Routers

[Alder]

Why does routers and routing have so little attention on the Forum?
If Sharpening is mentioned there are pages and pages of correspondence and I seem to recall a 14/15 page thread when Clifton changed the colour of their planes.
Living in a rural area visiting outlets who sell a choice of routing products is denied me as I possibly only see one product at the at smaller retail outlets. it would be nice to see a choice of routers, mounting plates or router tables before committing money to a product.
Regards,
Russell

 

[MattRoberts]

I'm all for routing chat! What would you like to talk about?

 

[Wuffles]

Sharpening bits?




















Yes, kidding again.

 

[No skills]

Routers are boring and noisy, also the fastest way to cock up a work piece.

Of course a multi page thread on the colour of some expensive hand plane wouldn't be boring at all..

 

[MattRoberts]

You have a fair point. Most of my mistakes have been made when using a router. Not being able to clearly see what's going on its always an issue

 

[thick_mike]

I've messed up so many times with routers!

 

[yetloh]

They are also very good at removing the ends of fingers, although not neatly as I have proved to my satisfaction - three of them (fingers, not routers). Some years later I still llack normal sensitivity in my left index finger which is four or five mm shorter than it used to be. I've also had the odd mishap with the workpiece but that pales into insignificance compared with fingers.

Jim

 

[Peter Sefton]

Why does routers and routing have so little attention on the Forum?
If Sharpening is mentioned there are pages and pages of correspondence and I seem to recall a 14/15 page thread when Clifton changed the colour of their planes.
Living in a rural area visiting outlets who sell a choice of routing products is denied me as I possibly only see one product at the at smaller retail outlets. it would be nice to see a choice of routers, mounting plates or router tables before committing money to a product.
Regards,
Russell

If your ever on the M50 jump off and come and see us. Love using our routers.tables and use them all the time.

Cheers Peter

 

[No skills]

They are also very good at removing the ends of fingers, although not neatly as I have proved to my satisfaction - three of them (fingers, not routers). Some years later I still llack normal sensitivity in my left index finger which is four or five mm shorter than it used to be. I've also had the odd mishap with the workpiece but that pales into insignificance compared with fingers.

Jim

I've routed the ends of 3 fingers with a roman ogee bit doing something stupid, made a mess of the skin but it grew back as it should. Didn't go A&E either...


Sorry to the OP, I've not been at all helpful

 

[Stanleymonkey]

I wouldn't mind some router info.

Thinking of getting a table - would that be a suitable place to start?

 

[RobinBHM]

Hand routers are hugely versatile, even more so with a router table option.

A professional straight bearing guided router bit, like the 19mm dia replaceable tip ones wealdon sell are fantastic for template use.

A range of template guides is also very handy.

 

[MattRoberts]

I wouldn't mind some router info.

Thinking of getting a table - would that be a suitable place to start?

Have you considered making your own?

 

[Myfordman]

I wouldn't mind some router info.

Thinking of getting a table - would that be a suitable place to start?

Have you considered making your own?

+1 To me making a router table brings one of the biggest ratio of reward to effort of projects for the workshop

 

[pcb1962]

I wouldn't mind some router info.

Thinking of getting a table - would that be a suitable place to start?

Most routing operations are more safely and more successfully done on a table than handheld, assuming you can get the workpiece to the table.
As a beginner I think this would be a good place to start http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+xact-deluxe-router-table+RTX2000

 

[Wuffles]

I wouldn't mind some router info.

Thinking of getting a table - would that be a suitable place to start?

Most routing operations are more safely and more successfully done on a table than handheld, assuming you can get the workpiece to the table.
As a beginner I think this would be a good place to start http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+xact-deluxe-router-table+RTX2000

I'm not a beginner and that table is doing me just fine too.

 

[Aggrajag]

I was going to make myself a router table but with my limited space I've got my prettier-half to buy me the cheap-as-chips Dremel one for my birthday - I can't wait to get it next Wednesday! I'll be using it for sanding too once I've found a source of tall enough, thin enough sanding drums. (The standard Dremel type drums are too small, I'd like to be able to sand the entire profile of a 3/4" job at the same time.)

More Router chat!!

 

[DennisCA]

Living in a rural area visiting outlets who sell a choice of routing products is denied me as I possibly only see one product at the at smaller retail outlets. it would be nice to see a choice of routers, mounting plates or router tables before committing money to a product.

Huh, never even considered that an issue and I live rurally. My decision in buying a router was made on user feedback found online as well as technical specifications, basically a months long research process before comitting. I never really felt I got that much out of holding tools at a store.

 

[heimlaga]

I don't own a router becuause I have never needed one. So far I have managed to do everything on the spindle moulder and using hand tools.

However I live in a rural area. As rural as let's say Aberdeenshire or the Welch mountains. In a country where a few big importers have an almost total monopoly between them and they all tend to import exactly the same very narrow range of low end chineese crap and claim that everything else is "no longer manufactured".

Finding good tools is always difficult but never impossible. Proper research is the key. You need to find out exactly what you need and then find an independent retailer who is prepared to order the tool for you or order it yourself over the internet. Be prepared to buy secondhand if something suitable comes up. Be prepared to drive 300 kilometres and back to pick up some stuff. Research research research.

 

[skipdiver]

I've spent all afternoon rounding over various shaped pieces of birch play on a router table. It's noisy, dusty and pretty boring after a while and very difficult to keep your concentration and not let your mind wander, which could be lethal to digits. I don't really then want to talk about it on a forum but as others have said, they are wonderfully versatile machines and relatively cheap to buy considering what you can achieve with a basic set up.

 

[Steve Maskery]

+1 for make-your-own-router-table.
Mine is Norm Abrams' design, and I think it is difficult to beat. I've tried.
I have improved on his fence, and if I ever get round to filming again it will be a feature, but the basic table is, I think, as near to perfect as we need. Plans are available from any Brimarc stockist. Unfortunately they are only in inches, so if you work in mm you need to convert, but it's not exactly difficult.

Take Peter up on his offer of trying out different setups. I did some demonstrating for him last year and it was a pleasure to see that there is such a range of top-quality stuff available. You can buy a whole setup ready-made if you have the wallet, or you can just buy the business end and spend a happy weekend building your own cabinet, which is what I have done.

A router table certainly adds a great deal of facility to your workshop, highly recommended.