Modern Woodshop

Posted in Audio | Tagged podcast, routah, router, webby, Woodworking | 6 Comments

6 Responses

1. on September 6, 2008 at 12:40 am | Reply Sal Giambruno

   The mic sounds great! Now my ears don’t bleed (JK)

   Test cuts, test cuts, test cuts before you cut into your actual project wood! Possible solution: cut less of a curve in the legs . . . .

   Hey, a TS is a router with a really big bit!

   I got 2 clear baseplates with my PC 893 Kit . . .

   Some guys use laminate routers with VS for fine detail work like inlays and with carving bits, etc . . . so I wouldn’t rule out VS as a waste of money in a laminate trimmer . . .

   Routers ARE scary, but indispensible for high-accuracy detail work.

   
   
2. on September 6, 2008 at 7:15 am | Reply Neil

   Hey Dave……first off maybe I missed something, but what is Sal referring to when he uses the “VS” abbreviation above, maybe it’ll be a Homer Simpson momemnt for me..DOH!!!

   This is an interesting tool you picked, to make them effective, you need a few of them. Those guys who really rout, will have router’s set-up for one specific operation. A cabinet shop will have one router set with a straight bit (1/2″ shank as you suggest), wooden fence set to cut rabbets for 1/4″ back panels, that router will get passed from bench to bench.

   a great tool you mention……..dust and all!!!

   
   
3. on September 6, 2008 at 7:42 am | Reply Dave

   @Sal: I did test cuts in scrap for everything EXCEPT the lower mortise… and wouldn’t you know that the lower mortise is the one I screwed up. So, there’s some proof that test cuts are good!

   @Neil: I think Sal was referring to “variable speed.” I had mentioned that I thought the variable speed feature was of limited usefulness on a laminate trimmer. I agree that having multiple routers all configured for specific operations is definitely a time saver!

   
   
4. on September 7, 2008 at 8:48 am | Reply marc

   Hey Dave. Great show. Just a quick thumbs up for you on the new mic. Now there’s honey in your voice!

   
   
5. on September 9, 2008 at 7:09 pm | Reply Jason

   Hey Dave, The mic sounds much clearer, thanks for some great insight into router selection. One item I think you left off of your wish list of items for routers that I’m curious to get your insight on is above the table depth adjustment. It sounds like it would be a worthwhile feature.

   I have the Skil 1825 router combo and though it’s worked quite well for me to date I do have some issues with the spring being very stiff, the absence of any sort of dust collection, and the lack of an edge guide. You can buy one but it’s very flimsy and not worth the money. So my advice echoes your own re buying a mid-level router combo.

   So yeah I’m in the process of building a router table into the extension wing of my Ridgid tablesaw and I’m shopping for a router for a router table. I’m thinking about the Freud 2 1/4 hp fixed base or the Triton 2 1/4 hp plunge.

   
   
6. on September 9, 2008 at 7:57 pm | Reply Shannon

   Routers, the tool I love to hate. I can’t get by without my routers, but hesitate to use them every time it comes up. I’m with you, I hate the noise, hate the dust, and sometimes they just scare me to death. That being said, I use my routers just about everytime I step into the shop. I’m eyeing one of the Festool mid range routers to avoid the dust and maybe that will quell my hesitation. I finally got my table up and running and have about conquered the dust monster with that one. That being said, I find myself trying to use the router table for everything and sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to run a wide panel over the router table especially when it is so heavy I grunt to pick it up. Oh well, I’ll just have to suck it up (hopefully with a vacuum and not my lungs)