Hi i do a lot of odd jobs for people and have been considering
upgrading my jigsaw but someone mentioned to me a router would be
better.
I always thought a router was just for making patterns and carvings of
wood not for cutting through wood, so what exactly can a router do? i
usaully spend approx £65 on a jigsaw what router would you get? is
there any guides on the net to see what a router can do? and what
accesories would i need.

i do a lot of kitchen tops, loft flooring, self build sheds, doors etc


steve

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 16:35:27 +0000, SJ wrote:

Hi i do a lot of odd jobs for people and have been considering
upgrading my jigsaw but someone mentioned to me a router would be
better.
I always thought a router was just for making patterns and carvings of
wood not for cutting through wood, so what exactly can a router do? i
usaully spend approx £65 on a jigsaw what router would you get? is
there any guides on the net to see what a router can do? and what
accesories would i need.

i do a lot of kitchen tops, loft flooring, self build sheds, doors etc


steve

You could start by looking at Trend Machinery's web site. They have a
lot of downloadable guides about routing and what can be done.

Certainly for trimming worktops and edges of material a router is
ideal. It is also useful for hinge rebating, mortises for locks etc.

Another example is neatening after having used a jigsaw.

Applications are more limited by imagination than anything else; but
you can't really say that a router is a one for one alternative to a
jigsaw.

For the kind of applications that you describe, you really need a 1/2"
rather than a 1/4" router because of the power and size of machine.
The bad news is that you won't buy anything worth having in the
sub-£100 price range - the DIY store own brands, by experience of
people here are largely underpowered junk.
A good value start is the Freud 2000, but you are looking at around
£160 for that.




..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

Andy Hall wrote:

A good value start is the Freud 2000, but you are looking at around
£160 for that.

And a very nice router it is too. Hell of a kick compared to my little
1/4" 1kW jobbie.

--
Grunff

"Andy Hall" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 16:35:27 +0000, SJ wrote:

Hi i do a lot of odd jobs for people and have been considering
upgrading my jigsaw but someone mentioned to me a router would be
better.
I always thought a router was just for making patterns and carvings of
wood not for cutting through wood, so what exactly can a router do? i
usaully spend approx £65 on a jigsaw what router would you get? is
there any guides on the net to see what a router can do? and what
accesories would i need.

i do a lot of kitchen tops, loft flooring, self build sheds, doors etc


steve

You could start by looking at Trend Machinery's web site. They have a
lot of downloadable guides about routing and what can be done.

Certainly for trimming worktops and edges of material a router is
ideal. It is also useful for hinge rebating, mortises for locks etc.

Another example is neatening after having used a jigsaw.

Applications are more limited by imagination than anything else; but
you can't really say that a router is a one for one alternative to a
jigsaw.

For the kind of applications that you describe, you really need a 1/2"
rather than a 1/4" router because of the power and size of machine.
The bad news is that you won't buy anything worth having in the
sub-£100 price range - the DIY store own brands, by experience of
people here are largely underpowered junk.
A good value start is the Freud 2000, but you are looking at around
£160 for that.



My local power tool shop is selling a Router table including a 1/2" Ryobi
Router for £98

The table is cast Al and much better built the B&Q Performance Pro Router
table that is on sale for same price in B&Q.

Anybody have any opinions on Ryobi ... never owned any Ryobi kit.

Rick

On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 21:46:42 +0000 (UTC), in uk.d-i-y "Rick Hughes"
strung together this:

My local power tool shop is selling a Router table including a 1/2" Ryobi
Router for £98

Are you sure that's not 1/4"?

The table is cast Al and much better built the B&Q Performance Pro Router
table that is on sale for same price in B&Q.

Anybody have any opinions on Ryobi ... never owned any Ryobi kit.

I've got one of those. The table doesn't inspire total confidence but
it is reasonable quality, given the price. The router seems sturdy
enough. I've done a bit of trimming with it, nothing too serious yet!
--

SJW
A.C.S. Ltd.

"Lurch" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 21:46:42 +0000 (UTC), in uk.d-i-y "Rick Hughes"
strung together this:

My local power tool shop is selling a Router table including a 1/2" Ryobi
Router for £98

Are you sure that's not 1/4"?


I was wrong ... it's 1/4" or 8mm ..... my Trend is 8mm, and so are all my
cutters so maybe I will look at this again.

