Benchtop Router Table with 1-3/4 HP Router Review

Searching for the Harbor Freight Benchtop Router Table with 1-3/4 HP Router? If so then you are at the right place!

Are you looking for something to make your pieces shine out the most? And want your wood pieces to have the best finish among competitors?

If yes, then this article will help you get that! Because nothing can deny the power of good woodworking equipment to get you that professional touch!

You must be seeing that every time you use a high-quality router or a router table, the results are incredible. It is undeniably one of the things you can say with full certainty.

I don’t know much about you, but this is something I have seen in my experience with woodworking. Whatever you say, if you are using suitable equipment, no one can stop you from creating the best art! 

After all, woodworking is a form of art, right! 

But, I have seen a fair amount of people making their router tables themselves. They prepare self-made tables and forget the perks they are missing. (Pro-tip, don’t be among ditchers)

I know making your router table can save you lots of Bucks. (It did me when I tried making one for myself). But remember, it got me into Long List of Cons. Sloppy construction and times of effort, trust me, the list goes on and on! 

If you are still skeptical about this big purchase, look at the Harbor Freights benchtop router table. I am sure its easy-to-use, exciting features will throw your mind. (It did the same with me as well!)

And the best part is that it comes with a 1-3/4 HP router!! (Nothing to see everywhere, right!) For sure a competitive edge. 

It is not even the priciest item on the market. And its portable and accessible design shows how you must purchase a router table for your upcoming projects!

Why should we Prefer a Benchtop Router Table?

The thing is, I want you to know this item and its importance before moving into the product’s details and review. This way, you can understand the specs easily and choose wisely. 

Technically speaking, a Router table is a piece of convenient equipment for making fast molds, accurate edges, and clean surfaces. It gives your wood a fine look, adding a touch of professionalism. 

Who doesn’t want it, right!

So, now if we talk about buying the best one in town, I have an in-detail answer waiting for you. 

Let’s review the article for an extensive review of the Harbor Feight Benchtop Router Table. 

Top Pick

Benchtop Router Table with 1-3/4 HP Router Review

The Harbor Freight Benchtop router table set is one of the best for people looking for something reasonable and inexpensive. It is a durable and very stable router table as per market standards. And with a feature-packed body, you will surely get the consistency you want. 
Harbor Feight has been manufacturing quality power tools for years. If you type the best inexpensive power tool on the internet today, the first few products will always be Harbor Feight!
It is a US-based brand that believes in making low price products with quality as an ultimate goal. A company that first started as a small business or a hobby is now one of the top brands in the market. 

About the Company (Harbor Feight)

Harbor Feight has been manufacturing quality power tools for years. If you type the best inexpensive power tool on the internet today, the first few products will always be Harbor Feight! 

It is a US-based brand that believes in making low price products with quality as an ultimate goal. A company that first started as a small business or a hobby is now one of the top brands in the market. 

And ever since 1977, none of the products has launched with an extremely high price tag!

You can look at its manufacturing, every one of them is built with high-quality materials, and no inadequacy is acceptable. It makes its products reliable and durable.

And you must be thinking about where they get the lowest prices. So the answer is by skipping the middle man, they get the best deals for people around the globe!

And what else do you need in a good router table, right? 

Overview of Harbor Feight Benchtop Router Table and Router

The Harbor Freight Benchtop router table set is one of the best for people looking for something reasonable and inexpensive.

It is a durable and very stable router table as per market standards. And with a feature-packed body, you will surely get the consistency you want. 

With smooth results and easy cutting, there is something special for you. And that’s the availability of a ROUTER! 

Yes, you can get a 1-3/4 HP router with the table to have the best cutting duo. 

Features of the Product

Here are some of the exciting features.

Ultra-Portable Body:

Moving a router table from one place to another is a hectic job. But when you have Harbor’s benchtop table on your side, what’s the problem! With its lightweight rugged 19 gauge steel frame and 14-3/8 inches x 23-3/4 inches body, you can use it anywhere. 

Do you want to work at the client’s house? No issue, pack your 

20.10 lb table (with the router) and set it up in seconds. 

Dust Collection:

When you are working with wood, scrapes, and dust are inevitable. They can get stuck in grooves and cause uneven cutting. For this, most router tables come with a dust collection system. 

Here, this router table has one of the most efficiently working dust collection systems (vacuum not included). With a 1-3/8 inches OD port, your vacuum will suck every last piece!

Accessory Slot:

Router tables with an accessory slot can create a huge difference. So, with Harbor Freight, you get a 3/4 inches slot that can adjust anything from miter gauge (available) to featherboards. 

So, if you want a round cut or fix guidance, just use the miter gauge. And for this, HF’s table is here for you!

Built-in Router:

Working with a router table can end up expensive if you don’t own a router beforehand. And for beginners, this first purchase can be a bit repelling. But with this router table, you get a built-in 1-3/4 HP router!

And the best part is that it is one of the most powerful routers you can find. Though, people who prefer to use a hand-in router can have an issue with its fixed build.

Essential Accessories:

Many things like safety guards, accurate depth scale, miter gauge, and insert rings can add value to the overall product. So, never hesitate on cutting the slack of any of them. 

The good news is, that you don’t need to worry a bit about these things with this router table!

High-Quality Power Outlet:

There are a lot of things that make its power outlet stand out. One of them is the quick-stop electric brake. It makes your work much easier and gives better results. 

And with the help of a safety key, you can prevent the unauthorized start-up of your router table. 

Certified Product:

A Certified product can assure reliability even if you are going for a cheaper option. With Harbor Feight, most people are skeptical about this one thing. 

