Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was
making raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to be
painted that I would use 3/4 MDF.

Well, first of all a shopvac isn't a very good dust collection system
for MDF. Second, the laundry washing liquid Tide isn't really a good
dust shield with a shop vac (I cut the bottom open, screwed it to the
router base which is a piece of junk anyway and then cut the lid to fit
my shop vac hose). It worked till the shop vac filter got clogged.

And finally, using the CMT cabinet bits, I burned my router up. When I
smelled something burning, I thought it was the shopvac. No, it was the
router. Made it through one more cut, then wammo.. Smoke.

My question is what should I replace it with? Besides a decent dust
collector. I'm looking at this Triton 3 1/4 horsepower at Woodcraft.
Dewalt has a 3 horsepower as well. I love the Porter Cable though. It
was a snap to change bases...

Please flood me with suggestions.. I need to replace it as early as
tomorrow. I need to finish a project before Saturday.

In article ,
Astriapo wrote:

Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was
making raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to be
painted that I would use 3/4 MDF.

Well, first of all a shopvac isn't a very good dust collection system
for MDF. Second, the laundry washing liquid Tide isn't really a good
dust shield with a shop vac (I cut the bottom open, screwed it to the
router base which is a piece of junk anyway and then cut the lid to fit
my shop vac hose). It worked till the shop vac filter got clogged.

And finally, using the CMT cabinet bits, I burned my router up. When I
smelled something burning, I thought it was the shopvac. No, it was the
router. Made it through one more cut, then wammo.. Smoke.

My question is what should I replace it with? Besides a decent dust
collector. I'm looking at this Triton 3 1/4 horsepower at Woodcraft.
Dewalt has a 3 horsepower as well. I love the Porter Cable though. It
was a snap to change bases...

Please flood me with suggestions.. I need to replace it as early as
tomorrow. I need to finish a project before Saturday.

I'm very happy with my Milwaukees.... after years and years of PC
production routers.
If you're thinking a smaller router, get the VS version. 5616.

Astriapo wrote:

Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was
making raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to be
painted that I would use 3/4 MDF.

Well, first of all a shopvac isn't a very good dust collection system
for MDF. Second, the laundry washing liquid Tide isn't really a good
dust shield with a shop vac (I cut the bottom open, screwed it to the
router base which is a piece of junk anyway and then cut the lid to fit
my shop vac hose). It worked till the shop vac filter got clogged.

And finally, using the CMT cabinet bits, I burned my router up. When I
smelled something burning, I thought it was the shopvac. No, it was the
router. Made it through one more cut, then wammo.. Smoke.

My question is what should I replace it with? Besides a decent dust
collector. I'm looking at this Triton 3 1/4 horsepower at Woodcraft.
Dewalt has a 3 horsepower as well. I love the Porter Cable though. It
was a snap to change bases...

Please flood me with suggestions.. I need to replace it as early as
tomorrow. I need to finish a project before Saturday.
I love mine. If your going to pitch yours I'll paypal you the postage for
all the parts

"Astriapo" wrote in message
...
Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was making
raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to be painted
that I would use 3/4 MDF.

Well, first of all a shopvac isn't a very good dust collection system for
MDF. Second, the laundry washing liquid Tide isn't really a good dust
shield with a shop vac (I cut the bottom open, screwed it to the router
base which is a piece of junk anyway and then cut the lid to fit my shop
vac hose). It worked till the shop vac filter got clogged.

And finally, using the CMT cabinet bits, I burned my router up. When I
smelled something burning, I thought it was the shopvac. No, it was the
router. Made it through one more cut, then wammo.. Smoke.

My question is what should I replace it with? Besides a decent dust
collector. I'm looking at this Triton 3 1/4 horsepower at Woodcraft.
Dewalt has a 3 horsepower as well. I love the Porter Cable though. It
was a snap to change bases...

Please flood me with suggestions.. I need to replace it as early as
tomorrow. I need to finish a project before Saturday.


Raised panels takes allot of HP! Be careful what you replace the PC with, it
may not be up to the task either.
I would be tempted to repair the 894, or replace it with something similar,
and keep it for hand held use. Then buy something a bit more substantial for
serious router work. I have a Porter Cable 7539 that is a work horse! 3-1/2
raised panel bits barely slow it down.
http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=2822
Then for you other problem check out Harbor Freight and their "2 HP" dust
collector when it is on sale for $159.
Greg

Thanks for the input. I was wondering if it would be cost effective to
get it repaired. I loved being able to swap the motors quickly. My
biggest problem is I need to be able to take tools on the go, since I
work for a builder and I use just about everything. I've just started
getting into the "home workshop" thing, and this was my first real
attempt and making raised panel doors.

