I have a Freud fixed base router and table. It is a bother taking it from the table but that is what I do.
earlier, Dale Leavens, wrote: >Hello Scott! > >I am now down to three routers but over the years have had five and >doubtless will collect at least one and maybe two more. There are a >few things which make some better than others and the features >continue to improve. They include: > >Quarter or half inch chuck >Wrenchless bit change >Plunge or fixed base >Through the table depth adjustment >variable speed >Horse power > >There are now even cordless routers and some known as trim routers >and doubtless some things I have forgotten to mention. > >I have a bruit made in Australia by Triton, 3.5 horse power plunge >router. It came on sale for something like $325, a couple of years >ago. It is a fine variable speed plunge router best suited to a >router table because of it's weight and bulk, it works well for very >heavy cutting but is a little difficult to handle free-hand and I >find the switch awkward, intended to be safe it is complicated. In a >table this doesn't matter particularly as I have a switch wired to >it. It does have a single wrench bit change which locks the spindle >when you raise it fully through the table for example however to do >this you have to work it from underneath and it is heavy. Shortly >after I bought it a couple of models came out with a >"Through-the-table" feature whereby you insert a long key from the >base surface into the machine and can raise or lower the router with >it. Very nice for bit changes and for bit height adjustment in a >table mounted router. > >Variable speed is helpful particularly when routing with very large >bits as in panel raising bits which should only be used in a table >or in cutting some very hard woods which are prone to burning but >mostly it is unnecessary with a little care. > >Smaller routers are much more satisfactory for hand held use but too >small and light will limit usefulness. A nice small trim router >which I do not yet possess is very good for chamfering or rounding >over edges, cleanly forming the edges of laminate coverings like >Arborite or cutting a decorative edge on a table top. They are light >weight, easy to handle and with a smaller base they ride well over a >surface while following a bearing. They are really nice for plowing >out shallow mortises for things like hinges. A trim router will >probably be my next router acquisition. > >Porter Cable makes a pretty nice router which includes both a fixed >and plunge base. If memory serves it is a 2.5 HP, a good compromise >of power and size and should be a very good multi-purpose router. My >only complaint is that it is a two wrench bit change and if anything >like my Porter Cable, it is a bit inconvenient for bit changing. It >does however accommodate the most common types of template collars >which the Triton certainly does not. > >Many routers these days will accept a quarter inch collet allowing >for both half and quarter inch shank bits and this is a feature well >worth while. > >I have a Sears router which I bought as part of a router and table >combination. The depth adjustment is poor, difficult to use and hard >to get a truly accurate depth setting. The table is cast alluminium >and not bad but the wings are pressed steel and both have warped >with use. Finally, the collet doesn't hold bits very well, I have >ruined a few pieces as a quarter inch straight cutting bit was drawn >up out of the collet. This is unimaginably dangerous particularly if >cutting a narrow dado or groove partial depth and the damn bit >begins protruding up through the work. > >So far I am not impressed much with commercially available router >tables. Doubtless there are some really good ones but they must cost >loads, Lee Valley for example has one or two but they cost several >hundreds. A router table certainly adds wonderful value to a router >but I warn you, you will certainly want two routers as moving one in >and out of the table soon becomes bothersome and you will want >hand-held for many operations. > >Hope this gives you a few ideas from someone with a little experience.. > >----- Origin Message ----- >From: Scott Howell >To: <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>[email protected] >Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 7:50 PM >Subject: [BlindHandyMan] routers and the use there of > >Folks, to change the subject and make this thread a topic on to >itself, I have a question on routers. I'm not planning to run out and >get one right away, but at some point I'd like to consider it for a >couple of projects. What is a reasonably good router that would get >some use, not heavy use, but then not something that is so inexpensive >that I regret purchasing it either. Would it make sense to look for a >table and router combo set or do they even have such creatures? >Any particular things I should consider and how about some howtos on >using a router, especially from a blind person's perspective. >Maybe I don't necessarily even need a router. Here are the things I'd >like to do. > >I'd like to make some tables for our living room. I'd like to make >them somewhat fancy, it's my wife's formal living room. Now mind you >it's got the "Country" look and we're not some "up scale" snob types >or something cause I'd probably go buy the darn table instead of >making it. >The point is I would like to try my hand at doing some basic furniture >and some other small projects. I imagine a router would make some of >these projects a little more interesting for one thing and might help >do some other things. Maybe I might even consider refurbishing my >kitchen cabinets. Ok, so I'm getting way ahead of my skills, but one >can dream I think. grin > >Scott Howell ><mailto:s.howell%40verizon.net>[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >---------------------------------------------------------- > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG. >Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.4.6/1540 - Release Date: >7/8/2008 6:33 AM > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com >Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.4.7/1541 - Release Date: >7/8/2008 7:50 PM John [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
