I need another router for a router table, not for hand-held use. I've
tried searching the net, etc., ...even Consumer Reports, for an
appropriate one, with no reasonable luck.
I think I need a multi-speed one (2 speed?), at least 3 hp, 1/2"
collet that can also have a 1/4" collet installed. I don't think I
need a plunge router, but that may be ok for a table unit. I'm not
familiar with a plunge router, so I don't know if the plunge aspect is
appropriate for table use.
Would someone give me some recommendations for the best router choice
for table mounted use?
Optional:
I've also been searching for an appropriate 3/4" collet for my 1/2"
spindle shaper. Actually, I have 2 shapers, both with 1/2" spindles.
I've looked at this site http://www.tequarcollet.com/collets/collets.htm
, but I can't figure out exactly what I need. I am wondering if my 2
different kinds of shapers, 1982 Craftsman and 1948 Rockwell, would
require different kinds of collets, or is there a "universal" collet
that will fit either. The above website gives me no info regarding
this. I've looked at Delta's collets and see no reference to a 3/4"
one. I am wondering if these 3/4" shaft router bits, I bought,
require a special kind of router/shaper, like a CNC machine or special
industrial shaper, rather than a general woodworker's/hobbist's
shaper. I'm not familiar, at all, with CNC machines and don't plan on
getting one. Some of these large shaft bits require speeds 8000 RPMs
or less, whereas my shapers are 9000 RPMs, but I can always replace a
pulley to reduce the spindle speed.
I use the Rockwell shaper for all of my shaping. I would prefer to
convert the Craftsman shaper for the larger bits use and leave the
Rockwell as is. I also wonder if the 1/2 hp shaper motor is
sufficient for these large shafted bits.
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:f851f700-5975-4d3f-97a8-b06cd716aab7@f10g2000vbf.googlegroups.com...
On Oct 7, 6:52 am, manyirons <[email protected]> wrote:
> I own a Freud. What can I expect to go wrong with it?
>I have a Hitachi in the router table and a Freud for everything else.
>If it's like mine, nothing. I've been using it three or four years now
>without a problem although I'm not really working it very hard.
>If it's like Max's, I guess just about everything.
Pshaw!!
I have 2 Hitachis just in case something goes wrong with the Milwaukee. {:-)
When I'm doing raised panels I keep a panel raising bit in the Milwaukee, A
rail bit in one Hitachi and a stile bit in the other.
In the photo, notice that the 2 Hitachis are mounted to plates for the
router table.
http://picasaweb.google.com/contrarian32/Routers#5390021331813202770
Max (
"the_tool_man" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:bdb1d261-f267-44bb-b6c9-9d7d0c080e94@p23g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
On Oct 3, 3:45 pm, Sonny <[email protected]> wrote:
> I need another router for a router table, not for hand-held use. I've
> tried searching the net, etc., ...even Consumer Reports, for an
> appropriate one, with no reasonable luck.
>
I recommend, in my order of descending preference:
Milwaukee 5625 (I have had one for years, and love it)
Porter Cable (I have several smaller ones, and love them, too)
Everything else except Freud
Freud (I owned one, which was junk)
Regards,
John.
Milwaukee 5625:
http://picasaweb.google.com/contrarian32/Routers#
Max
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 12:45:47 -0700 (PDT), Sonny <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Would someone give me some recommendations for the best router choice
>for table mounted use?
A lot of it depends on the amount of money you want to spend and if a
router table is going to be a permanent home. After my router was
stolen from a friend's garage (and then found) I was all ready to buy
a Triton TRA001 router for both handheld plunge routing and router
table use. You might want to consider one. The price is excellent for
its capabilities and it's popular with more than one woodworker here.
http://benchmark.20m.com/reviews/TritonRouter/TritonRouterReview.html
>
> I own a Freud. =A0What can I expect to go wrong with it?
>
I bought a Freud FT1700 router for my table. Worked great for a few
weeks. Then the shaft lock spring failed, causing the locking pin to
engage the shaft while spinning, rendering the shaft lock useless.
About a week later, the motor failed. Returned to Freud under
warranty, who replaced with new. Shaft lock spring failed on this
one, too. I didn't wait for the second motor to die. I just replaced
with the Milwaukee and never looked back.