I was, I must say, intimidated by that raised panel bit, anyway. That
sucker must be 3" across. I also found that to get the profile I needed
it had to be below the surface. So I added a 1/4 piece of luan and
recessed the bit a bit.

Ugg! Dust is everywhere... it looks like MDF EXPLODED! heh... And of
course, the wife is ****ed... heh...


Raised panels takes allot of HP! Be careful what you replace the PC with, it
may not be up to the task either.
I would be tempted to repair the 894, or replace it with something similar,
and keep it for hand held use. Then buy something a bit more substantial for
serious router work. I have a Porter Cable 7539 that is a work horse! 3-1/2
raised panel bits barely slow it down.
http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=2822
Then for you other problem check out Harbor Freight and their "2 HP" dust
collector when it is on sale for $159.
Greg

"Astriapo" writes:

Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was making
raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to be painted
that I would use 3/4 MDF.

snip

You sent a boy to do a man's job.

You got what you deserve.

Get a P-C 7518, mount it in a table, set the speed switch to match the
max RPM for the bit, and you are good to go.

Lew

Thanks for the input. I was wondering if it would be cost effective to
get it repaired.

Didn't you say its 6 months old? PC warranty good for 1 or 2 years?

Astriapo wrote:
Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was
making raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to be
painted that I would use 3/4 MDF.

If I ever make raised panel stuff I'm seriously considering using a bit
like this, where the bit is only 1" dia instead of 3":

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...168,46178&ap=1

I'm also surprised you had issues with MDF and shopvacs. I made a fence
with a port for the shopvac at the back, and as long as I have an
opening in the fence it pretty much sucks everything through.

If the two halves of the fence are shut then its useless of course...

Chris

Better yet, get the 3 1/2hp Milwaukee that competes with the 7518. I have
the 7518 and it is a good router, but th electronic speed control sucks.
When you hit that MDF with a raised panel bit, the 7518 slows down and
sometimes stalls until the speed control takes over. I saw the Milwaukee
demoed at a WW show side by side with the 7518. The Milwaukee never
hiccupped once like the 7518. In fact, it was designed to compete with the
7518 and be superior. It is. The price is nearly identical.

I will sell you my 7518 for a good price so I can buy a Milwaukee. It's
three years old and seen light duty in my router table - probably 50 raised
panel doors (the heavy lifting) and a bunch of light duty stuff like ogee
edges, etc....

Bob


"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
ink.net...
"Astriapo" writes:

Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was making
raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to be painted
that I would use 3/4 MDF.

snip

You sent a boy to do a man's job.

You got what you deserve.

Get a P-C 7518, mount it in a table, set the speed switch to match the max
RPM for the bit, and you are good to go.

Lew

Jack wrote:
Thanks for the input. I was wondering if it would be cost effective to
get it repaired.


Didn't you say its 6 months old? PC warranty good for 1 or 2 years?



I thought about that, but wasn't sure if tool neglect would count
against me. I did burn it up using a bit to big for it.. I dunno...

I will check though..

Chris Friesen wrote:

Astriapo wrote:

Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was
making raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to
be painted that I would use 3/4 MDF.


If I ever make raised panel stuff I'm seriously considering using a bit
like this, where the bit is only 1" dia instead of 3":

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...168,46178&ap=1

I'm also surprised you had issues with MDF and shopvacs. I made a fence
with a port for the shopvac at the back, and as long as I have an
opening in the fence it pretty much sucks everything through.

If the two halves of the fence are shut then its useless of course...

Chris


I have a raised panel bit that is a vertical as well, but the thing is,
I don't have a router table with a guard or fence. The table I have
came from some sidewalk sale in the neighborhood. It didn't even have
instructions. So I didn't have anything to slide the panels against. I
guess I could have screwed something together, but clamping to this
thing isn't that easy. Its an old Craftsman metal router table. As for
the dust collection, I captured some of the dust, but not all.. No not
even 20%. My make shift dust shoot, worked to keep the wood being
routed clean, but everything else got hammered. I'm talking dust
through out the basement. Also, the shop vac is only a nine gallon.

Chris Friesen wrote:

If I ever make raised panel stuff I'm seriously considering using a
bit like this, where the bit is only 1" dia instead of 3":

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...,46168,46178&a
p=1


Works very well. You do have some support issues with the panel - you need
an extra tall fence. I've used mine in a DW621.

Astriapo wrote:

Chris Friesen wrote:

Astriapo wrote:

Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was
making raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to
be painted that I would use 3/4 MDF.


