Getting serious about routers

[loninappleton]

Originally posted by pinkmouse
In a rush as I'm just about to eat my dinner, but I will post some more pics at some point. It's a shame you didn't start this thread a few weeks ago as I could have fully documented the process whilst building my latest boxes.

Well nothing fits together as it should. But this topic has needed to be covered in some thorough manner for a long time. I don't have the
tools or the camera. I am the noob at this.

Can you move the discussion to the Flush mount thread? I'm hoping at some point it will be stickied so peeps can find it when needed.

[Pano]

I have a Ryobi 2HP router that works fine for me. Plenty of power - and I like the variable speed. Has a 1/2" colet. Much more than I really need.

To cut driver holes and make inserts I use the most primitive of guides. Real DIY and works great!

[loninappleton]

Originally posted by panomaniac
I have a Ryobi 2HP router that works fine for me. Plenty of power - and I like the variable speed. Has a 1/2" colet. Much more than I really need.

To cut driver holes and make inserts I use the most primitive of guides. Real DIY and works great!

This is good for round.

There is another topic called Flush mounting speakers: the whole story.

Can you put your pic. in there?

I recall working with circle cutters that you have to stop and start
to keep from having the disk fall in your lap and chip out.


;-)



The other technique is to not go all the way through and then flush trim from the opposite side. My tools are inferior so I've never gotten good at using circle jigs. Plus my speakers are the size that I can use a hole cutter. Hole cutters are available for cheap at the Harbor Freight in a kit of diameters up to 5 inches.

[loninappleton]

Over time I have done some research on this but nothing real serious.

Yesterday I pulled out a copy of a Better Homes and Gardens Wood
magazine that has some router reviews in it.

I know all the eye-rolling that starts about Craftsman tools from Sears.

But they compared a Bosch and and Craftsman which appear nearly
identical but for one feature-- the ability to adjust with a t-wrench
from above the table.

Why would this be?.

That above the table feature is what I'm looking for. It is highly valued for doing the flush mounting techniques described in a nearby thread.

[hayenc]

Bosch and these Craftsman are the same. The accessory is also available in the Bosch brand. Model RA1165

http://www.boschtools.com/Products/T...spx?pid=RA1165

It is nice to have one base permanently attached to the table and then I use the other plunge base for most of the jig work.

Craig

[loninappleton]

Well that is good to know. The difference in price is then for the
add-on for the Bosch.

I must admit that being able to go to Sears if any warranty problem
takes place appeals to me. These problems are admittedly remote.


But there may be some small advantage to having one of those Sears tool cards. Only good for 10% as I recall and not good on sale stuff.

Thanks for your reply.

I'd still like to find one used.

[loninappleton]

Here is a fairly recent review of the best bargain I've seen.

http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/223

The review is of an entry level product from Craftsman.

There's always the chance that this review site is related to
Sears and of that I have no knowledge at all.

This piece seems to be a good starter tool.

It's on deal now (thru May 17th, 2008), but I'd think that during Father's Day promotions it might be even more attractively priced.

Apparently Sears/Craftsman is showing quality products again.

[dangus]

I picked up a nice "vintage" Black & Decker router for $35 at a pawn shop. It's made by Elu, like the DeWalt, with the rack and pinion depth adjustment. I've seen similar-priced routers at pawn shops and thrift stores. I'd been planning to get either a 690 or the DeWalt, when this one came along.

I made a large base for it out of thick plexiglas which helps a lot when working out at the corners of boxes, plus it allowed me to do flush trimming by lifting the base up on a piece of MDF. (Before I invested in a flush trimming bit... it's impressive what you can do with just a plain 1/4" carbide bit, though.)

My favourite circle guide was made after a design in Speaker Builder (or maybe TAA); 1/4" plywood that replaces the router base, with a slot surrounded by a recess that a T-nut (with the barbs removed) slides in; a bolt through the T-nut is the pivot. If you see what I mean. It's fine for circular driver recesses and cutouts. For small drivers and ports, I have a store-bought guide (maybe Sears?) that will cut radii smaller than the router bases.

[loninappleton]

Today I had a fair amount of computer snafus.

But thanks for the router update dan.

I have not been to the local Mr. Money lately.

That one at the Sears would be worth it for the warranty service.
I'm thinking big deal day would be Father's Day. then I could plan my table mount.


On the ol' Rotozip, there's a circle cutter but not much accuracy. I too have used the t-nut with the pin in the circle guide. That is pretty tight
but not like threaded. The advantage of the Jasper is that it's pin mounts tight to the holes on the jig.