Freud blades and bits are good stuff. I'll never buy any power tools
from them again, though.
Regards,
John.
> I need another router for a router table...
>
> Would someone give me some recommendations for the best router choice
> for table mounted use? ...
I use the Porter-Cable 7518 in a Jessem lift. I use this with an
external speed control for larger diameter bits. I don't know if it's
still true, but the built-in variable speed controls often would fail,
and I figured it was better to be able to get a new separate
controller than to send the router to the repair shop for an
indeterminate period.
[email protected] wrote:
> On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 12:45:47 -0700 (PDT), Sonny <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> Would someone give me some recommendations for the best router choice
>> for table mounted use?
>
> A lot of it depends on the amount of money you want to spend and if a
> router table is going to be a permanent home. After my router was
> stolen from a friend's garage (and then found) I was all ready to buy
> a Triton TRA001 router for both handheld plunge routing and router
> table use. You might want to consider one. The price is excellent for
> its capabilities and it's popular with more than one woodworker here.
> http://benchmark.20m.com/reviews/TritonRouter/TritonRouterReview.html
I agree wholeheartedly. I changed from a DeWalt 625 to the Triton for
dedicated table use several years ago. It has the ability to raise the
bit above the table for bit changing and simultaneously locks the
spindle when raised to this position, thus obviating the need for a
special lift.
Also has a nice safety feature that requires you shut the power switch
off to get it in this position so there's no chance of having it turn on
while changing bits.
Dust collection, etc. are as good as any others.
The first one I had, had an open (unshrouded) power switch. This proved
problematic when routing 24 raised panels out of MDF as the dust got
into the switch and it halted working. Newer versions all have the
switch shrouded.
Woodcraft has it for $270:
http://www.woodcraft.com/catalog/family.aspx?id=2080240
"Sonny" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:69144678-d83c-4a3c-b076-462cd6dc0092@b18g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
>I need another router for a router table, not for hand-held use. I've
> tried searching the net, etc., ...even Consumer Reports, for an
> appropriate one, with no reasonable luck.
>
> I think I need a multi-speed one (2 speed?), at least 3 hp, 1/2"
> collet that can also have a 1/4" collet installed. I don't think I
> need a plunge router, but that may be ok for a table unit. I'm not
> familiar with a plunge router, so I don't know if the plunge aspect is
> appropriate for table use.
>
> Would someone give me some recommendations for the best router choice
> for table mounted use?
Plunge is not usually used in a table. Nice to have a good lift though like
the Benchdog.
Take a look at www.patwarner.com and see what he has to say.
http://www.patwarner.com/greatrouters.html
You want a variable, not 2 speed. Any of the better brands will do, Bosch,
Milwaukee, P-C.
On Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:45:47 -0700, Sonny wrote:
> I think I need a multi-speed one (2 speed?), at least 3 hp, 1/2" collet
> that can also have a 1/4" collet installed. I don't think I need a
> plunge router, but that may be ok for a table unit. I'm not familiar
> with a plunge router, so I don't know if the plunge aspect is
> appropriate for table use.
>
> Would someone give me some recommendations for the best router choice
> for table mounted use?
Some will tell you that plunge routers are not for router tables. I
disagree. I've always used a plunge router in a table because of its
ease of adjustment. Now that many are capable of adjustment above the
table, it's even easier.
Of course, you could buy a non-plunge router plus a lift, but that's
extra money.
Perhaps the best bang for the buck would be one of the models with two
bases. Then you could try both. When not using the table, take out the
motor and mount it in the other base.
I got the DeWalt 2-base kit last year and I'm happy with it. Porter-
Cable and Milwaukee are preferred by many. It's largely a matter of
opinion - just don't buy a Craftsman :-).
--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw
I bought this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-5625-20-2-Horsepower-Variable-Adjustment/dp/B00007FPJK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1254927803&sr=1-1
..... with the 1/4" & 1/2" collets. It should be here in a few days.
I suppose I need to also get the plate for table mounting. I'll see
what the instructions recommend before getting one.
I downloaded Picasa, but have yet to figure out how to load pictures
from my computer. Several of you have asked to see pics of my
projects, shop remodel, etc. I'm working on it.