If I ever make raised panel stuff I'm seriously considering using a
bit like this, where the bit is only 1" dia instead of 3":

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...1,46168,46178&
ap=1

I'm also surprised you had issues with MDF and shopvacs. I made a
fence with a port for the shopvac at the back, and as long as I have
an opening in the fence it pretty much sucks everything through.

If the two halves of the fence are shut then its useless of course...

Chris


I have a raised panel bit that is a vertical as well,

You have a 3" Diameter vertical raised panel bit?? The whole point of the
vertical bits is to Reduce the diameter so that raised panel bits can be
used in lower powered routers.

but the thing
is, I don't have a router table with a guard or fence. The table I
have came from some sidewalk sale in the neighborhood. It didn't even
have instructions. So I didn't have anything to slide the panels
against.

You ran a panel FREEHAND past a raised panel bit in a table mounted
router?! Probably lucky the only thing that happened was burning up the
router!

I guess I could have screwed something together, but
clamping to this thing isn't that easy. Its an old Craftsman metal
router table. As for the dust collection, I captured some of the
dust, but not all.. No not even 20%. My make shift dust shoot, worked
to keep the wood being routed clean, but everything else got hammered.
I'm talking dust through out the basement. Also, the shop vac is
only a nine gallon.

I have a raised panel bit that is a vertical as well,


You have a 3" Diameter vertical raised panel bit?? The whole point of the
vertical bits is to Reduce the diameter so that raised panel bits can be
used in lower powered routers.


No it is smaller, I just don't have a fence.

but the thing
is, I don't have a router table with a guard or fence. The table I
have came from some sidewalk sale in the neighborhood. It didn't even
have instructions. So I didn't have anything to slide the panels
against.

You ran a panel FREEHAND past a raised panel bit in a table mounted
router?! Probably lucky the only thing that happened was burning up the
router!


Yes. My first test piece flew across the room, after getting the feel of
the dynamics I held tight and let it ride the barring on the bit. I
know... STUPID... believe me I know...

Get a shaper and learn how to use it! If you would take apart your router
and look at the bearings and electrical components it should become clear
that a router was not designed to swing big bits for panel raising. This is
done much quicker, safer and with far less stress on the shaper. Many people
are under the mistaken belief that a router table can take the place of a
shaper. I'd argue a router table is a mini shaper, basically for use with
work too small for a shaper.


"Astriapo" wrote in message
...
Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was making
raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to be painted
that I would use 3/4 MDF.

Well, first of all a shopvac isn't a very good dust collection system for
MDF. Second, the laundry washing liquid Tide isn't really a good dust
shield with a shop vac (I cut the bottom open, screwed it to the router
base which is a piece of junk anyway and then cut the lid to fit my shop
vac hose). It worked till the shop vac filter got clogged.

And finally, using the CMT cabinet bits, I burned my router up. When I
smelled something burning, I thought it was the shopvac. No, it was the
router. Made it through one more cut, then wammo.. Smoke.

My question is what should I replace it with? Besides a decent dust
collector. I'm looking at this Triton 3 1/4 horsepower at Woodcraft.
Dewalt has a 3 horsepower as well. I love the Porter Cable though. It
was a snap to change bases...

Please flood me with suggestions.. I need to replace it as early as
tomorrow. I need to finish a project before Saturday.

Lobby Dosser wrote:

Works very well. You do have some support issues with the panel - you need
an extra tall fence. I've used mine in a DW621.

I once saw an article about a router table where the router was held
horizontally above the workpiece. Might work well for something like this.

Chris

I'm looking for a router, just visited Milwaukee's website. For the next couple of months if you buy a router they give you a free handheld/palm orbital sander. Download the coupon at Milwaukee's website.

Astriapo wrote:


I have a raised panel bit that is a vertical as well,


You have a 3" Diameter vertical raised panel bit?? The whole point of
the vertical bits is to Reduce the diameter so that raised panel bits
can be used in lower powered routers.


No it is smaller, I just don't have a fence.

but the thing
is, I don't have a router table with a guard or fence. The table I
have came from some sidewalk sale in the neighborhood. It didn't
even have instructions. So I didn't have anything to slide the
panels against.

You ran a panel FREEHAND past a raised panel bit in a table mounted
router?! Probably lucky the only thing that happened was burning up
the router!


Yes. My first test piece flew across the room, after getting the feel
of the dynamics I held tight and let it ride the barring on the bit.

Aiiiiiiiieeeeeee!!!

I know... STUPID... believe me I know...

