Comments on: Episode 32: The Router is Your Friend http://modernwoodshop.com/2008/09/05/episode-32-the-router-is-your-friend/ This Podcast and Blog Will Make You Cool. Seriously. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:22:39 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: jeffs http://modernwoodshop.com/2008/09/05/episode-32-the-router-is-your-friend/#comment-3931 jeffs Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:45:29 +0000 http://modernwoodshop.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-3931 Dave Here's are pix of a grinder jig i made to skew plane blades for my Stanley #46 It would also work for you Crown skew chisel /Users/jeffstafford/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/1999/07/P1010004.JPG /Users/jeffstafford/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/1999/07/P1010003.JPG /Users/jeffstafford/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/1999/07/P1010002.JPG /Users/jeffstafford/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/1999/07/P1010001.JPG Dave
Here’s are pix of a grinder jig i made to skew plane blades for my Stanley #46
It would also work for you Crown skew chisel

/Users/jeffstafford/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/1999/07/P1010004.JPG

/Users/jeffstafford/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/1999/07/P1010003.JPG

/Users/jeffstafford/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/1999/07/P1010002.JPG

/Users/jeffstafford/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/1999/07/P1010001.JPG

]]> By: jeffs http://modernwoodshop.com/2008/09/05/episode-32-the-router-is-your-friend/#comment-3930 jeffs Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:40:48 +0000 http://modernwoodshop.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-3930 Dave, I work down at Marc Adams and I can say VS is useful regardless of the size of the router. What I've seen is that VS lets you find the sweet spot of speed, depending on the wood and the bit. We've burned up 1/4" spiral bits on plunge cutting with too fast RPM. Some inlay guys slow the RPM down when using 1/32 or smaller bits in dremels, etc. Too slow of speed results in chattering, too fast burns the wood or toasts your bit. That analogy works on all kinds of power tools. When you can't adjust the motor speed you can control how fast you feed the stock. For hand saws the analogy is to have between, say 10 to 20 teeth in the wood. too few teeth results in a chattery, rough cut; too many teeth is smooth,but the teeth clog and cut slow. One possiblity of 3/8 bushing (fit into a 1/2 collet) is the ability to use 3/8" HSS end mills. 3/8" is a common size in the metal trade. End mills make great plunge cuts for things like floating tennons. They can be up to 5" long too. Dave,
I work down at Marc Adams and I can say VS is useful regardless of the size of the router.
What I’ve seen is that VS lets you find the sweet spot of speed, depending on the wood and the bit.
We’ve burned up 1/4″ spiral bits on plunge cutting with too fast RPM. Some inlay guys slow the RPM down when using 1/32 or smaller bits in dremels, etc.

Too slow of speed results in chattering, too fast burns the wood or toasts your bit.
That analogy works on all kinds of power tools. When you can’t adjust the motor speed you can control how fast you feed the stock.
For hand saws the analogy is to have between, say 10 to 20 teeth in the wood. too few teeth results in a chattery, rough cut; too many teeth is smooth,but the teeth clog and cut slow.

One possiblity of 3/8 bushing (fit into a 1/2 collet) is the ability to use 3/8″ HSS end mills. 3/8″ is a common size in the metal trade. End mills make great plunge cuts for things like floating tennons. They can be up to 5″ long too.

]]> By: Shannon http://modernwoodshop.com/2008/09/05/episode-32-the-router-is-your-friend/#comment-853 Shannon Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:57:59 +0000 http://modernwoodshop.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-853 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) 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)

]]> By: Jason http://modernwoodshop.com/2008/09/05/episode-32-the-router-is-your-friend/#comment-850 Jason Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:09:12 +0000 http://modernwoodshop.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-850 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. 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.

]]> By: marc http://modernwoodshop.com/2008/09/05/episode-32-the-router-is-your-friend/#comment-779 marc Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:48:16 +0000 http://modernwoodshop.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-779 Hey Dave. Great show. Just a quick thumbs up for you on the new mic. Now there's honey in your voice! ;) Hey Dave. Great show. Just a quick thumbs up for you on the new mic. Now there’s honey in your voice! ;)

]]> By: Dave http://modernwoodshop.com/2008/09/05/episode-32-the-router-is-your-friend/#comment-751 Dave Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:42:01 +0000 http://modernwoodshop.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-751 <b>@Sal:</b> 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! :-) <b>@Neil:</b> 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! @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!

]]> By: Neil http://modernwoodshop.com/2008/09/05/episode-32-the-router-is-your-friend/#comment-749 Neil Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:15:34 +0000 http://modernwoodshop.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-749 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!!! 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!!!

]]> By: Sal Giambruno http://modernwoodshop.com/2008/09/05/episode-32-the-router-is-your-friend/#comment-741 Sal Giambruno Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:40:29 +0000 http://modernwoodshop.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-741 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. 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.

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