I am looking for a laminate trimmer, but will really use it as a mini
router. Though I have lots of woodworking experience, I have never used one
of these. They seem ideal for fitting hinges, small edge trimming. (Seems
musical instrument makers use them a lot...
What brands have you used -- do you like them? I did seach the wreck
archives, and read what I could find. So far, I am leaning toward Bosch
(due to my good experience with Bosch routers.) Looks like the tool itself
is $100, with extra bases costing, well, extra :)
Thanks in advance.
Matthew
Matthew wrote:
> I am looking for a laminate trimmer, but will really use it as a mini
> router.
I picked up two Makita trim routers 10 years ago (They're called 3700B
these days but look identical).
I paid $75 for the pair, used, and I must say, they just won't quit. I
am not a huge Makita fan, but these little guys are just great. One has
a 1/8" roundover, the other a flush bottom bearing bit.
I'd buy them again at full price.
0=BF0
Rob
On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 13:26:19 -0600, "Matthew"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I am looking for a laminate trimmer, but will really use it as a mini
>router. Though I have lots of woodworking experience, I have never used one
>of these. They seem ideal for fitting hinges, small edge trimming. (Seems
>musical instrument makers use them a lot...
>
>What brands have you used -- do you like them? I did seach the wreck
>archives, and read what I could find. So far, I am leaning toward Bosch
>(due to my good experience with Bosch routers.) Looks like the tool itself
>is $100, with extra bases costing, well, extra :)
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Matthew
>
I have and use and mostly like my porter cable trimmer. I have the 3
base installer's kit, which gives me plenty of options. it uses the PC
guide bushings, which is a plus for general small router work.
LRod <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> I have the P-C 310. I love it. For a long time I was unhappy with the
> collet (¼" only) as it is not a self ejecter like the superb collets
> in full sized P-C routers. In fact I used to keep a small roundover
> bit in it all of the time to avoid having to change (not a bad bit to
> keep in there; I rarely felt the need to change).
>
> However, several people have told of the trick of tapping the collet
> nut with the wrench after loosening and the bit slides right out. Once
> I tried it and found that it worked great, I elevated the '310 to the
> category of "Perfect."
>
> You can't go wrong with it.
>
> The 7310 is not the same machine, by the way, despite the similar
> model numbers.
What LRod said matches my experience, but I bought the PC7310 first, and
then, a year later, the PC310. Both were improved quite a bit by
purchasing Pat Warner's replacement bases. www.patwarner.com
I have a big Freud plunger in the table, a PC69x variable speed soft start
dual base kit router handheld, and the two trimmers. If I could only have
one router, I think it would be the PC310. It would change how I work, but
the trimmers are _that_ useful.
Almost like a tailed block plane.
Patriarch
Matthew wrote:
> I am looking for a laminate trimmer, but will really use it as a mini
> router. Though I have lots of woodworking experience, I have never used one
> of these. They seem ideal for fitting hinges, small edge trimming. (Seems
> musical instrument makers use them a lot...
>
> What brands have you used -- do you like them? I did seach the wreck
> archives, and read what I could find. So far, I am leaning toward Bosch
> (due to my good experience with Bosch routers.) Looks like the tool itself
> is $100, with extra bases costing, well, extra :)
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Matthew
>
>
A year or so ago, Fine Woodworking did a review on laminate trimmers.
They gave the Dewalt top ranking.
I too use my laminate trimmer as a mini router for mortising hinges, etc.
~Mark.
I'm a big bosch fan so that would be my first choice, although I own both PC
an Bosch trimmers, either would be a good choice.
Alternative, at least from an instrument makers perspective, is a dremel
tool fitted with a precision base (
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Routing/1/Precision_Router_Base.html )
, I do a lot of inlay work, so control is importance, and the dremel is
easier to handle. Keep in mind that I don't have a need to hog out much.
-nick
"Matthew" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am looking for a laminate trimmer, but will really use it as a mini
> router. Though I have lots of woodworking experience, I have never used
one
> of these. They seem ideal for fitting hinges, small edge trimming.
(Seems
> musical instrument makers use them a lot...
>
> What brands have you used -- do you like them? I did seach the wreck
> archives, and read what I could find. So far, I am leaning toward Bosch
> (due to my good experience with Bosch routers.) Looks like the tool
itself
> is $100, with extra bases costing, well, extra :)
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Matthew
>
>
On 23 Jan 2005 14:34:18 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
>7310 has the power, once used as production pocket hole motor!
>See: http://www.patwarner.com/7310_subbases.html for a couple of pix
>with big stabilizing subbases.
I have used one for over 2 years in my nasty tropicals it works very well.
--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.
On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 13:26:19 -0600, "Matthew"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I am looking for a laminate trimmer, but will really use it as a mini
>router. Though I have lots of woodworking experience, I have never used one
>of these. They seem ideal for fitting hinges, small edge trimming. (Seems
>musical instrument makers use them a lot...
>
>What brands have you used -- do you like them? I did seach the wreck
>archives, and read what I could find. So far, I am leaning toward Bosch
>(due to my good experience with Bosch routers.) Looks like the tool itself
>is $100, with extra bases costing, well, extra :)
I have the P-C 310. I love it. For a long time I was unhappy with the
collet (¼" only) as it is not a self ejecter like the superb collets
in full sized P-C routers. In fact I used to keep a small roundover
bit in it all of the time to avoid having to change (not a bad bit to
keep in there; I rarely felt the need to change).
However, several people have told of the trick of tapping the collet
nut with the wrench after loosening and the bit slides right out. Once
I tried it and found that it worked great, I elevated the '310 to the
category of "Perfect."
You can't go wrong with it.
The 7310 is not the same machine, by the way, despite the similar
model numbers.
- -
LRod
Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite
Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999
http://www.woodbutcher.net
On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 13:26:19 -0600, "Matthew"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>What brands have you used -- do you like them? I did seach the wreck
>archives, and read what I could find. So far, I am leaning toward Bosch
>(due to my good experience with Bosch routers.) Looks like the tool itself
>is $100, with extra bases costing, well, extra :)
I've used two different Porter Cables and own the Bosch. All three
work very well for me, as a mini router.
I usually use mine for free handing hinge mortises, small roundovers
and chamfers, and freehand cleanouts of half-blind dovetails. Once, I
even used it for trimming laminate. <G>
I have never experienced a moment when I wished any of these three
had some sort of additional feature or was better made. I would
purchase any of them again, probably shopping by price.
Barry