I just bought a 3/8" Lexan router plate which has been tapped for leveling
screws around the edges but is otherwise untouched. I am intending to hang
a Milwaukee 5625 from it, eventually using it to raise panels for cabinets
around the house & shop.

I am thinking that I should find the center of the plate, drill mounting
holes, put a 1/2" center cutting bit in the collet, mount the Lexan to the
router and plunge through it for the initial hole and then repeat the
process each time I need a bigger bit ... up to and including a ~3"
panel-raising bit.

All the while investing in additional router plates until I have one for
pretty much every diameter of router bit ever made. And changing the
router base nearly as often as I change bits (best argument I've ever seen
for long production runs).

I can see how this plan might be workable if I could just secure
renewable govertnment grants to buy the Lexan, but I doubt if it is the
best way to go with my pre-grant seed money.

Your thoughts?

On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 04:51:28 -0000, "Bill" wrote:

I just bought a 3/8" Lexan router plate which has been tapped for leveling
screws around the edges but is otherwise untouched. I am intending to hang
a Milwaukee 5625 from it, eventually using it to raise panels for cabinets
around the house & shop.

I am thinking that I should find the center of the plate, drill mounting
holes, put a 1/2" center cutting bit in the collet, mount the Lexan to the
router and plunge through it for the initial hole and then repeat the
process each time I need a bigger bit ... up to and including a ~3"
panel-raising bit.

Pretty tough to plunge a bit that has a bearing on the bottom.

All the while investing in additional router plates until I have one for
pretty much every diameter of router bit ever made. And changing the
router base nearly as often as I change bits (best argument I've ever seen
for long production runs).

I can see how this plan might be workable if I could just secure
renewable govertnment grants to buy the Lexan, but I doubt if it is the
best way to go with my pre-grant seed money.

Your thoughts?

For my router table I didn't use a removeable plate, but what I did
might work for you. I put a square 3" hole instead of a round hole.
The corners are rounded as I used the router with a pattern to make
the hole. The nice way that worked out is that the corners get
supported by the base of the router, so you don't need any sort of
rabbet for the insert. So all I have to do is make a 3" square of the
right thickness, knock off the corners, put the appropriate sized hole
in it, and pop it in.

Won't work for out of the table use. You really only need maybe 3
sizes, 1", 2", 3" but having to change the plate would be a PITA. So
the simple solution, buy two more routers


-Leuf

Bill wrote:
I just bought a 3/8" Lexan router plate which has been tapped for
leveling
screws around the edges but is otherwise untouched. I am intending
to hang
a Milwaukee 5625 from it, eventually using it to raise panels for
cabinets
around the house & shop.
snip

Before you get too far down the road, take a look at Rousseau, RM3509
Solid Phenolic Drop-In Base Plate for Router Tables.

Google RM3509.

Lew

On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 06:40:15 +0000, Lew Hodgett wrote:


Before you get too far down the road, take a look at Rousseau, RM3509
Solid Phenolic Drop-In Base Plate for Router Tables.

Google RM3509.

Lew

I have one of the Rousseaus, but it only has a 1/4" thick lip on it and
that Milwaukee is both heavy and expensive. Dropping it on the concrete is
not an attractive option. I took the Rousseau out of my vertical router
table to put it into my horizontal table.

Are you saying that the Rousseau is strong enough to handle the Milwaukee
for the next several years?

If so, for less than $40 I can get back to work.

Bill

"Bill" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 06:40:15 +0000, Lew Hodgett wrote:


Before you get too far down the road, take a look at Rousseau, RM3509
Solid Phenolic Drop-In Base Plate for Router Tables.

Google RM3509.

Lew

I have one of the Rousseaus, but it only has a 1/4" thick lip on it and
that Milwaukee is both heavy and expensive. Dropping it on the concrete is
not an attractive option. I took the Rousseau out of my vertical router
table to put it into my horizontal table.

Are you saying that the Rousseau is strong enough to handle the Milwaukee
for the next several years?

If so, for less than $40 I can get back to work.

Bill

I had a Rousseau plate and I ended up throwing it in the trash. It flexed
under the weight of my PC 7518.

Regarding your idea of having a different plate for every router bit seems
like a big PITA. Also costly.

Have you looked into the Woodpecker aluminum router plate? I have one and
it is a MONSTER. I hang my PC7518 in it 24-7 and no sag to date (since
March 2005). It handles big bits upto 3-9/16".