So, if I tell you that this product is CSA and UL listed, I am sure nothing can compare the price anymore!

PROS

  • Durable Body:

With a large MDF table, you get to have the durability you look for in a router table. Even with the 90 days warranty and the company’s promise to get maximum reliability. And the overall steel build is sturdy and suitable for working with hardwood pieces.

  • Easy Assembly:

When mounting your router is easy, I’d say there is not much hard left with your setting up. So, when we saw the attached router, there was nothing much left to do.

All the tools were given and within 20 minutes, you’ll get yourself a portable benchtop router table.

  • Availability of Accessories:

The miter gauge is an excellent accessory and most router tables do not come with one. But with Harbor Freight, you can enjoy angled cuts with a miter gauge and other useful accessories in the package.

  • Portability:

It is a very lightweight router table (including the router’s weight) that makes it easy to take it anywhere. Other than that, the petite size helps it decrease the overall storage of the table. (You can put it in your car with ease!). 

No need to worry about your client request anymore!

  • No Mess:

Yes, you will cut all your beautiful designs without making a mess. With this unbelievable dust collection hose, you can have a clean, hollow cut. Now, you can work with complete ease and finish pieces on time!

  • Availability of Router:

The built-in router helps a lot, not just in price but in assembly as well. You don’t need to fit the router separately. It comes pre-attached with the tabletop. 

And the horsepower is undeniably brilliant. 

  • Reasonable Price:

As we said earlier, Harbor Freight believes indirect trading. So, when there is no middleman present, prices are set low. 

For any beginner looking for the best router table, this is the first option. 

CONS

  • Fence Issue:

One thing that gets in the way is the large fence opening. While moving our piece through the bit, it often gets stuck in that considerably large opening. 

For this, you can put an extra piece and make an alternative fence to prevent any shaky grooves. 

  • No Manual:

This was something that no one would expect. A power tool without a manual, sounds unreal, right! But yeah, here Harbor Freight did something unpredictable (not in a good way though). 

But don’t worry, there is still a solution. You can anytime go online and download the manual pdf from their website!

What do you get in the Package?

With this Harbor Freight router table, you will also get extra accessories. Let’s have a quick view of them!

  1. Miter Gauge: Help in setting the workpieces at a specific angle.
  2. Small Bushing Wrench: Help tighten all the screws and set up the router table. 
  3. Insert Plate: Help the wood piece stay close to the bit. 
  4. Fixed Router: A powerful router comes complementary to the table.
  5. Two Hex Wrench: It helps adjust the bit per your need.

How to Get the Best out of the Product?

If you want your Harbor Freight router table to work to its full potential, then make sure you do the following steps:

  • Make sure you unplug the router before changing the bit. 
  • Make sure you keep 1/4 of your shank exposed. It will keep it tight in the collet.
  • Always keep your bit guarded.
  • Make sure you wear safety glasses to have a better view and ultimately better results.
  • Hearing protection will also help you like the safety glasses. 
  • Always move your workpieces from right to left. 
  • When working with a piloted bit, go counterclockwise. 
  • Make sure your workpiece positions never between the bit and the fence.

Who is the Target Audience?

Every product has a specific range and a target audience. Most router tables have no professional limit, but some still specify the target audience. 

Like here, I’d say, keeping its features in mind, it is basically for woodworkers that are just beginning their woodworking career. 

In short, workers need something inexpensive with quality and reliability intact. 

High-grade workshop owners may not like it as their number one option

If you are trying to have a highly-professional benchtop, this one is not for you!

Our Experience with the Product:

We got this extensive review based on our experience. And to be honest, we didn’t cut slack on this one. So you can get the just evaluation of the Harbor Freight Benchtop router table.

  1. First, when we got the table, we weren’t expecting much of it. When we opened the box, everything felt so much more durable than expected. From tabletop to legs, all these parts were sturdy and appropriate. (and the addition of a router is a huge perk. 
  2. Though everything was in place, two things still felt a bit tacky. One of them was the miter gauge. It looked cheap and low-quality. What can we say, it was after all just a hundred dollars for a router table and router. 
  3. When we were about to assemble the table, it didn’t feel complex at all! Even with a missing manual, We set it up within 20 minutes. Nothing was complicated or ambiguous, just perfect for a beginner. 
  4. After when we started to work on it, everything went smooth when we made an alternative fence with a block. So, if you want perfect grooves, don’t forget this step. It will save you from the very start. 
  5. Other than that, the table was stable and had no other apparent issues. The router worked well. I can say that it was for sure a very powerful router you can have. 
  6. And lastly, our experience with the price is appreciable! With this budget, the features are extraordinary and simply impressive. For all the newbies out there, it is the best option for you. 

Other People Comments:

Let’s look at other people’s reviews on Harbor Freight Benchtop Router Table and Router.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ):

What is the approx weight of the HF Chicago router table?
It is lightweight with a weight of just 20.10 lbs.

What material is the fence of HF's benchtop router table?
The fence of this router table is made up of plastic.

Can I use 1/4 inches bit with this router?
Yes, you can use 1/4 inches router bit.

Conclusion:

In the end, I’d just say that you don’t need to rush your choices. Always compare other products and get the one that covers your needs the most. 

You don’t need to run after features or prices. Go for one that offers the maximum deal. (Side note: If you are just starting and have no means, this is not a bad option) 

And if HARBOR FREIGHT BENCHTOP ROUTER TABLE WITH 1-3/4 HP ROUTER is the one giving you the value you need, don’t hesitate to get this one Now. 

Just remember, check the review and catch the deal!