Rick A.C.S. Ltd.

On Sun, 21 Mar 2004 22:58:42 +0000 (UTC), in uk.d-i-y "Rick Hughes"
strung together this:


"Lurch" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 21:46:42 +0000 (UTC), in uk.d-i-y "Rick Hughes"
strung together this:

My local power tool shop is selling a Router table including a 1/2" Ryobi
Router for £98

Are you sure that's not 1/4"?


I was wrong ... it's 1/4" or 8mm ..... my Trend is 8mm, and so are all my
cutters so maybe I will look at this again.

That's better, I'd have been well hacked off if there was a Ryobi 1/2"
and table for the same price as my new Ryobi 1/4" and table


Rick A.C.S. Ltd.

No you're not, I'd have remembered employing you!
--

SJW
A.C.S. Ltd.

SJ wrote:
|| Hi i do a lot of odd jobs for people and have been considering
|| upgrading my jigsaw but someone mentioned to me a router would be
|| better.
|| I always thought a router was just for making patterns and carvings
|| of wood not for cutting through wood, so what exactly can a router
|| do? i usaully spend approx £65 on a jigsaw what router would you
|| get? is there any guides on the net to see what a router can do? and
|| what accesories would i need.
||
|| i do a lot of kitchen tops, loft flooring, self build sheds, doors
|| etc
||
||
|| steve

A Router in respect to a Jigsaw can do numerous jobs that a Jigsaw can't
i.e cut channels/bore holes/chamfer edges/fancy edging/ the list is endless,
it can cut straight edges but this normally takes 2 to three cut's depending
on thickness of wood, cuts a lot straighter than a Jig.

Two models here the higher the wattage the better, also half inch chuck

JCB are decent quality tools.
http://tinyurl.com/23o27

--
Grouch

If things get any worse, I'll have to ask you to stop helping me.

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:37:14 -0000, "Grouch"
wrote:


A Router in respect to a Jigsaw can do numerous jobs that a Jigsaw can't
i.e cut channels/bore holes/chamfer edges/fancy edging/ the list is endless,
it can cut straight edges but this normally takes 2 to three cut's depending
on thickness of wood, cuts a lot straighter than a Jig.

Two models here the higher the wattage the better, also half inch chuck

JCB are decent quality tools.
http://tinyurl.com/23o27


Out of the two that you list one is £49 the other is £59 what would
you go for?

SJ wrote:
|| On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:37:14 -0000, "Grouch"
|| wrote:
||
||
||| A Router in respect to a Jigsaw can do numerous jobs that a Jigsaw
||| can't i.e cut channels/bore holes/chamfer edges/fancy edging/ the
||| list is endless, it can cut straight edges but this normally takes
||| 2 to three cut's depending on thickness of wood, cuts a lot
||| straighter than a Jig.
|||
||| Two models here the higher the wattage the better, also half inch
||| chuck
|||
||| JCB are decent quality tools.
||| http://tinyurl.com/23o27
||
||
|| Out of the two that you list one is £49 the other is £59 what would
|| you go for?

Well the problem there is should you go for the £49 jobbie which is
1500watts and the other is £59 1200Watts. I think the prices have been mixed
up, who knows, best to go to nearest Argos and find out.

1500Watts is what I would go for.

--
Grouch

If things get any worse, I'll have to ask you to stop helping me.

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 18:24:15 +0000, SJ wrote:

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:37:14 -0000, "Grouch"
wrote:


A Router in respect to a Jigsaw can do numerous jobs that a Jigsaw can't
i.e cut channels/bore holes/chamfer edges/fancy edging/ the list is endless,
it can cut straight edges but this normally takes 2 to three cut's depending
on thickness of wood, cuts a lot straighter than a Jig.

Two models here the higher the wattage the better, also half inch chuck

JCB are decent quality tools.
http://tinyurl.com/23o27


Out of the two that you list one is £49 the other is £59 what would
you go for?

Neither.

You won't get good results out of a router in this price range if you
are planning regular use.