Here is a link:
http://www.woodpeck.com/aluminsert.html

Here is mine:
http://www.garagewoodworks.com/router_page.htm
--
Stoutman
www.garagewoodworks.com

Bill wrote:
I just bought a 3/8" Lexan router plate which has been tapped for leveling
screws around the edges but is otherwise untouched. I am intending to hang
a Milwaukee 5625 from it, eventually using it to raise panels for cabinets
around the house & shop.

I am thinking that I should find the center of the plate, drill mounting
holes, put a 1/2" center cutting bit in the collet, mount the Lexan to the
router and plunge through it for the initial hole and then repeat the
process each time I need a bigger bit ... up to and including a ~3"
panel-raising bit.

All the while investing in additional router plates until I have one for
pretty much every diameter of router bit ever made. And changing the
router base nearly as often as I change bits (best argument I've ever seen
for long production runs).

I can see how this plan might be workable if I could just secure
renewable govertnment grants to buy the Lexan, but I doubt if it is the
best way to go with my pre-grant seed money.


Here is a sweet solution:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...,43053&p=50264

Very likely you can get by with just 2 or 3 plates. Most of the time
it won't matter if the hole is somewhat lareger than the bit.
--
Often wrong, never in doubt.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore, Maryland -

"Bill" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 3/8" Lexan router plate which has been tapped for leveling
screws around the edges but is otherwise untouched. I am intending to hang
a Milwaukee 5625 from it, eventually using it to raise panels for cabinets
around the house & shop.

I am thinking that I should find the center of the plate, drill mounting
holes, put a 1/2" center cutting bit in the collet, mount the Lexan to the
router and plunge through it for the initial hole and then repeat the
process each time I need a bigger bit ... up to and including a ~3"
panel-raising bit.

All the while investing in additional router plates until I have one for
pretty much every diameter of router bit ever made. And changing the
router base nearly as often as I change bits (best argument I've ever seen
for long production runs).

I can see how this plan might be workable if I could just secure
renewable govertnment grants to buy the Lexan, but I doubt if it is the
best way to go with my pre-grant seed money.

Your thoughts?

For 15+ years I used a router table with a single sized hole in it. I had
no desire for multiple sized holes. Now that I spin raised panel bits I now
have 2 different sized holes that I use.
Why bother with so many different sized holes?

On Nov 3, 3:03 am, "Bill" wrote:
[snip]
If so, for less than $40 I can get back to work.

Find a local fabricator of Corian or other ACRYLIC solid surface
materials. Ask for a vanity-bowl cut-out. If he charges you for it,
he's a dick... but 10 dollars is still okay. If you're anywhere near SW
Ontario, I'll give you some.
The stuff machines like a decent hardwood, and won't sag if you keep
the plate around 12" x 12". You can cut it on your tablesaw with a
carbide blade, you can drill it with HSS forstners. Slow speed.
I have had PC Production routers hanging off that stuff since 1986,
never a problem. I repeat... make sure it is acrylic, like Staron,
Corian, Meganite. If it smells like autobody filler, it is
polyester...don't use it, because it is brittle.
You bought the right router... it's a dream to use.

r

Fri, Nov 3, 2006, 4:51am (EST+5) (Bill) doth query:
SNIP Your thoughts?

I think I'm glad I make my own, out of 1/2" plywood - that comes
from not liking somone else's ideas about what I need, saving money is a
bonus. The hole mine is about 2" - no prob, the router just blows dust
right out.



JOAT
If it can't kill you, it ain't a sport.

Bill wrote:
I just bought a 3/8" Lexan router plate which has been tapped for leveling
screws around the edges but is otherwise untouched. I am intending to hang
a Milwaukee 5625 from it, eventually using it to raise panels for cabinets
around the house & shop.

I am thinking that I should find the center of the plate, drill mounting
holes, put a 1/2" center cutting bit in the collet, mount the Lexan to the
router and plunge through it for the initial hole and then repeat the
process each time I need a bigger bit ... up to and including a ~3"
panel-raising bit.

All the while investing in additional router plates until I have one for
pretty much every diameter of router bit ever made. And changing the
router base nearly as often as I change bits (best argument I've ever seen
for long production runs).

I can see how this plan might be workable if I could just secure
renewable govertnment grants to buy the Lexan, but I doubt if it is the
best way to go with my pre-grant seed money.

Your thoughts?

