Today's question: best router for home use?
 

Yesterday I asked about jig saws - today I'd like some feedback about
routers, please. What to look for, etc. Considering this will be my
first router (and I'm not sure all the ways I'll use it), will I be
served ok with a moderately priced one for a couple of years until I
really know what I want? Then, I would go for the better, more
expensive models.

Thanks for your continued help!
Squanklin

Squanklin wrote:
Yesterday I asked about jig saws - today I'd like some feedback about
routers, please. What to look for, etc. Considering this will be my
first router (and I'm not sure all the ways I'll use it), will I be
served ok with a moderately priced one for a couple of years until I
really know what I want? Then, I would go for the better, more
expensive models.

Most any router from Porter Cable, Bosch, Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt
would serve you well.

Definitely one that has a 1/2" collet, 1/4" too is nice. Probably 1
1/2 - 2 HP since you want a moderate price. That HP is entirely
adequate for just about any non-table task.

Your real decision will be fixed base vs plunge. If I were buying a
first router AND if I intended to buy an additional one later I'd get a
fixed base. Mine was and I used it exclusively for 20 years before
getting a plunge router. The advantages of fixed base routers are that
they are generally smaller/lighter and have a lower center of gravity.
You can even plunge with them if you know how and are careful.

One that I particularly like is the Dewalt #610. I don't have it but I
do have its father - the Black & Decker Industrial (only 7/8 HP, no 1/2
collet but I've been using it for close to 40 years). One thing I
particularly like in both is the rack & pinion height adjustment;
another is the toggle switch. The motor of either will fit in Porter
Cable's accessory plunge base...a relatively inexpensive way to have
both varieties.

The Dewalt 610 costs about $150.

http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Tools-P...Fixed-DeWalt-D
ewalt_Dw610___Dw612_Heavy-Duty_1-1_2_Hp_Router/display_~reviews

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.05...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

"dadiOH" wrote in message

Most any router from Porter Cable, Bosch, Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt
would serve you well.


I agree with everything said here. Just to add, avoid Ryobi and the
Craftsman made by Ryobi. They are notorious for problems holding the bits
accurately.

Want to see what a router can do? Check www.patwarner.com

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

"dadiOH" wrote in message

Most any router from Porter Cable, Bosch, Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt
would serve you well.


I agree with everything said here. Just to add, avoid Ryobi and the
Craftsman made by Ryobi. They are notorious for problems holding the bits
accurately.

I generally avoid all Craftsman and Ryobi like the plague, but that
said...I have a (much) older Craftsman that I still like for feel and
balance better than any other I've ever had or used...while I've heard
some complaints, I've never had a problem with the switch cable and I
like the trigger grip handle much better than any of the other
arrangements...it's just a 1/4" shank, however, which may be OK for the
stated purpose but I find I don't use it nearly as much any more for
that reason--all my bits have evolved to be 1/2" shank as I haven't
replaced worn out 1/4" ones...whether any of the current crop of
Craftsman are very good I don't know, I just liked the old handle style
very well...I would definitely steer away from the no-name Chinese
imports, however in the interest of cheap...I wouldn't trust the collets
and the runout. It's real easy to get a serious injury if something
happens to a tool spinning at 20k rpm.

Squanklin wrote:
Yesterday I asked about jig saws - today I'd like some feedback about
routers, please. What to look for, etc. Considering this will be my
first router (and I'm not sure all the ways I'll use it), will I be
served ok with a moderately priced one for a couple of years until I
really know what I want? Then, I would go for the better, more
expensive models.

Decide on whether you need to use it in a table, or just free hand.
Routers also come in the plunge or no plunge variety. Plunge routers
allow you to raise the bit above the work, start the motor, then plunge
it down at any spot in the piece (there's a stop that you set to
control the depth). If you were to cut a dado in a piece that didn't
go through to the end of the board, you would need a plunge router.

HP is of course important. If you're going to raise some panels using
a large panel bit, you'll need a bigger machine than say 1 hp. If
you're just going to use a 1/4" round over, 1HP would be plenty.

Go to eopinions.com to get reviews on specific products. You might
also want to visit rec.woodworking

Agree on rec.woodworking. Starter router that includes both fixed and
plunge bases for about $200.00 would be the Porter Cable model. Has
both 1/4" & 1/2" collets.

