it in. No lifting.
Well, true enough I can now roll my saw, attached to the MS-UV, to my tailgate, lift and heave-ho it’s in. Open tailgate, lean down wheels first and roll to site. The stand should weigh less than 1/2 of it’s current weight of 94lbs !

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Links:
MS-UV at Ridgid.com (Product Data)

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