02-02-2015, 08:49 PM
Back in the cabinet shop.
Its been a BAD week for routers. My probably 30 year old Porter Cable 1/4 inch router literally exploded. The metal fan must have fatigued and shattered, the shrapnel took out the windings. They had a standard cast aluminum base that accepted this 1/4 inch 9 amp motor or a 1/2 inch think its 13 amp motor. The old motors were all metal housing and ends, built to last.
They still use the same base from what I gather but no longer make a 1/4 inch motor, only 1/2 inch which is probably a heavy monster like the 1/2 inch one I have.
I used this router with guide bushings that ran on templets I've made to mortise in cabinet hinges as well as entry door hinges. Try holding a monster router sideways while your letting in a hinge.
So this morning I spent 2 or 3 hours making a base plate for an old Black and Decker router someone gave me that was missing the plate. Nice little router but after getting the plate made I find the depth locking mechanism pulls the motor to one side so that the bit isn't entered in the bushing. Interesting side note, I made the plate from a sheet of 3/8 thick fibreglass sheet I got from god knows where. Nice and stable, hard so it wouldn't, wear machines nice but with the glass fibre does it ever eat HSS.
OK plan C.
Off to town and see what offerings the Home hardware and Canadian Tire (tupperwear) had to offer. Not much, some monster 1/2 inch ones that they rate at 2 1/2 hp. Now what good is a 2 1/2 hp hand held router. My wood shaper that probably weighs 4 or 5 hundred pounds and will spin a 6 inch dia cutter at 10,000 rpm only has a 2 hp motor.
So the one place has a Makita trim router, nice small hand held unit. The base looks a little small but usable and after I get the guy to open the beautiful aluminum case that you could give your wife for a makeup case on Valentines day, I find it has a small guide bushing with it. HUMM. You have to take the plate off the base and this thing fits in a recess. We'll take it. So off we go and head back to the machine shop to make a brass adaptor that fits into the recess and crosses over to my existing brass guides. About an hour on the lathe and we have a nice fitting ring. Put it all together and guess what. The old Black and Decker piece of junk (but that was what you expected when you bought one) centred the cutter better. This new and improved, ergonomic, soft start, made in the orient, but packaged in a lovely aluminum case router with the plastic motor housing and cast clear plastic base, would allow the included 1/4 inch bit to rub on the guide bushing that came with it.
Sorry for the long winded rant.
So I guess its take this one back and head off to the city and see if there's anything to be had. My expectations aren't very high. After looking at the manufacturers web sites there doesn't seem to be much out there that looks well made anymore.
Its been a BAD week for routers. My probably 30 year old Porter Cable 1/4 inch router literally exploded. The metal fan must have fatigued and shattered, the shrapnel took out the windings. They had a standard cast aluminum base that accepted this 1/4 inch 9 amp motor or a 1/2 inch think its 13 amp motor. The old motors were all metal housing and ends, built to last.
They still use the same base from what I gather but no longer make a 1/4 inch motor, only 1/2 inch which is probably a heavy monster like the 1/2 inch one I have.
I used this router with guide bushings that ran on templets I've made to mortise in cabinet hinges as well as entry door hinges. Try holding a monster router sideways while your letting in a hinge.
So this morning I spent 2 or 3 hours making a base plate for an old Black and Decker router someone gave me that was missing the plate. Nice little router but after getting the plate made I find the depth locking mechanism pulls the motor to one side so that the bit isn't entered in the bushing. Interesting side note, I made the plate from a sheet of 3/8 thick fibreglass sheet I got from god knows where. Nice and stable, hard so it wouldn't, wear machines nice but with the glass fibre does it ever eat HSS.
OK plan C.
Off to town and see what offerings the Home hardware and Canadian Tire (tupperwear) had to offer. Not much, some monster 1/2 inch ones that they rate at 2 1/2 hp. Now what good is a 2 1/2 hp hand held router. My wood shaper that probably weighs 4 or 5 hundred pounds and will spin a 6 inch dia cutter at 10,000 rpm only has a 2 hp motor.
So the one place has a Makita trim router, nice small hand held unit. The base looks a little small but usable and after I get the guy to open the beautiful aluminum case that you could give your wife for a makeup case on Valentines day, I find it has a small guide bushing with it. HUMM. You have to take the plate off the base and this thing fits in a recess. We'll take it. So off we go and head back to the machine shop to make a brass adaptor that fits into the recess and crosses over to my existing brass guides. About an hour on the lathe and we have a nice fitting ring. Put it all together and guess what. The old Black and Decker piece of junk (but that was what you expected when you bought one) centred the cutter better. This new and improved, ergonomic, soft start, made in the orient, but packaged in a lovely aluminum case router with the plastic motor housing and cast clear plastic base, would allow the included 1/4 inch bit to rub on the guide bushing that came with it.
Sorry for the long winded rant.
So I guess its take this one back and head off to the city and see if there's anything to be had. My expectations aren't very high. After looking at the manufacturers web sites there doesn't seem to be much out there that looks well made anymore.
Free advice is worth exactly what you payed for it.
Greg
Greg