Sonny
On Oct 3, 4:53=A0pm, "Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Sonny" wrote:
> >I need another router for a router table, not for hand-held use.
>
> Think Milwaukee.
>
> Check out Pat Warner's site for details.
>
> Lew
I now have 3 Milwaukee routers. Wholly endorsed. Love them... and we
work them pretty hard.
On Oct 3, 3:45=A0pm, Sonny <[email protected]> wrote:
> I need another router for a router table, not for hand-held use. =A0I've
> tried searching the net, etc., ...even Consumer Reports, for an
> appropriate one, with no reasonable luck.
>
I recommend, in my order of descending preference:
Milwaukee 5625 (I have had one for years, and love it)
Porter Cable (I have several smaller ones, and love them, too)
Everything else except Freud
Freud (I owned one, which was junk)
Regards,
John.
On Oct 5, 8:28=A0pm, "Max" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "the_tool_man" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:bdb1d261-f267-44bb-b6c9-9d7d0c080e94@p23g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
> On Oct 3, 3:45 pm, Sonny <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > I need another router for a router table, not for hand-held use. I've
> > tried searching the net, etc., ...even Consumer Reports, for an
> > appropriate one, with no reasonable luck.
>
> I recommend, in my order of descending preference:
>
> Milwaukee 5625 (I have had one for years, and love it)
> Porter Cable (I have several smaller ones, and love them, too)
> Everything else except Freud
> Freud (I owned one, which was junk)
>
> Regards,
> John.
>
> Milwaukee 5625:http://picasaweb.google.com/contrarian32/Routers#
>
> Max
I own a Freud. What can I expect to go wrong with it?
- Owen -
On Oct 3, 3:45=A0pm, Sonny <[email protected]> wrote:
> I need another router for a router table, not for hand-held use. =A0I've
> tried searching the net, etc., ...even Consumer Reports, for an
> appropriate one, with no reasonable luck.
>
> I think I need a multi-speed one (2 speed?), at least 3 hp, 1/2"
> collet that can also have a 1/4" collet installed. =A0I don't think I
> need a plunge router, but that may be ok for a table unit. =A0I'm not
> familiar with a plunge router, so I don't know if the plunge aspect is
> appropriate for table use.
>
> Would someone give me some recommendations for the best router choice
> for table mounted use?
>
> Optional:
> I've also been searching for an appropriate 3/4" collet for my 1/2"
> spindle shaper. =A0Actually, I have 2 shapers, both with 1/2" spindles.
> I've looked at this site =A0http://www.tequarcollet.com/collets/collets.h=
tm
> , but I can't figure out exactly what I need. =A0I am wondering if my 2
> different kinds of shapers, 1982 Craftsman and 1948 Rockwell, would
> require different kinds of collets, or is there a "universal" collet
> that will fit either. =A0The above website gives me no info regarding
> this. =A0I've looked at Delta's collets and see no reference to a 3/4"
> one. =A0I am wondering if these 3/4" shaft router bits, I bought,
> require a special kind of router/shaper, like a CNC machine or special
> industrial shaper, rather than a general woodworker's/hobbist's
> shaper. =A0I'm not familiar, at all, with CNC machines and don't plan on
> getting one. =A0Some of these large shaft bits require speeds 8000 RPMs
> or less, whereas my shapers are 9000 RPMs, but I can always replace a
> pulley to reduce the spindle speed.
>
> I use the Rockwell shaper for all of my shaping. =A0I would prefer to
> convert the Craftsman shaper for the larger bits use and leave the
> Rockwell as is. =A0I also wonder if the 1/2 hp shaper motor is
> sufficient for these large shafted bits.
3/4" shafted bits are most likely CNC bits. The collets that fit
shapers are usually to fit regular router bits. I have never seen 3/4"
collets to fit a shaper, either a 1/2", 3/4 or a 1.25" even. That does
not mean that they're not out there.
That suggested operational speed of 8000 RPM may well have to do with
specific chip-clearance applications rather than the operating safety
parameters. If the bit in question are under 2" =D8 then 9K won't bother
them.