On 17 Dec 2004 15:26:21 GMT, osspam (Joe Bobst) wrote:

Yesterday I asked about jig saws - today I'd like some feedback about
routers, please.

Have a look at the newsgroup rec. woodworking for insights on tools. The
contributors are a very civilized and knowledgeable group and not averse to a
bit of sly humor. Experts abound, such as Pat Warner (routers) and Charlie Self
(all manner of things). HTH

Joe

Definitely the deWalt 621. Plenty of power for bits 1.5" diam,
built-in vacuum port for the huge amount of chips it will toss, and
silky-smooth (best I've tried, by far) plunge mechanism. 1/2" and 1/4"
colletts.

May well be all you'd need.

John

"dadiOH" wrote in :

Squanklin wrote:
Yesterday I asked about jig saws - today I'd like some feedback about
routers, please. What to look for, etc. Considering this will be my
first router (and I'm not sure all the ways I'll use it), will I be
served ok with a moderately priced one for a couple of years until I
really know what I want? Then, I would go for the better, more
expensive models.

Most any router from Porter Cable, Bosch, Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt
would serve you well.

Definitely one that has a 1/2" collet, 1/4" too is nice. Probably 1
1/2 - 2 HP since you want a moderate price. That HP is entirely
adequate for just about any non-table task.

Your real decision will be fixed base vs plunge. If I were buying a
first router AND if I intended to buy an additional one later I'd get a
fixed base. Mine was and I used it exclusively for 20 years before
getting a plunge router. The advantages of fixed base routers are that
they are generally smaller/lighter and have a lower center of gravity.
You can even plunge with them if you know how and are careful.


You can get 1.5 HP models with BOTH fixed and plunge bases;PC 690 series is
one that comes to mind.

IIRC,there was a router eval article in Wood magazine recently.
Visit your local library and check the back issues of woodworking mags,most
of them do tool evals.
--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Someday someone will actually say what they intend on using the tool for.
Then they might just get an intelligent answer.

You need a rather different router for doing a few roundovers than for
making raised panels for your new kitchen.

"toller" wrote in
:

Someday someone will actually say what they intend on using the tool
for. Then they might just get an intelligent answer.

You need a rather different router for doing a few roundovers than for
making raised panels for your new kitchen.




Yes,trim routers are much lighter,and now they are very inexpensive.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Squanklin wrote:
Yesterday I asked about jig saws - today I'd like some feedback about
routers, please. What to look for, etc. Considering this will be my
first router (and I'm not sure all the ways I'll use it), will I be
served ok with a moderately priced one for a couple of years until I
really know what I want? Then, I would go for the better, more
expensive models.

Thanks for your continued help!
Squanklin

D-Lync and Lynksys are both excellent routers

On 17 Dec 2004 05:27:09 -0800, "Squanklin" wrote
(with possible editing):

Yesterday I asked about jig saws - today I'd like some feedback about
routers, please. What to look for, etc. Considering this will be my
first router (and I'm not sure all the ways I'll use it), will I be
served ok with a moderately priced one for a couple of years until I
really know what I want? Then, I would go for the better, more
expensive models.

Thanks for your continued help!
Squanklin

Since you don't specify what you're going to use this for, it makes it
a bit difficult to answer. That said, probably the best all-around
machine that meets your limited criteria (first router) is the Porter
Cable 690 series. You can get a plain or plunge base (or both), and
is a good medium duty router.
--

Larry
Email to rapp at lmr dot com

I've been living in an apartment complex, and the gal next door never stops
talking. I mean, like never. Well, the one day we got an earthquaqe tremor,
and she shut up and started to look around like she was worried about
something.

Well, I picked up on the idea, and so I'm looking for a home use jiggler. I
want something that I can plug in and leave it in the kitchen (cause the
noise would keep me awake if it was in the bedroom) and it will make the
apartment building jiggle.

That is the only way I can think of to get a good night sleep. I might also
be able to answer the phone now and again, maybe she will pause long enough
to let me use the phone.

I know they used to make jigglers for fat women, they used to use them for
exercise machines, wtih the wide srap that goes behind their butts. I notice
that gals don't talk as much when they are on the fat jiggler. But the gal
is next door, so I have to jiggle the entire building.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com

I was trying to start the car the other day. Well, it gives me trouble all
the time. I've gotten good at the routine, I just jump out and spray some
ether, and then come back into the car and it starts right up.

I even got good enough, that I don't have to open the hood, any more. I just
give it about a ten second blast in the general direction of the hood, and
the engine starts right up. saves me getting greasy opening the hood.

So t his time, the lady next door comes out and she lights a cigarette right
in front of my car. I had no idea that ether would go so far! Well, sure
enough, there is this big explosion. It blew the groceries off the top of my
car, and broke windows for two blocks in any direction. And so there she is
standing there, it blew her shirt and coat right off, and burned the hair
off her head. So, now I need hair restorer. Not for me, but for the gal next
door who won't stop talking. I think she looks good bald, but she just kept
hitting me with her purse and screeching at me. Lucky for me, the cop came
by and pulled her off of me. I sure get tired of laying on the ground and
trying to fend off purse blows. She's got a purse that looks big enough to
hold a bowling ball.

What is a good brand of hair restorer? Preferably in a flat package I can
slip under her door. She doesn't like me very much any more. Maybe I can
spray some hair restorer on my windshield to hide all the cracks it got
after the explosion.

Can I get one from Ronco the same way I got a power ball rotator?

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com

Nikola Tesla did that.

Tap on the building, and get the exact time it takes for the sound to go
through the building and return as an echo.
With that timing, you can create such a device as you are seeking. Calculate
the resonant frequency with the timing you got, and then put a steel arm on
the shaft of a motor that will cause a vibration equivalent to the resonant
frequency of the building. Mount the motor solidly to part of the structure
support, so that the vibrations will not be damped by soft connections to
the structure. You may need to do some speed control on the motor to
fine-tune it to the right frequency of vibration. If it's a large building,
hide it in a water fountain case secured well to the wall or floor.

Start it up, let it run for a while. If you've got the timing right, a
vibration will be created as the previous one returns to its source, so
you'll be adding a little to the pulse each time.

Or you could give the girl an anonymous present.
http://www.hitachi-magic-wand.com/
To encourage more localized vibrations.

Stormin Mormon wrote in message
...
I've been living in an apartment complex, and the gal next door never
stops
talking. I mean, like never. Well, the one day we got an earthquaqe
tremor,
and she shut up and started to look around like she was worried about
something.

Well, I picked up on the idea, and so I'm looking for a home use jiggler.
I
want something that I can plug in and leave it in the kitchen (cause the
noise would keep me awake if it was in the bedroom) and it will make the
apartment building jiggle.

That is the only way I can think of to get a good night sleep. I might
also
be able to answer the phone now and again, maybe she will pause long
enough
to let me use the phone.

I know they used to make jigglers for fat women, they used to use them for
exercise machines, wtih the wide srap that goes behind their butts. I
notice
that gals don't talk as much when they are on the fat jiggler. But the gal
is next door, so I have to jiggle the entire building.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com

On 17 Dec 2004 05:27:09 -0800, "Squanklin"
wrote:

Yesterday I asked about jig saws - today I'd like some feedback about
routers, please. What to look for, etc. Considering this will be my
first router (and I'm not sure all the ways I'll use it), will I be
served ok with a moderately priced one for a couple of years until I
really know what I want? Then, I would go for the better, more
expensive models.

Thanks for your continued help!
Squanklin

I think you should wait.

If you're asking for beginner advice I'm guessing you don't need a
router yet, unless you're planning to jump right into building custom
furniture. You need a good drill, a circular saw and a bunch of hand
tools for home handyman work.

I've made it my policy to buy tools when I have a need for them. It's
much more likely you'll get the tool that has the features you need
when you have an actual project in mind.

If you find yourself getting excited in the local home center, rest
assured that there are plenty of other things to pick up first. I
guarantee you'll need a toilet auger, a set of work lights, safety
glasses, a speed square, a shop vac, a pry bar, saw horses, several
sets of drill bits and even some power tools (a sawzall, for instance)
before you need a router. Plus a hundred other items.

Good luck.

Greg Guarino