Join two bits of straight wood at 90 degreesto make a fence. Clamp to the
table. Pull one end slowly into the moving bit. You now have a fence with
an inset for the bit. DO NOT run the panel between the fence and the bit!

Chris Friesen wrote:

Lobby Dosser wrote:

Works very well. You do have some support issues with the panel - you
need an extra tall fence. I've used mine in a DW621.

I once saw an article about a router table where the router was held
horizontally above the workpiece. Might work well for something like
this.

Chris


Above the workpiece is bad, as you have Trapped the workpiece between the
table and the bit. You can do it horizontaly with the bit inset in the
surface of the table.

joe2 wrote:

bob Wrote:

Better yet, get the 3 1/2hp Milwaukee that competes with the 7518. ...


I'm looking for a router, just visited Milwaukee's website. For the
next couple of months if you buy a router they give you a free
handheld/palm orbital sander. Download the coupon at Milwaukee's
website.



I looked in several places... I went to Woodcraft and they sold their
last one in September and said it was a deleted item... I ended up
getting the PC 7518. I needed a router to finish a project by Saturday.

I'm under the wire on this one... Only two panels left to rout. and
then shelves.. and I am done....

You? Horsepower I got the Milwaukee 5616 pretty happy with it like it using
it both hand and table.

I like the Triton myself but not knowing I'd search for the most powerful
******* I could find with the best Warranty!



"Astriapo" wrote in message
...
Well tonight I did it. Burned that sucker up. Funny, it was only 6
months old. It was the Porter Cable 894PK 2 1/4 Horsepower. I was
making raised panels for six doors. I figured since it was going to be
painted that I would use 3/4 MDF.

Well, first of all a shopvac isn't a very good dust collection system
for MDF. Second, the laundry washing liquid Tide isn't really a good
dust shield with a shop vac (I cut the bottom open, screwed it to the
router base which is a piece of junk anyway and then cut the lid to fit
my shop vac hose). It worked till the shop vac filter got clogged.

And finally, using the CMT cabinet bits, I burned my router up. When I
smelled something burning, I thought it was the shopvac. No, it was the
router. Made it through one more cut, then wammo.. Smoke.

My question is what should I replace it with? Besides a decent dust
collector. I'm looking at this Triton 3 1/4 horsepower at Woodcraft.
Dewalt has a 3 horsepower as well. I love the Porter Cable though. It
was a snap to change bases...

Please flood me with suggestions.. I need to replace it as early as
tomorrow. I need to finish a project before Saturday.

Astriapo wrote:
Jack wrote:

Thanks for the input. I was wondering if it would be cost effective
to get it repaired.



Didn't you say its 6 months old? PC warranty good for 1 or 2 years?


I thought about that, but wasn't sure if tool neglect would count
against me. I did burn it up using a bit to big for it.. I dunno...

I will check though..



UPDATE:

I wasn't even questioned about the router. The repair center took it to
be repaired. It was only 5 months old. They also swapped the plunge
router base for a new one because the area where you screw the guide in
was chipped, and couldn't hold a screw. The guy told me that even if I
tighted the screw to much it shouldn't have done that.


I also baught the PC 7518 because I couldn't wait for 2 weeks to get my
other router back. My old base didn't work at all for this thing, and
besides this sucker is heavy. heh. Here is what I did:

I modified my work mate bench to allow the router to set between its
clamps. I replaced the router base with an acrylic one from Woodcraft
that I had purchased a few weeks earlir, because I am going to build a
router table. Then I took a peice of 3/8 MDO and cut a matching hole
the size of the base plate. I screwed the plywood to the base, dropped
the router in and attached it with 1 inch screws. Added the panel bit.
(I did thet before I dropped it in, though.) I took two small
pieces of poplar that was laying around and screwed that down as a
fence. I took a 24 inch floor DC attachment and screwed that on the
fence. I purchased a DC wedseday night as well. Hooked that up.

All in all it took about 1.5 hours to make this thing and 5 minutes to
do what I needed to do, rout 2 raised panels. I nocked down maybe 70%
of the dust, and the reason for the other 30% was because the Work-mate
has an open bottom.

Six raised panel doors are now ready to hang, and all for 24 hours of
frustration and 650.00 in the whole, with just the slightest touch of
insanity and a whole buch of stupidity. (not to mention 8 hours of my
normal job, and a trip to the air-port at 12:30 am, only to be in bed at
2 am and to wake at 4 am... UGG)

All to keep the client happy on Saturday morning, when I install this
sucker.

Uggg. Did I mention my daughter in law just had a baby girl yesterday
(wed) and my wife had minor surgery today? I really need to tell the
wife to stay away from mines.

Oh well...


-Astria