Wood Grain Junkie Router Table Review: The BenchMount Trim Router Table for Small Shops
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The Wood Grain Junkie router table, sold as the BenchMount trim router table, showed up at my shop and it is built for one specific problem. Small shops with no floor space for a full size router table. This post covers what it is, how it mounts, which routers fit, and the one thing I think it still needs.
The Short Answer
- The Wood Grain Junkie BenchMount router table mounts to the side of a workbench and comes off in seconds.
- SKU sku-48060744925236, available at Faith Valley Tools.
- It arrives preassembled. The only assembly is bolting your own trim router to the base plate.
- It fits DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch, Ridgid, Ryobi, and the new Kreg routers with the correct base plate.
- Best for small shops and small workpieces. It is not a replacement for a full size production router table.
Wood Grain Junkie Router Table Review: What It Is and Who It Is For
Wood Grain Junkie is a very small family owned business. Husband, wife, and daughter, if I have that right. Three people doing all of the work. When you look at the product though, you would never guess that, because every part on it looks premium and top notch.
This is not my first Wood Grain Junkie product. A few years ago I built a little router bench and bought a router table insert from them. I had seen them on Instagram and thought it was cool and that I needed one. That is how I first came to know them, so when Kevin reached out about the new router table design, I wanted to see it.
The BenchMount solves two problems that come up constantly in small shops. First, a big rolling router table like the one I built years ago eats a lot of floor space, and plenty of people do not need one that big or have room for it. Second, even benchtop models like the Skil one I reviewed still take a sizable footprint on a shelf or in the shop. This has an extremely small footprint, mounts right to the side of the workbench, and comes off when you are done.
What matters just as much is that it is solid as a rock once mounted. You do not want a router table flexing and moving while you run edge profiles and chamfers. This one does not.
See the BenchMount Trim Router Table at Faith Valley Tools Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Watch the Full Test
The video shows the mounting process start to finish and the chamfer pass on a small part, which is where this table earns its keep. You also get a look at how the dust shroud performs on the top side.
How to Mount the BenchMount Router Table to a Workbench
Mounting it could not be easier, and all of the hardware is supplied. There are even little sticky back tabs included that help you set the position perfectly. You peel the sticker, stick the tab on top of your workbench, and the offset on the tab aligns the track so the table top ends up level with the bench top.
That alignment is the genius part. Once it is set, your workbench becomes a bigger support surface for the router table. I pre drilled the holes for the mounting bracket and then drove the screws, but you do you. From there you slide the table onto the bracket, tighten four nuts, and it is secure with no wobble.
When you are done, slide it off. The mount left behind sits about a half inch off the workbench, so it is never in your way.
What Routers Fit the Wood Grain Junkie Router Table
At the time of filming, this router table accepts DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch, Ridgid, Ryobi, and the new Kreg routers. That covers most of the major brands. You pick the base plate that matches the router you already own.
I got the DeWalt base as well as one for the Milwaukee. Kevin knows I love my Milwaukee, but I am probably going to stick with the DeWalt DCW600B for the router table.
| Brand | Router | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|
| DeWalt | 20V Router, SKU DCW600B | Acme Tools |
| Milwaukee | 18V Router, SKU 2723-20 | Acme Tools |
| Bosch | 18V Router | Acme Tools |
| Makita | 18V Router | Acme Tools |
| Makita | 40V Router | Acme Tools |
| Kreg | 18V Router | Acme Tools |
| Ridgid | 18V Router | Home Depot |
| Ryobi | 18V Router | Home Depot |
If your router is not one you already own, both of the deal hubs I keep updated are worth checking first. The current Acme Tools deals I track cover the Milwaukee, DeWalt, Bosch, Makita, and Kreg options. The Home Depot tool deals I track cover the Ridgid and Ryobi routers.
See the Custom Router Base Plates at Faith Valley Tools Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Small Router Table for Trim Router: Routing Small Parts Safely
Where this type of router table really shines is small pieces. Trying to run a handheld trim router around the edge of a small part is hard to do safely, because there is not enough surface to balance the base on. Flipping the router upside down under a table solves that.
I ran a chamfer bit on a small part and it handled it easily. You can also do longer and bigger pieces, especially for edge profiles like chamfers and roundovers. That is exactly why I like having a small router table in the shop.
A starter pin is included, and it makes a real difference on smaller pieces. When you are not using it, the pin stores underneath the table so it does not get lost.
