The Pantorouter

I call this machine the "pantorouter" because it's essentially a big pantograph mechanism with a router in it. It's used to route shapes from 2x sized templates. I originally designed it for cutting tenons, but the machine is very versatile and can be used for all kinds of wood joints.

I invented and published this machine in 2010. In 2014, I built the Pantorouter XL, which is designed to accommodate plunge routers.

In 2018, I revised the design, adding a vertically adjustable template holder, moving the depth stops to the side, and a few minor changes to make it easier to build. This time, I filmed the whole construction.

Building the pantorouter: (25 minute video)

Linear glides for plunging

Pantograph mechanism

Vertically sliding template mount

Table (for mounting stock to)

First cut and adjusting for accuracy

Plunge lever and stops

Pantograph spring balance

Holddown clamp and fence

Re-assembly after varnishing timelapse

Buy plans for the pantorouter

Specifications

How the pantorouter works and using it:

Using the pantorouter
to make joints (2010)

How it works (2010)

Coming up with
the design (2010)

Cutting through
dovetail joints (2010)

Making and setting up tenon templates (2020)

Tenon templates
for the pantorouter (2013)

How to align templates Cutting a large joint.
(2010)

Dave Tenney on
making tenon templates

Making plantation shutters (2012)

Making a finger joint (2011)

Cube in a cube in a cube
(2013)

Assembling the 2018 pantorouter
Buy a pantorouter at pantorouter.com

Construction of the original machine in 2010:

Building the
pantorouter

Router mount
for a palm router

Linear glides
from drawer slides

Holddown clamp

Improved pantorotuer followers

Specifications

Buy plans for the pantorouter

More projects where I used the pantorouter:

Coat hooks

Paper towel holder

Wooden hinges

Scaffold build

Designing segmented Knapp-joint pantorouter templates

Building a large
mirror stand

Quickie workbench

Ukulele neck mortise

Rolling under bed
storage drawer

Scarf splice joint to
fix broken chair legs

Needlessly complicated
axe handle repair

Half-blind dovetail joints

Clever 3-way joint
(Kawai Tsugite)

Double tenon with the metal pantorouter

Knock down laptop
table / standup desk

Pantorouter tradeshow display

Workbench drawers

Wooden chain carved using only power tools

Pantorouter dust collection experiment

Testing the new pantorouter dust collection hood

New dust hood on wooden pantorouter

Cantilevered double tenon shelves

Shelves with double mortise and tenon joints

Building a 3-legged stool

Knock-down table

Knapp jointed box

Tenons on bent chair back rungs

Chairs

Reader built Pantorouter machines:

Also check out:

3D router pantograph

Pantorouter XL for
plunge routers