Challenge Xtreme Router

[hog&bodge]

Just bought one of eBay 13.50
It is light and has a Variable speed just big enough for jobs
that Are just about getting to big but to small to lug out the
big router...If that makes any sense...!!!.:lol:
Tried it out and it was very smooth plunger.
Now have the 1/2" collet and the 1/4" collet is there a
dovetail jig that will fit both or is it asking to much...lol
Or has any member got a spare they want to sell..?

 

[neilyweely]

most dt jigs require a 1/2 inch bearing/bush. as long as you have this, and a half inch cutter, you should be ok regardless of shank/collet.
having said that you will be hard pushed to find a half inch shank DT cutter to fit these stats.

hth

neil

 

[hog&bodge]

Thanks neilyweely Perhaps I should try and find a tutorial
on dovetail jigs..have cut few by hand and they did not turn out
to bad..very laborious and time consuming.

So any more help would be appreciated ...
Thanks
Alex

 

[hog&bodge]

Used it again this morning...The bit slips out of the
collet..Put a new on in and it did the same..
Was trying to do a very deep cut..
It is fine on multi-passes in the wood, also checking the locking nut
every few cuts..Perhaps it will work better if I buy some
better quality Bits.
So stay clear of this model...

 

[joiner_sim]

I brought an older version of this model five years ago. It's only just let me down, the plunge lock catch wont lock anymore, however someone on here said that if i take it off and fix it back in again it should be okay. Failing that, I will be investing in an expensive trend model! :lol:

 

[CroppyBoy1798]

I dont have this particular model router, but I do have another cheapo one, a Power Devil :lol: , have the thing about 7 or 8 years now and only yesterday the thing died on me (brushes wore down), damn was I dissapointed when it stopped. Its a grand little neat one, quarter inch collet, and useful for light jobs. When compared to the 1,200w Ryobi router I got recently the PD looks like a midget

Its basically that router, but red and black!

So, with a little help from a couple of spare Aldi gringer brushes I was able to get her up and running again! Boys was I happy 8)


Speaking of bits slipping in the collet, my 1/2" Ryobi seems to slip bits when I'm using the 1/4" collet insert, bit annoying really! :roll:

 

[joiner_sim]

I was in Fcous, Do It All, this afternoon and really had to pull myself away from a router that was on sale at only £10!!!! I know cheap tools are mean't to be a false economy, but at that price if it lasts me five years, Its actually cheaper than buying an expensive Trend that might not last me til I'm seventy or summat :shock: :roll:

 

[jlawrence]

At £10 it's worth buying if only for that horrid job where you don't want to risk a good router - can't think of one at present but one's bound to pop up at some point.

 

[andycktm]

5 Year's :shock:

 

[joiner_sim]

Yes, five years - I say five because thats how long my last cheapo's just lasted me, I want to buy an expensive trend now, but at £10 a router, replacing every five yeard, by time I'm 70 it still wont have cost as much as an expensive trend! :wink:

 

[andycktm]

I'm not rich by any means,but have you been to K.F.C lately? :lol:

 

[Chems]

 

[joiner_sim]

KFC? You mean their prices going up? or ? I dunno?

That's why I will be investing in a TREND T5 or T10, if I can't fix the plunge lock on my Challenge Xtreme, I am done with cheapo tooling!

 

[hog&bodge]

KFC? You mean their prices going up? or ? I dunno?

That's why I will be investing in a TREND T5 or T10, if I can't fix the plunge lock on my Challenge Xtreme, I am done with cheapo tooling!

Found the cheep ones are lighter and good for free hand work.
As someone said "not bother if you mess them up a bit"
I found it was just the bits they where well used and the shanks
not gripping in the collet...got few from B&Q and all is well.
So Cheep Tools have their pluses and minuses.
Would never buy cheep chisels or screwdrivers and I bet most of us
are the same but cheep power tools seem to call to us :lol: :lol: