I just recently asked some questions about using a router on an occasional
basis with a core box bit to make a channel for a musical flute. Everyone
suggested that I get a router with a 1/2 inch shank rather than a 1/4 inch
shank for many reasons, but safety being an issue. Seeing I won't be using
this very often would the following router be adequate or would it be a
total piece of junk??? Any followup appreciated......
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43585
Buck wrote:>I just recently asked some questions about using a router on an
occasional
>basis with a core box bit to make a channel for a musical flute. Everyone
>suggested that I get a router with a 1/2 inch shank rather than a 1/4 inch
>shank for many reasons, but safety being an issue. Seeing I won't be using
>this very often would the following router be adequate or would it be a
>total piece of junk??? Any followup appreciated......
>
>http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43585
>
>
For 60 bucks? Wadda ya got to lose? Tom
Work at your leisure!
Unless you are going to be using large bits or heavy cuts, 1/4" is fine.
Unless you need a plunge router, they are clumsy compared to fixed base.
Unless you have no need for a precision cut, you will be very unhappy with
the HarborFreight.
I just read a book on box building. The author was unable to cut box joints
that fit with his Craftsman router; no matter what he did the slots were
.011" oversized. He wrote a letter to Sears and got a reply that the runout
was within the design specs. He got a Bosch and the slots were within .001"
with the same bit.
Great story about crap tools.
On 28 Aug 2004 01:57:40 GMT, [email protected] (Tom) wrote:
> Buck wrote:>I just recently asked some questions about using a router on an
>occasional
>>basis with a core box bit to make a channel for a musical flute. Everyone
>>suggested that I get a router with a 1/2 inch shank rather than a 1/4 inch
>>shank for many reasons, but safety being an issue. Seeing I won't be using
>>this very often would the following router be adequate or would it be a
>>total piece of junk??? Any followup appreciated......
>>
>>http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43585
>>
>>
> For 60 bucks? Wadda ya got to lose? Tom
>Work at your leisure!
Well, I'd say, (and this is from no practical experience with the
particular item) about $60.
=0 )
Lenny
On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 18:56:55 -0600, "buck" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I just recently asked some questions about using a router on an occasional
>basis with a core box bit to make a channel for a musical flute. Everyone
>suggested that I get a router with a 1/2 inch shank rather than a 1/4 inch
>shank for many reasons, but safety being an issue. Seeing I won't be using
>this very often would the following router be adequate or would it be a
>total piece of junk??? Any followup appreciated......
>
>http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43585
>
For routers, think Bosch, Porter Cable, Makita, or DeWalt. Any of
these are close to precision machines. Skil and Black&Decker are
second rate. Chicago tools doesn't make the list at all.
On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 18:56:55 -0600, "buck" <[email protected]>
calmly ranted:
>I just recently asked some questions about using a router on an occasional
>basis with a core box bit to make a channel for a musical flute. Everyone
>suggested that I get a router with a 1/2 inch shank rather than a 1/4 inch
>shank for many reasons, but safety being an issue. Seeing I won't be using
>this very often would the following router be adequate or would it be a
>total piece of junk??? Any followup appreciated......
>
>http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43585
I wanted to see how bad the imports were and they are.
I picked up a 1/2" plunge routah off Ebay for $0.99 +
$25.20 s/h/ins. It looks identical to the $60 HF job, too.
I spun up a 1/4" bit (I don't yet own any halfers) and
it had good power. Although it's junk, it will do the
job, so it's worth the meager investment which didn't
even bend a single crowbar.
Bad points: Chinese motor, 40lb spring hard to compress
to let the router down into the wood, cheaparse fence,
box rattled like hell when received but no damage was
evident upon unpacking. They forgot to use foam at the
factory.
Good points: Collets grab nicely, powerful motor, nice
blue color (Makita knockoff). [Note to JOAT: Can easily
be painted yella, fella.], $26.19 price hard to beat.
Score: 1-1/2 Crowbars Up
I got mine from Star Light Augusta and he took forever
to ship it. I was pretty angry when it finally arrived.
He didn't answer email worth a sh*t. Caveat Emptor.
---=====---
After all else fails, read the instructions.
---=====---
Website Design and Update http://www.diversify.com
Bought a Freud about ten years ago. Used it most in a router table. It
spit up on me this spring and I replaced it with the PC 893. I sure
don't feel like the old Freud owes me anything. Price was right when I
bought it and it seems a well made, precision tool.
YMMV
bob g.
[email protected] wrote:
> On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 02:19:50 GMT, Phisherman <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 18:56:55 -0600, "buck" <[email protected]>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I just recently asked some questions about using a router on an occasional
>>>basis with a core box bit to make a channel for a musical flute. Everyone
>>>suggested that I get a router with a 1/2 inch shank rather than a 1/4 inch
>>>shank for many reasons, but safety being an issue. Seeing I won't be using
>>>this very often would the following router be adequate or would it be a
>>>total piece of junk??? Any followup appreciated......
>>>
>>>http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43585
>>>
>>
>>For routers, think Bosch, Porter Cable, Makita, or DeWalt. Any of
>>these are close to precision machines. Skil and Black&Decker are
>>second rate. Chicago tools doesn't make the list at all.
>
>
>
> hitachi makes good routers. so does freud. heck, these days there does
> seem to be a sweet spot on the dollars/performance curve at the
> triton....
On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 02:19:50 GMT, Phisherman <[email protected]> wrote:
>On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 18:56:55 -0600, "buck" <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>I just recently asked some questions about using a router on an occasional
>>basis with a core box bit to make a channel for a musical flute. Everyone
>>suggested that I get a router with a 1/2 inch shank rather than a 1/4 inch
>>shank for many reasons, but safety being an issue. Seeing I won't be using
>>this very often would the following router be adequate or would it be a
>>total piece of junk??? Any followup appreciated......
>>
>>http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43585
>>
>
>For routers, think Bosch, Porter Cable, Makita, or DeWalt. Any of
>these are close to precision machines. Skil and Black&Decker are
>second rate. Chicago tools doesn't make the list at all.
hitachi makes good routers. so does freud. heck, these days there does
seem to be a sweet spot on the dollars/performance curve at the
triton....
"Tom" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Buck wrote:>I just recently asked some questions about using a router on
an
> occasional
> >basis with a core box bit to make a channel for a musical flute.
Everyone
> >suggested that I get a router with a 1/2 inch shank rather than a 1/4
inch
> >shank for many reasons, but safety being an issue. Seeing I won't be
using
> >this very often would the following router be adequate or would it be a
> >total piece of junk??? Any followup appreciated......
> >
> >http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43585
> >
> >
> For 60 bucks? Wadda ya got to lose? Tom
> Work at your leisure!
Bout $60 bucks towards somthin worthwhile
buck wrote:
> I just recently asked some questions about using a router on an occasional
> basis with a core box bit to make a channel for a musical flute. Everyone
> suggested that I get a router with a 1/2 inch shank rather than a 1/4 inch
> shank for many reasons, but safety being an issue. Seeing I won't be using
> this very often would the following router be adequate or would it be a
> total piece of junk??? Any followup appreciated......
>
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43585
>
>
While you are there (at HF) do a search on "router". They have several
types, all for around $60. I don't own one, but for that price it may
work for you.
mahalo,
jo4hn