148 Yet Another Router Question...
Description
This article is from the Woodworking FAQ Collection 4, by multiple authors.
148 Yet Another Router Question...
From: levenson@saffron.Eng.Sun.COM (Rick Levenson)
Date: 30 Sep 91 18:29:42 GMT
Well, I finally ordered the Freud (the "3" horse) router. ITS will sell it
for $178 and Freud will kick back $30. For $148 I decided I could deal with
the weight of the heavier router when doing any handheld work. I'll post my
opinions after using it for a year or so...
In my search to figure out which router to buy, I ended up calling the local
repair shop. Talked to a guy "who been repairing routers for longer than
they been around." His advice was to buy the Porter-Cable. He said he
never gets any Freuds in for repair so parts need to be ordered...
----- Begin Included Message -----
From rkc@xn.ll.mit.edu Fri Sep 20 06:07:13 1991
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 91 09:07:29 EDT
From: rkc@xn.ll.mit.edu
To: levenson@saffron.Eng.Sun.COM (Rick Levenson)
Content-Length: 2099
I'm going to confuse your life even more, Rick.
I own a Ryobi VS 3 HP plunge router, and I'm in love with it. I have used it
to build 4 floating panel doors (1 cabinet-sized, the others 3/4 height),
molding for various projects, and misc. mortise and tennon joints, and I have
come to love it. Although the variable speed option is scoffed at by some of
the NET's experts, I am extremely pleased with it. Whenever I use a large
diameter bit, I want to decrease the speed of the router so the angular
velocity of the bit remains roughly constant. The larger bits turning at full
speed make the router feel a bit like a gyroscope--not a safe feeling! With
VS I can decrease the routers speed to a level that will cut the wood without
burning, and without the dangerous gyroscope twist. In addition, this VS has
a "soft-on" mechanism that gently turns the machine on, and prevents the jerk
that some of the other big routers cause.
The drawbacks of the big routers are what you'd expect--it's heavier than the
1.5 hp models. I'm 5'11", weigh 175 lbs., and I prefer the stability of the
larger routers to the agility of the smaller routers. I've never had trouble
controlling this router, although I've not extensively used a non-VS router,
and perhaps this helps me out. If you're smaller, you may have different
results.
I suggest you check out the FWW article on Routers--they recommend a
predecessor of the current Ryobi offering, for reasons like you can easily
replace the ball bearings if you need to, and because the triple-split collet
design is the best type made for gripping a bit (cf. other aricles about bits
slipping in hardwood). These features remain in the current model. When I
bought mine a year ago, it came with 1/2", 3/8", and 1/4" collets, a straight
fence, and a curved fence. I have used the 1/2" and 1/4" collets and the
straight fence with good results. I have never had a problem with the router,
but I take pretty good care of my tools.
When last I looked, price was about $200.00.
I hope I've thoroughly confused you with clear information.
-Rob
From: Rick Schuman <rrsumn@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 07:59:03 -0700 (PDT)
Another use I have found for variable speed control on a router: Even,
or especially, with smal diameter bits, I have found it better to run
at a slower speed when working with cherry. The higher the speed, the
more likely you are to burn the sap in the wood and you will end up
with a dark reddish brown surface that will need to be dealt with,
either by sanding or scraping. At slower speeds, you still get a nice
clean cut--providing you bit is sharp and clean--and as a bonus, the
dust and chips aren't blown quite all over the place.
Continue to:
My Books