On Oct 7, 6:52=A0am, manyirons <[email protected]> wrote:
> I own a Freud. =A0What can I expect to go wrong with it?
I have a Hitachi in the router table and a Freud for everything else.
If it's like mine, nothing. I've been using it three or four years now
without a problem although I'm not really working it very hard.
If it's like Max's, I guess just about everything.
Larry Blanchard wrote:
> On Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:45:47 -0700, Sonny wrote:
>
>> I think I need a multi-speed one (2 speed?), at least 3 hp, 1/2" collet
>> that can also have a 1/4" collet installed. I don't think I need a
>> plunge router, but that may be ok for a table unit. I'm not familiar
>> with a plunge router, so I don't know if the plunge aspect is
>> appropriate for table use.
>>
>> Would someone give me some recommendations for the best router choice
>> for table mounted use?
>
> Some will tell you that plunge routers are not for router tables. I
> disagree. I've always used a plunge router in a table because of its
> ease of adjustment. Now that many are capable of adjustment above the
> table, it's even easier.
Some are and some aren't. I have a Makita 3612C which is a great router
(3hp, variable speed, electronic brake), but pretty lousy for table use.
I installed a Router Raizer to get above the table height adjustment,
but even after removing the extra plunge spring in the column opposite
the height adjustment, it's still apparent the router was not designed
to be used upside down. The bushings in which the plunge shafts ride
are pressed into the aluminum housing, but they work themselves loose in
the upside down position and cause misalignment and binding. I "fixed"
this by driving them back into correct position, then drilling holes
through the housing and into the bushings and installing short roll pins
to keep them in place. Also, a router table is an ideal setup for
swinging those big (3-1/2" diameter) raised panel bits, but the aluminum
base in the 3612C doesn't have an opening big enough for these bits to
pass through. I wound up making my own base to get around this problem.
--
"Our beer goes through thousands of quality Czechs every day."
(From a Shiner Bock billboard I saw in Austin some years ago)
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 12:45:47 -0700 (PDT), Sonny <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I need another router for a router table, not for hand-held use. I've
>tried searching the net, etc., ...even Consumer Reports, for an
>appropriate one, with no reasonable luck.
>
>I think I need a multi-speed one (2 speed?), at least 3 hp, 1/2"
>collet that can also have a 1/4" collet installed. I don't think I
>need a plunge router, but that may be ok for a table unit. I'm not
>familiar with a plunge router, so I don't know if the plunge aspect is
>appropriate for table use.
>
>Would someone give me some recommendations for the best router choice
>for table mounted use?
>
>Optional:
>I've also been searching for an appropriate 3/4" collet for my 1/2"
>spindle shaper. Actually, I have 2 shapers, both with 1/2" spindles.
>I've looked at this site http://www.tequarcollet.com/collets/collets.htm
>, but I can't figure out exactly what I need. I am wondering if my 2
>different kinds of shapers, 1982 Craftsman and 1948 Rockwell, would
>require different kinds of collets, or is there a "universal" collet
>that will fit either. The above website gives me no info regarding
>this. I've looked at Delta's collets and see no reference to a 3/4"
>one. I am wondering if these 3/4" shaft router bits, I bought,
>require a special kind of router/shaper, like a CNC machine or special
>industrial shaper, rather than a general woodworker's/hobbist's
>shaper. I'm not familiar, at all, with CNC machines and don't plan on
>getting one. Some of these large shaft bits require speeds 8000 RPMs
>or less, whereas my shapers are 9000 RPMs, but I can always replace a
>pulley to reduce the spindle speed.
>
>I use the Rockwell shaper for all of my shaping. I would prefer to
>convert the Craftsman shaper for the larger bits use and leave the
>Rockwell as is. I also wonder if the 1/2 hp shaper motor is
>sufficient for these large shafted bits.
I have the Porter Cable 7518. It has a good speed range, and you need
a slower speed for larger bits. It is about 3 HP, heavy, 1/2" collet,
perfect for a router table. The height is adjusted by roating the
base. This is a good router, although I think Porter Cable's quality
has slightly declined in recent years (have not had any issues with
the PC 7518 though) and Milwaulkee may be a better brand. You don't
want a plung router for use in a table