If you do not have bits yet, a starter set covers most edge work. I use the Whiteside Router Bit Starter Set on Amazon and there is also the Bosch Router Bit Starter Set on Amazon. Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Build Quality: Phenolic Top and Anodized Aluminum Hardware
This is not a cheap knockoff. The top is phenolic, the same material the Rockler crosscut sled is made from, so it is durable and it will not react to moisture. Underneath it is Baltic birch from what I can tell, and it is very high grade plywood.
The detail that impressed me most is the knobs. He could have cheaped out and used plastic knobs to clamp it to the workbench. Instead these are anodized aluminum. All the screws you need are included, both for mounting the bracket and for mounting your router to the base plate.
It also arrives preassembled and very well packaged. Nothing shakes around in transport. The only thing left to do is attach your router.
Dust Collection on the BenchMount Router Table
Dust collection is pretty good from the top side. The dust shroud comes standard rather than as an upcharge, which I was glad to see, because a lot of companies would sell that separately.
The bottom side has no dust collection, so you will see some sawdust falling there. The top is where most of the dust comes off, and the shroud handles that well. I ran my Festool dust extractor into it, but a shop vac or whatever you already have will work.
Like the starter pin, the dust shroud pins store underneath the table. If you need the entire tabletop clear and want the shroud out of the way, you can stash them so they do not get lost.
Vertical Clamping With MicroJig Ratchet Clamps
Here is the part I did not expect. The mounting track is not dead weight when the router table is off. It lets you do vertical clamping with MicroJig clamps, either the ratchet clamps or the quick squeeze style.
The ratchet clamps are my favorite because they set up so fast and are easy to use. If you did not have vertical clamping on your bench before, this gives you that. Plus you get the router table, which is pretty cool if you ask me.
See the MicroJig Ratchet Clamps at Acme Tools Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What I Do Not Like About It
There is really only one thing, and it is less a complaint than an opportunity. This needs a small fence that rides on the table in some way.
A little fence would open it up for small dados, rabbets, and grooves. It could mount where the dust shroud mounts and be adjustable somehow. Kevin is the maker and the one who came up with this, so I am confident he can figure it out. I would be fine with it being a separate accessory rather than included.
The other limitation is simply that it is a small router table. It is not a full size production level table. That is the whole point, though. It is small and compact for small shops.
Should You Build a Router Table Instead?
It depends entirely on your space. A big router table is really nice to have if you need it and if you have room for it. If you have the room, my full size router table build plans walk you through building one from plywood from the ground up.
If you want something in between, I also have mini router table build plans for a benchtop version. If you do not have the space for either, the BenchMount could be the right answer for your shop.
All Tools From This Video
Faith Valley Tools
Acme Tools
- DeWALT 20v Router
- Milwaukee 18v Router
- Bosch 18v Router
- KREG 18v Router
- Makita 18v Router
- Makita 40v Router
- MicroJig Ratchet Clamps
- My Pocket Knife
Home Depot
Amazon
731 Woodworks
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Frequently Asked Questions
What routers fit the Wood Grain Junkie router table?
At the time I filmed this, it accepts DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch, Ridgid, Ryobi, and the new Kreg routers. You choose the base plate that matches the router you own. I received both the DeWalt and Milwaukee base plates, and I am sticking with the DeWalt DCW600B for mine.
Does the BenchMount router table require assembly?
No. It arrives preassembled and everything is secured in a compact package. The only thing you have to do is attach your router to the base plate. All the screws you need are included, both for mounting the bracket to your bench and for mounting the router.
Does the Wood Grain Junkie router table come with a fence?
No, and that is the one thing I would like to see added. A small adjustable fence would let you cut dados, rabbets, and grooves. I think it could mount where the dust shroud mounts. I would be fine with it being sold separately as an accessory.
How does dust collection work on a trim router table this small?
A dust shroud comes standard and it works well on the top side, which is where most of the dust comes off. There is no collection on the bottom side, so expect some sawdust falling there. I hooked my Festool dust extractor to it, but a shop vac works fine too.
Is a small router table good enough, or do I need a full size one?
It depends on your space and your work. This is not a full size production router table and it is not trying to be. For edge profiles, chamfers, roundovers, and especially small parts, it does the job. If you have room for a big table, I have plans for building one from plywood.
How much space does the BenchMount take up when you are not using it?
Almost none. You slide the table off and the mounting bracket left on the bench sits about a half inch proud of the surface. It stays out of your way. That mount also doubles as a vertical clamping station with MicroJig clamps.
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The Wood Grain Junkie BenchMount router table mounts to the side of a workbench and comes off in seconds. Here is what it does well and the one thing it still needs.