I use a plate similar to this one. I got a couple of blank discs which I
customized the hole. The red disc snaps out to change. It has worked
well, and has four leveling screws to ensure it is level with the table.

http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/11400

--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

After all is said and done, usually
more is said than done.





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I can see how this plan might be workable if I could just secure
renewable govertnment grants to buy the Lexan, but I doubt if it is the
best way to go with my pre-grant seed money.


I bought a chunk of lexan from a plastic supply house. It was in the
'scrap' bin and there was enough to make 3 ea 12x10 router plates.
Cost was 20$. They are drilled to mount 4 different routers. The
holes have gone large over that past few years and I use a thin sheet
of plexi fastened down to the table for the small bit, small piece of
wood work. You don't need various hole sizes. You need a thin
overlay sheet of something to close up the hole for small work

An extra 5$ got me a bundle of 1" thick x 2x36 strips of polyethelene
for fence/ jigs.

I think this is an almost gloat.

Pete

Bill wrote:

Are you saying that the Rousseau is strong enough to handle the
Milwaukee
for the next several years?

They seem to think they can handle it.

Lew

Bill wrote:
Your thoughts?

If you dedicate a router to each bit, then you can attach the
appropriate plate to the router. ;-)

brian

"Bill" wrote in message
...

I am thinking that I should find the center of the plate, drill mounting
holes, put a 1/2" center cutting bit in the collet, mount the Lexan to the
router and plunge through it for the initial hole and then repeat the
process each time I need a bigger bit ... up to and including a ~3"
panel-raising bit.

All the while investing in additional router plates until I have one for
pretty much every diameter of router bit ever made. And changing the
router base nearly as often as I change bits (best argument I've ever seen
for long production runs).


Just two plates covers my needs. One with a big hole for the larger bits,
and one with maybe a 1" hole for everything else.
Greg

That's the reason that they sell router plates with removable inserts.
Adjust hole size rather than switching plates.

"Bill" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 3/8" Lexan router plate which has been tapped for leveling
screws around the edges but is otherwise untouched. I am intending to hang
a Milwaukee 5625 from it, eventually using it to raise panels for cabinets
around the house & shop.

I am thinking that I should find the center of the plate, drill mounting
holes, put a 1/2" center cutting bit in the collet, mount the Lexan to the
router and plunge through it for the initial hole and then repeat the
process each time I need a bigger bit ... up to and including a ~3"
panel-raising bit.

All the while investing in additional router plates until I have one for
pretty much every diameter of router bit ever made. And changing the
router base nearly as often as I change bits (best argument I've ever seen
for long production runs).

I can see how this plan might be workable if I could just secure
renewable govertnment grants to buy the Lexan, but I doubt if it is the
best way to go with my pre-grant seed money.

Your thoughts?

"Leuf" wrote in message
...

Pretty tough to plunge a bit that has a bearing on the bottom.

I've never seen a center cutting bit with a bearing on the bottom.

Ever tried to break a piece of phenolic? Try it some time.

"Bill" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 06:40:15 +0000, Lew Hodgett wrote:


Before you get too far down the road, take a look at Rousseau, RM3509
Solid Phenolic Drop-In Base Plate for Router Tables.

Google RM3509.

Lew

I have one of the Rousseaus, but it only has a 1/4" thick lip on it and
that Milwaukee is both heavy and expensive. Dropping it on the concrete is
not an attractive option. I took the Rousseau out of my vertical router
table to put it into my horizontal table.

Are you saying that the Rousseau is strong enough to handle the Milwaukee
for the next several years?

If so, for less than $40 I can get back to work.

Bill

On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 20:32:07 GMT, "CW" wrote:


"Leuf" wrote in message
.. .

Pretty tough to plunge a bit that has a bearing on the bottom.

I've never seen a center cutting bit with a bearing on the bottom.

Okay I missed that part. But still, not all bits are designed to
plunge, even if you have a starter hole.


-Leuf

True, but he did specify center cutting. In woodworking terminology, a
router bit that could plunge into a solid would be called a plunge bit. In
metal working, it would be called a center cutting bit. Center cutting is
more descriptive.

"Leuf" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 20:32:07 GMT, "CW" wrote:


"Leuf" wrote in message
.. .

Pretty tough to plunge a bit that has a bearing on the bottom.

I've never seen a center cutting bit with a bearing on the bottom.

Okay I missed that part. But still, not all bits are designed to
plunge, even if you have a starter hole.


-Leuf