Plunge Router

crzypete · Post by **crzypete** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:22 am

I have been thinking about upgrading my plunge router. I have a coule of pieces that I have been building which have plunge routing operations. I am tired of my Porter cable 690 based plunge. Looking for suggestions on what to buy.

I was hot on the festool for a while until I found out it is entirely metric which makes it kinda useless to me- and no I will not switch to the metric system.

I am not sue of Horsepower requirements, at least 1 1/2 perhaps 2-3.

I'm open to suggestions of what to look at.

Pete

cmiller 231 · Post by **cmiller 231** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:59 pm

Pete: To start with , I'am new to the group. Looking forward to talking to people of the same interests.
I would also consider , are you planing on useing it under a router table ?
There was a recent article in one of the wood working magnazines about which was best for this .

Might be hard to stay away from metric but i agree . I usually convert it to US. Base plate ,mounting screws ect.
Check out this site where this guy has his plunge router under a table and has a power feed on router to plunge deep mortices .
http://www.eaglelakewoodworking.com/
Chris

crzypete · Post by **crzypete** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:27 am

Hi Chris welcome aboard.

I am looking for a router to hand hold- I have a shape which takes router bits that I use as a router table and a JDS multirouter that I use for mortising.

I use my plunge router with rub collars to cut a number of blind dados for a few of my pieces.

The link came up blank. I'll try it again later.

Pete

mystry_tour · Post by **mystry_tour** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 1:30 am

Hi Chris,
Welcome to the group. Nice guys with lots of smarts her. Hang out for a qhile.
Howdy Pete. Hows the busy life going. I have a Bosch thats pretty slick. The plunge action is pretty nice slao. Its a 2 1/4 something 17 EVS I think. Its at the new shop and I won't see it till this weekend but I can let you know then if you haven't gotten one yes. Comes with a stationary and plunge base.
OH by the way Pete, got any idea what a sheet of solid 3/4 ply is worth thats 1/4 sawed white oak 8) I think I can get some unless I have to give up my first born...lol shes 21 and won't play that game now. I might have gotten away with it a few years agon but no now. Not sure how much he has but I will take all he will sell
reg

cmiller 231 · Post by **cmiller 231** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:19 pm

Pete : I never noticed til today that my Dewalt will accept 2 1/2" of router bit shank in it's spindle .Don 't know how much this would be taken adavantage of but i thought i would mention it
What brought this up is that i need to mortice a hole in a door for an old lock set . Its about 3 3/4" deep and about 3" long and 9/16 wide. So, i was looking for a extra long end mill ( Enco has them 6" long carbide). With the motor all the way up the router allowed 3 1/2 " from collet to base . plus 2 1/2" in collet = 6" .Of course i will slow it way down brfore i try this. Anyway I thought i would explain what i this for.

Thanks for the welcome guys ! Chris

bw dolan · Post by **bw dolan** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:05 pm

My fein RT1800 is one of only two handheld power tools I don't regret buying. I've been merciless to it for the last four years (I used it with a 4" cut length x 1.5" dia. carbide tipped spiral bit to trim thick mahogany doors to height) and it's still going. It's not much more money than the equivalent Porter Cable and they just got bought out by Black and Decker.

crzypete · Post by **crzypete** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:28 am

Welcome aboard. I am not familiar with the Fein plunge, I'll have to check one out, for the most part I am impressed by the rest of their tools. I am curious whether it will have the same metric draw backs which soured me on the Festool.

Pete

bw dolan · Post by **bw dolan** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:25 pm

The screws that hold the sub base on are metric but all the depth adjustment graduations are fractional. The standard collet is 1/2". You have to buy the 1/4" seperately, but it's available.

nektai · Post by **nektai** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:03 am

Crzy,

One of us has gotten bad information and I hope it was you. All fesstool routers come with three collects 1/2 a 1/4 and their metric collet to run their small bits. This is information from One Source tool who sells so many of them that they never have any in stock. I also have a call into one other business to confirm.

I hope this is true as it seems like a nice router

Nico

crzypete · Post by **crzypete** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:28 pm

Yeah, collets are available in standard, but the really nice hammond-like depth stop is in metric increments. At least it is not pica

Might still be worth buying.....

Pete

nektai · Post by **nektai** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:04 pm

Ok,

I missed the fact that the collet was not the problem. Does any other router incorporate a similar scheme to pick up dust? That would be the deal maker for me to consider another brand.

Nico

crzypete · Post by **crzypete** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:21 am

The most brilliant feature I saw on the festool is the ratcheting spindle lock- when tightening a bit you never have to remove your wrench- simply press the ratchet button toward loosen or tighten and it is like having a socket wrench built in. I think I need to go take another look......

Pete