Trend Router Tables Compared: Picking the Right Setup for Your Shop

Best for
Woodworkers needing compact, portable benchtop routing

The Trend CRT Portable Benchtop Router Table provides a rigid, vibration-resistant routing platform built on a sturdy alloy steel frame. Featuring a smooth, laminated 24 x 16 inch tabletop, this unit delivers low-friction stock feeding across tasks like groove cutting, edge profiling, and repeat template shaping. The table is engineered specifically as a trend router table for small workshop spaces and jobsite use, allowing operators to clamp or bolt the assembly to an existing workbench and stow it away when finished.

Workpiece guidance relies on a deep aluminum extrusion fence that incorporates pre-drilled mounting holes suited for Trend bases and compatible routing equipment. To maintain visibility during demanding profiling cuts, the assembly features an integrated 2-1/4 inch dust port designed to connect directly to standard shop extraction hoses. Buyers should note that the 120V US specification does not include a built-in electrical no-volt-release (NVR) switch; safely operating the fixed-base motor setup requires adding an external magnetic safety switch, such as a POWERTEC 120V 18A model, to control power at the table edge.

This portable setup is best suited for jobsite carpenters, garage woodworkers, and makers who lack dedicated floor space for permanent shop furniture. It gives way to larger stationary units when you require full-length floor legs, edge jointing shims, or included feather boards straight out of the box.

• Rigid alloy steel base frame delivers working stability on portable jobsites and compact assembly benches.
• Laminated 24 x 16 inch work surface supports smooth, controlled workpiece gliding during repeat passes.
• Deep aluminum fence includes mounting points for Trend routers and third-party motor configurations.
• Integrated 2-1/4 inch extraction port collects chips at the cutter to preserve cutline visibility.

Best for
Dedicated workshops wanting a freestanding station

For craftsmen who prefer a permanent stationary setup, the Trend WRT Workshop Router Table provides a standalone floor platform supported by alloy steel legs. It shares the same 24 x 16 inch laminated top dimensions as the benchtop version, creating a flat, low-friction surface that facilitates stable feed rates on cabinet doors, picture frames, and architectural moldings. Because the unit stands independently on its own leg set, it eliminates the need to sacrifice valuable bench space in a busy woodworking environment.

The fence system on this model offers precision-engineered aluminum extrusions with fine-adjustment controls, ensuring dependable square alignment against the cutter. Beyond standard profiling, the fence assembly supports edge preparation operations such as jointing and light planing to flatten stock edges prior to glue-ups. The included hardware bundle is notably comprehensive: Trend supplies seven table insert rings to close cutter gaps, two finger pressures (feather boards) to hold workpieces firmly against the fence and table, an adjustable miter fence for end-grain routing, a transparent cutter guard, a push stick, and a lead-on pin for freehand template shaping.

This model is ideal for intermediate to advanced woodworkers building cabinetry, raised panel doors, and complex moldings who need a dedicated workstation. Like the portable benchtop model, this 120V table requires a separate external magnetic NVR safety switch (such as a POWERTEC 120V 18A unit) to regulate router power safely. It gives way to modular insert plates when you need an oversized, custom-built table surface spanning several feet.

• Freestanding alloy steel leg design establishes an independent, rigid workstation without occupying bench space.
• Precision aluminum fence system includes fine-adjustment capability and supports edge jointing operations.
• Comprehensive accessory package contains seven insert rings, two finger feather boards, and an adjustable miter fence.
• Integrated lead-on pin enables controlled support during curved template work and freehand bearing routing.

Best for
Makers building custom router workstations

Woodworkers who prefer building a custom bench or integrating a router station directly into a table saw extension wing should look at the Trend Tool Technology USA Trend Router table insert plate. Manufactured from 1/4-inch thick aluminum alloy, this rigid plate (model RTI/PLATE/A) provides an ultra-flat mounting foundation that minimizes cutter height loss beneath the table surface. At an overall weight of 1.1 kilograms and an expansive footprint, it prevents plate sag when suspended within a shop-made opening.

The plate incorporates two concentric snap-in insert rings that produce three distinct hole diameters: 3-27/32 inches, 2-11/16 inches, and 1-1/4 inches. This stepped opening design allows woodworkers to match the aperture closely to small detail bits or large-diameter panel raisers, reducing tear-out and preventing small offcuts from dropping into the motor compartment. The plate comes pre-drilled to fit the Trend TBC base configuration and the Trend T11 router, facilitating straightforward mechanical alignment.

While factory-machined for Trend machines, the generous surface area allows woodworkers to mount alternative router motors. When mounting a popular commercial router like a bosch plunge router, the user must carefully center and drill custom mounting holes through the aluminum plate to match their specific base casting. This insert plate is best suited for makers demanding maximum customization, but it gives way to complete units like the CRT or WRT if you want an out-of-the-box solution with an included fence, stand, and dust collection hood.

• Solid 1/4-inch aluminum alloy construction prevents plate flexing while maximizing available cutter height.
• Two concentric snap-in insert rings provide three distinct bit apertures measuring 3-27/32, 2-11/16, and 1-1/4 inches.
• Pre-drilled mounting holes allow fast installation for Trend T11 routers and Trend TBC base configurations.
• Substantial aluminum surface area allows user drilling to adapt virtually any third-party plunge router base.

Best for
Woodworkers routing perforated workbench tops

The Trend Multi-Functional Table Routing Jig serves a distinctly different purpose from inverted router tables by enabling woodworkers to machine accurate MFT-style perforated worktops using a handheld plunge router. Machined from 1/2-inch thick Compact Grade High Pressure Laminate, this robust template (model MFT/JIG) withstands repeat guide-bush contact without wearing out or losing dimensional accuracy over time. Weighing 8.13 pounds, the jig lays flat and stable across sheet stock during routing passes.

The jig uses a system of edge guides and index pins to establish square, evenly spaced matrix arrays of 20mm dog holes across MDF or plywood work surfaces. Woodworkers align the edge guides for the initial datum row and then insert the precision index pins into previously routed holes to position subsequent rows with perfect perpendicularity. Beyond hole grids, the template incorporates two dedicated corner radius profiles (1/2 inch and 1 inch) alongside a 45-degree end cut guide, allowing you to shape external tabletop edges and chamfered corners cleanly.

This jig is the ultimate tool for carpenters, joiners, and furniture builders who rely on track saws, bench dogs, and clamping elements on custom assembly benches. It does not replace a traditional stationary router table for spinning edge-profile cutters, but it allows you to build the precision-drilled worktop upon which benchtop tools like the CRT can be clamped securely.

• Machined from 1/2-inch thick compact grade high-pressure laminate for lasting edge durability and stability.
• Includes dedicated edge guides and indexing pins to achieve repeatable, perfectly square hole patterns.
• Integrated 1/2-inch and 1-inch corner radius guides facilitate smooth corner rounding on finished worktops.
• Built-in 45-degree corner guide simplifies cutting precise chamfers on workbench edges.