On Aug 16, 9:50*am, mkr5000 wrote:
I'm thinking of buying a new woodworking router today for my Sears
router table.

Any suggestions? Especially considering occasional projects like
this?....routing aluminum.

Are they making any variable speed routers?........maybe something
like that would come in handy for metal?

Just use a carbide tip bit, right? * *Maybe a bit of lubrication?

If the router has a universal motor you can slow it down with a
dimmer, or a Variac like I do, if you have one. A universal motor is
listed for 120VAC or DC. Don't do it to an AC-only motor. I routed an
awkward job last week with a light-weight laminate trimmer running on
50VAC.

Milling a shallow groove around a corner isn't easy. I asked the CNC
programmer what his Hurco mill could do easily and -then- designed the
grooves, which in that case ran straight off the curved edges of the
panel.