..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

Andy Hall wrote:
|| On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 18:24:15 ?, SJ wrote:
||
||| On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:37:14 -0000, "Grouch"
||| wrote:
|||
|||
|||| A Router in respect to a Jigsaw can do numerous jobs that a Jigsaw
|||| can't i.e cut channels/bore holes/chamfer edges/fancy edging/ the
|||| list is endless, it can cut straight edges but this normally takes
|||| 2 to three cut's depending on thickness of wood, cuts a lot
|||| straighter than a Jig.
||||
|||| Two models here the higher the wattage the better, also half inch
|||| chuck
||||
|||| JCB are decent quality tools.
|||| http://tinyurl.com/23o27
|||
|||
||| Out of the two that you list one is £49 the other is £59 what would
||| you go for?
||
|| Neither.
||
|| You won't get good results out of a router in this price range if you
|| are planning regular use.
||
||
|| .andy
||
|| To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

Why.? JCB is not a own brand store spin off. Plus he's not going into Mass
production. I have a B/D which has been taken a lot of punishment the 850W,
had it for two years now and it's still working.
Power tools will last for ages provided the operater does not force it
through the Job.
I also have Bosch 1500w. The one,s your on about are more for Industry work
rather than the average DIYer.

--
Grouch

If things get any worse, I'll have to ask you to stop helping me.

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 19:00:28 -0000, "Grouch"
wrote:

I also have Bosch 1500w. The one,s your on about are more for Industry work
rather than the average DIYer.
I would be using it roughly 3 times a week probably more as i get used
to it i think, at the moment i use a jigsaw a lot so going by what
people have said the router will be a jigsaw replacement, would it be
better to spend say £50 till i got used to a router or jump in with a
"proper £££" one,
as i said i have a diy business so some weeks it might get used once
some weeks then could be out every day


steve

So if im correct im looking at a 1500w motor and half inch collet at
the moment and prices from £59 (jcb) upto £160 (Freud 2000) what about
the bits to go in the end what would be a good selection to have.
(kitchen worktops, letter boxs, sheds, doors etc)


thanks


steve

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:37:14 -0000, "Grouch" wrote:
SJ wrote:
|| Hi i do a lot of odd jobs for people and have been considering
|| upgrading my jigsaw but someone mentioned to me a router would be
|| better.
|| I always thought a router was just for making patterns and carvings
|| of wood not for cutting through wood, so what exactly can a router
|| do? i usaully spend approx £65 on a jigsaw what router would you
|| get? is there any guides on the net to see what a router can do? and
|| what accesories would i need.
||
|| i do a lot of kitchen tops, loft flooring, self build sheds, doors
|| etc
||
||
|| steve

A Router in respect to a Jigsaw can do numerous jobs that a Jigsaw can't
i.e cut channels/bore holes/chamfer edges/fancy edging/ the list is endless,
it can cut straight edges but this normally takes 2 to three cut's depending
on thickness of wood, cuts a lot straighter than a Jig.

Two models here the higher the wattage the better, also half inch chuck

JCB are decent quality tools.
http://tinyurl.com/23o27

--
Grouch

If things get any worse, I'll have to ask you to stop helping me.

On the other tand I would not want to cut a wavey line in some thin sheets of 8x4 using my big heavy router ........

Rick

SJ wrote:

Hi i do a lot of odd jobs for people and have been considering
upgrading my jigsaw but someone mentioned to me a router would be
better.
I always thought a router was just for making patterns and carvings of
wood not for cutting through wood, so what exactly can a router do? i
usaully spend approx £65 on a jigsaw what router would you get? is
there any guides on the net to see what a router can do? and what
accesories would i need.

i do a lot of kitchen tops, loft flooring, self build sheds, doors etc

Well last weekend I needed to make two 2m lengths of 18mm gravel board
2cm narrower. I screwed one to the other so that it was 2cm back, loaded
a bearing guided trimmer in my £20 1100W Power Devil Router and working
in sections had them down and straight quite easily. I did have to stop
after the first one and give the cutter a tickle to sharpen it but it
went well if you took it steady and didn't force the issue.

If you are planning on doing worktops then you will need a decent sized
and powered 1/2" model and a template. A trimming cutter and a straight
edge will size a door for you very nicely, a straight cutter and
template will do your lock mortices and hinges too. A 1/2" jobbie in a
table will make you T&G for your flooring too, though you will likely
need a fairly robust one to do more than a few tens of meters worth.

Peter
--
Add my middle initial to email me. It has become attached to a country

One difference is that a jigsaw can be used one-handed. If you work on your
own, that can be important. From that point of view a trimmer (basically a
mini router) might be better.