EJ

"Edward Jubb"

13/11/2005 9:33 AM

Router Question

I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the 890
series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it will
be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price the
money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
appreciated. Thank you.


This topic has 17 replies

Bw

"Buckwheat"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 9:10 AM

Horsepower is an issue if you plan to do considerable rail and stile
routing for cabinet doors. Even more important is the need to have a
variable speed router if you plan on using massive router bits.
I would also suggest you purchase a plunge router. If you become more
than a novice woodworker you will want to purchase more than one
router, at which time you should look at larger horsepower tools.
Additionally; you will likly be doing more table routing where larger
HP machines can substitude for a Shaper.

EJ

"Edward Jubb"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 2:31 PM

thanks for all of your advice I think I'll go with the PC for now

"Edward Jubb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
>Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the
>890 series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it
>will be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price
>the money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
>appreciated. Thank you.
>

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 11:55 AM

"max" wrote in message
> The only problem I had with the interchangeable plunge base for the 690 is
> that the router guide was not concentric with the bit. I could not get
good
> dovetails with the Omnijig. After every test PC service told me they can't
> hold the tolerances close enough to make them symmetrical.

Maybe I'm missing something ... why use the 690 plunger base with a dovetail
jig?

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/05


Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 8:52 AM


"Edward Jubb" wrote in message
> I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
> Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the
890
> series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it
will
> be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price the
> money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
> appreciated. Thank you.

A plunge base is essential if this is to be your only router.

Don't be too concerned about hp (mostly manufacture myth in any event).
Don't be too concerned about buying "bits", just get them as you need then.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/05

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 2:30 PM

"CW" wrote in message

> "Swingman" wrote in message

> > A plunge base is essential if this is to be your only router.
>
> You'll probably need the plunge feature at least 2% of the time.

Completely unsupportable and irrelevant statistic ... nonetheless, he will
have it when he "needs" it.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/05

ma

max

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 5:42 PM

Go with the PC. I have been using them for years and they are great. I do
like Bosch tools but they have irritating problems such as the switches clog
with dust and fail I have had two friends buy the Bosch kit on sale at
Amazon and both switches failed
max

> I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
> Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the 890
> series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it will
> be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price the
> money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
> appreciated. Thank you.
>
>

ma

max

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 5:44 PM

The only problem I had with the interchangeable plunge base for the 690 is
that the router guide was not concentric with the bit. I could not get good
dovetails with the Omnijig. After every test PC service told me they can't
hold the tolerances close enough to make them symmetrical.
max

> I have the 690 with the fixed and plunge base and did not regret
> it......Brian
>
> --
> www.members.cox.net/bsnikitas
> "Never Underestimate The Power Of Stupid People
> In Large Groups!"
> "Edward Jubb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
>> Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the
> 890
>> series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it
> will
>> be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price the
>> money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
>> appreciated. Thank you.
>>
>>
>
>

Rr

"RonB"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 11:43 AM

I forgot a standard router comment. "You get what you pay for" applies to
routers as much as any woodworking tool. Cheap machines with poor depth
locks waste wood and raise bloodpressure. However, the ones you mention in
your post should be fine.

Cs

"CW"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 6:05 PM


"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Edward Jubb" wrote in message
> > I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my
question.
> > Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the
> 890
> > series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it
> will
> > be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price
the
> > money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
> > appreciated. Thank you.
>
> A plunge base is essential if this is to be your only router.

You'll probably need the plunge feature at least 2% of the time.



> Don't be too concerned about hp (mostly manufacture myth in any event).
> Don't be too concerned about buying "bits", just get them as you need
then.
>
> --
> www.e-woodshop.net
> Last update: 11/06/05
>
>

Rr

"RonB"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 10:40 AM

For general purposes the dual use, plunge feature is probably more practical
than horsepower concerns. The ones you note will probably be fine. I have
an older 17xx series plunge set and couldn't be happier.

Horsepower becomes more important when you start turning the bigger bits in
a table. The ones your are looking at now will work fine in a table for
most cutting.

JG

John Girouard

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

14/11/2005 7:47 PM

Edward Jubb wrote:
> I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
> Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the 890
> series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it will
> be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price the
> money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
> appreciated. Thank you.
>
>
Surprised no one has mentioned http://patwarner.com/ as a good resource yet.
Have fun with your new toy^Hol!

-John in NH

BI

"Brian In Hampton"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 10:32 AM

I have the 690 with the fixed and plunge base and did not regret
it......Brian

--
www.members.cox.net/bsnikitas
"Never Underestimate The Power Of Stupid People
In Large Groups!"
"Edward Jubb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
> Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the
890
> series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it
will
> be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price the
> money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
> appreciated. Thank you.
>
>

Dd

"Dave"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 2:46 PM

Check out the PC 690VK.

"Edward Jubb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
> Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the
890
> series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it
will
> be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price the
> money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
> appreciated. Thank you.
>
>

nn

nospambob

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

14/11/2005 7:48 AM

And design a storage & bit identification scheme before you buy too
many bits! DAMHIKT!

On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 08:52:17 -0600, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Edward Jubb" wrote in message
>> I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
>> Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the
>890
>> series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it
>will
>> be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price the
>> money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
>> appreciated. Thank you.
>
>A plunge base is essential if this is to be your only router.
>
>Don't be too concerned about hp (mostly manufacture myth in any event).
>Don't be too concerned about buying "bits", just get them as you need then.

Rd

Robatoy

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

13/11/2005 12:01 PM

In article <[email protected]>,
"Edward Jubb" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
> Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the 890
> series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it will
> be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price the
> money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
> appreciated. Thank you.

Give the Milwaukee 5616 EVS a look. Rated at 2 1/4HP and although in
agreement with Swingman about HP rating being mostly hype, this one has
enough balls for me to believe the rating is close, if not more. (Around
165.00 US$ on Amazon.)

I also like the Hitachi M12V. Gobs of power, not very elegant but all of
it functional..and the plunge action is good enough for what I do.
(Around 155.00 US$ on Amazon.)

I use both routers daily (I have more than one of each) , and I push
them pretty hard. Not a hiccup yet. I like them much better than the PC
routers I have destroyed over the last 20 years.

YMMV

b

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

14/11/2005 12:08 PM

On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 09:33:33 -0500, "Edward Jubb" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I am fairly new to woodworking and routers, which leads me to my question.
>Will a 1 3/4 hp be enough for most jobs, I am between the PC 690 and the 890
>series of machines, also the Bosch 1617 seems to be popular. Mostly it will
>be used for edge forming and some dado cuts, the main reason is price the
>money not spent on the router can go into bits. Any help will be
>appreciated. Thank you.
>


that router will be fine for those applications.

Pn

"Pop"

in reply to "Edward Jubb" on 13/11/2005 9:33 AM

14/11/2005 9:49 AM


"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: "CW" wrote in message
:
: > "Swingman" wrote in message
:
: > > A plunge base is essential if this is to be your only
router.
: >
: > You'll probably need the plunge feature at least 2% of the
time.
:
: Completely unsupportable and irrelevant statistic ...
nonetheless, he will
: have it when he "needs" it.
:
: --
: www.e-woodshop.net
: Last update: 11/06/05
:
:
I agree. Also, being a relative newbie of many years, I'd have
to say I use the plunge almost all the time. About the only time
I don't use it is sometimes when I'm thru-routing something.
Even then it's nice to "unplunge" it and know the bit is more or
less safely out of the way, especially for setting the router
down afterwards.

HTH
Pop


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