I'll probably get as many opinions as there are people reading this, but
what the hey. Maybe someone will come up with something I haven't thought
of.
I have a Freud 2000E and a Hitachi M12V. I like 'em both. I'm ready to
permanently mount one of them into a table. I've been using both of them in
the table and handheld, and I like both of them for both uses. The
Hitachi's lighter but I like the grips on the Freud, and the switch, and
the plunge lock, more than the Hitachi. So I've pretty much decided to
install a router raizer in the Hitachi and put that one in the table.
But before I do that, I thought I'd ask. Would anyone care to put forth any
arguments for using the Freud over the Hitachi? Subjective counts, I guess.
If you just LIKE one or the other in the table, and the other one for non-
table work, I'd be interested to hear it.
Dan
The Hitachi's collet is well suited for use in a table (quarter turn to
tighten and loosen, just like on a shaper). Also you can easily remove the
plunge springs. And remove the handles while you're at it.
"Dan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'll probably get as many opinions as there are people reading this, but
> what the hey. Maybe someone will come up with something I haven't thought
> of.
>
> I have a Freud 2000E and a Hitachi M12V. I like 'em both. I'm ready to
> permanently mount one of them into a table. I've been using both of them
> in
> the table and handheld, and I like both of them for both uses. The
> Hitachi's lighter but I like the grips on the Freud, and the switch, and
> the plunge lock, more than the Hitachi. So I've pretty much decided to
> install a router raizer in the Hitachi and put that one in the table.
>
> But before I do that, I thought I'd ask. Would anyone care to put forth
> any
> arguments for using the Freud over the Hitachi? Subjective counts, I
> guess.
> If you just LIKE one or the other in the table, and the other one for non-
> table work, I'd be interested to hear it.
>
> Dan
On Mon 06 Mar 2006 10:13:44p, "AL" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> The Hitachi's collet is well suited for use in a table (quarter turn
> to tighten and loosen, just like on a shaper). Also you can easily
> remove the plunge springs. And remove the handles while you're at it.
Well. Already there's one I hadn't considered. :-)
Yes, I was thinking I'd remove the handles.
I was also thinking I'd bend the wrench like they say in the online manual.
I'm thinking maybe I ought to buy a spare before I stick it in the vise and
crank on it, though.
On Tue 07 Mar 2006 11:47:09a, "BobS" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> With all the above said....and mine is a nice setup now... I would not
> go thru the hassle again. To many routers out there these days that
> are designed for being table mounted. Only reason I would change now
> is if my Freud burned out or wasn't repairable for some reason but I
> like the configuration and it's easy to work with.
>
> Bob S.
Thanks Bob, thanks Al.
So, it looks like I go with my first thought, and install the Hitachi.
Partly because I prefer the Freud for handheld and partly because it just
looks like less work. :-)
I was going to order the Xtreme Xtension and thus avoid all that stuff with
the bent wrench and collet lock, but decided at 70 bucks I could wait till
the next woodworking show. I think I'll use it a while and see if I can
come up with a cable-pull arrangement like yours, Bob. I've already got a
mechanism in mind for the plunge lock.
I appreciate the help.
Dan
Dan,
I've had my Freud in Jessem Rout-R-Lift for over 3 years now and it's been a
real work-horse. I removed the springs and the handles (ya gotta know the
secret handshake to remove those handles though...).
I believe I purchased a bent--wrench from CMT's site. As I recall (check it)
the Freud has a 27mm collet and CMT sold a 25mm bent wrench. It didn't take
much to file/grind the wrench to the correct size.
One drawback to most routers is to enable the locking mechanism when they're
mounted in a table unless they're purpose built for that. The Freud wasn't
but about 3' of stainless wire cable from the borg and a couple of fasteners
and I fabricated a cable pull that pulls the lock into place. A small spring
attached to the cable pulls the lock back to the unlock position. So I pull
on the cable with one hand to lock the collet and use the bent wrench with
the other to loosen the collet. Freud uses a 21 step collet so it takes
several turns. That may be a minus in most peoples mind but it's hard to
have a bit climb out of the collet with that setup too.
The Freud is mounted inside a box beneath the table that is the right wing
of my Jet TS and I have a 4" DC hose connected to that. If you enclose
yours, be sure there is sufficient holes in the box to allow for air flow
through the box so it can clear the router and the chips. The routers
internal fan is blowing air towards the bit and the DC is sucking so you
have a bit of a fight going on but with the right DC or shop vac setup, it
works fine. I built a router fence that Pat Warner designed about 4 years
ago and was a featured article in FWW. It has an attachment for a shop vac
hose and works very well.
Don't be afraid to experiment to get the setup right for you. Almost
forgot.. The bottom plate of the Freud needs a bit of metalwork ground away
to allow that bent wrench to work properly. You'll note that the bottom
opening is half-round, half-square. The flats needed to be ground open.
Don't worry, plenty of metal there to work with and it doesn't weaken the
base plate.
With all the above said....and mine is a nice setup now... I would not go
thru the hassle again. To many routers out there these days that are
designed for being table mounted. Only reason I would change now is if my
Freud burned out or wasn't repairable for some reason but I like the
configuration and it's easy to work with.
Bob S.
"Dan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'll probably get as many opinions as there are people reading this, but
> what the hey. Maybe someone will come up with something I haven't thought
> of.
>
> I have a Freud 2000E and a Hitachi M12V. I like 'em both. I'm ready to
> permanently mount one of them into a table. I've been using both of them
> in
> the table and handheld, and I like both of them for both uses. The
> Hitachi's lighter but I like the grips on the Freud, and the switch, and
> the plunge lock, more than the Hitachi. So I've pretty much decided to
> install a router raizer in the Hitachi and put that one in the table.
>
> But before I do that, I thought I'd ask. Would anyone care to put forth
> any
> arguments for using the Freud over the Hitachi? Subjective counts, I
> guess.
> If you just LIKE one or the other in the table, and the other one for non-
> table work, I'd be interested to hear it.
>
> Dan