Any woodworking hobbyist is going to need a router table at one time or another, especially as their skill increases. Building your own is not only fun and fulfilling; it will make you more confident with your skills that something you built will be so sturdy, even as you use it week after week. Like all woodworking projects, it never hurts to have plans. However, you can't use just any DIY router table plans. So how can you find the good ones?
First, if they're free, be skeptical. Plans are expensive because someone built them, and that costs money. Charging for the plans is their way of recovering the costs. Following that, it makes sense that paid plans are higher quality (they've been tested). Now, not all free plans are bad. Some people don't need to cover the costs and are happy to share the plans that they've used with anyone who needs them. Those people are fantastic, but very few. So be careful.
Secondly, decide on the type of table that you need. There are 3 different types, and if you need a table top router table, DIY router table plans for a standalone table aren't going to be that helpful. Which type you need (of table top, portable, and standalone) depends on two things: how much space you have and how big of a project you're doing. If you're only working on a mailbox table top will be fine. If you're making a bed, you'll probably need a standalone. So just figure out what you need before you start looking for plans; it'll save you a big headache later.
After you've decided what type you want, start looking for the DIY router table plans that suits your needs. If you're a beginner, find beginner plans. If you've been woodworking 15 years, you probably are bored reading this, but you don't need beginner plans. No matter what, make sure there's a cut list so you know what supplies you need, and have fun building your router table.
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