Trend Combination Router Base

[mpooley]

Anyone got one of these.
It would be handy to have your opinions.

It looks useful. A bit pricy though!

Thanks

Mike

 

[ChrisR]

I have just purchased one, looks ok, but not had chance to use it yet, will post my findings as and when.

Take care.

Chris R.

 

[mpooley]

Ah! Great Thanks
I do like the look of it and am seriously tempted

 

[ChrisR]

Anyone got one of these.
It would be handy to have your opinions.

It looks useful. A bit pricy though!

Thanks

Mike

Mike.

I have not had an opportunity to use the base yet, but thought I would post my initial findings.

The base plate which on the illustrations looks like aluminium is in fact thin Perspex type material.

I set up the base rods to accept my Trend T11 router, on fitting the router to the base, there is a lot of flex in the Perspex base material, also it is not possible to fit the stick on measure scale, without covering a guide fixing screw hole, because of the T11 base size. However it would be possible to fit this scale without covering this hole if using a smaller router.

The Perspex base plate may be up to the job with a smaller router, other than the T11, which is a heavy beast.

To sum up, I think the base will be useful piece of kit with my smaller Trend T4, and Parkside routers, but for the T11, I think I will be making a more substantial base plate out of 5mm electrical insulation paxsolin, or see if the local metal supply yard has 5mm sheet aluminium, and then utilise the fence adjustment rods etc on a home made base plate.

All the best.

Chris R.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Crikey, it's £130!

I looked at the YouTube demo, thinking, "You could make that with some scrap and 10mm studding!"

And of course you could.

If you want to purchase one, I'll gladly knock one out for £50.

Just kidding, but Trend have a Giraffe farm, evidently.

E.

 

[mpooley]

Thanks Chris.
I Think I'll give this a miss then

Mike

Eric I think its about £73 ? where did you see it for £130?

 

[Eric The Viking]

Add up all the bits you'll actually need on Trend's site. The only accessory I left out was the pair of Z-shaped bars for smaller routers. If you want the functionality, you'll need everything else they list as 'accessories'. I used Trend's web site prices (although obviously, it's probably cheaper elsewhere).

Let's just say, after some naive purchases of my own, I don't think their router accessories are good value for money.

E.

 

[ChrisR]

Mike.

Used for the first time today, thought this may be a quick way to cut rounds for small wheels.

To start, what a performance to set up, then had to disassemble as the dust extractor had to be removed, in order to get the extra plunge required (Trend router). Reassemble cut one round, maybe me, but it had a start stop grove, so would require a fare bit of sanding.

Will continue to cut wheels on the scroll saw and finish with the bench belt sander, far easier.

So back in the box with the combination base, until I have some more time to spare, and try the other functions. My have more success next time. :wink:

Not my best purchase, hope the wife doesn’t read this post. :roll:

Take care.

Chris R.

 

[Mike Wingate]

Why noy make your own. A Tesco cutting board, some rods (use the router ones) and a couple of screws and bolts.
URL=http://s130.photobucket.com/user/wingate_52/media/Routing/P1000280.jpg.html]

 

[mpooley]

what a good idea!

 

[mpooley]

Mike.

Used for the first time today, thought this may be a quick way to cut rounds for small wheels.

To start, what a performance to set up, then had to disassemble as the dust extractor had to be removed, in order to get the extra plunge required (Trend router). Reassemble cut one round, maybe me, but it had a start stop grove, so would require a fare bit of sanding.

Will continue to cut wheels on the scroll saw and finish with the bench belt sander, far easier.

So back in the box with the combination base, until I have some more time to spare, and try the other functions. My have more success next time. :wink:

Not my best purchase, hope the wife doesn’t read this post. :roll:

Take care.

Chris R.

Oh well Thanks Chris
at least you saved me some money .

 

[Argonaut]

Why noy make your own. A Tesco cutting board, some rods (use the router ones) and a couple of screws and bolts.
URL=http://s130.photobucket.com/user/wingate_52/media/Routing/P1000280.jpg.html]

what did you use for the guide pin ?

 

[MikeJhn]

This is a lot less expensive: http://www.axminster.co.uk/ujk-technolo ... 0wodjhcIUQ I think its what we are all talking about, but unsure the above posts have confused me somewhat, but that seems to be easy now days. #-o

Ah well back to the giraffe farm. =D>

Mike

 

[SammyQ]

Mike's design is a Wearing design, rejuvenated for modern materials. Bob's other jigs are equally worth a bit of research.

Sam

 

[Stu_2]

I've had one for a while now, set up for an OF 1400. Quite happy with the additional stability on edge work, and it's a decent router compass. The only optional extra I'd consider are the extension rods. The micro adjuster doesn't work with the OF 1400, though.

I'd agree that it's over-priced. Unfortunately, a lot of Trend gear is. I'd probably make my own if I had to decide again.

 

[Argonaut]

OK .... bit the bullet and decided to buy myself a TREND CRB 7
The other functions will be very useful .... previously when I had thought about buying one the TREND price of £88 + pp was too high.
Luckily found a seller of these at only £36 incly free pp so treated myself to late Xmas present.

The offset base & anti-tilt support will save my usual struggles and Offset Mortising could be useful.

https://youtu.be/gdGQi22kUC8

 

[Stu_2]

That seems cheap. Have you got a link?

Also, if using the jig to cut a circle, ignore the method shown in the video. You need to have some sacrificial material underneath, and use a countersunk machine screw (for additional length) instead of the pin provided. The screw needs to go through the work piece and into the sacrificial material, so when the cut is completed, the router remains constrained by the screw. You could get posh and make up different length pins that attach as per the original, but the machine screw has proved adequate.

You could use double-sided tape, but you'd still need a clean flat piece of material underneath, and this method can fail.

 

[Argonaut]

Understand your comment on sacrificial material & being 'fixed' otherwise it will fly off once free.

I bought it from an eBay retailer .. new boxed item ... Abbey Power Tools - they are a tools specialist rather than someone running an on-line car boot sale.
The link is below - looks like they have gone up £1 in 2017
Still the cheapest around by a long way

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ABBEY-POWER?_t ... 7675.l2563

 

[Stu_2]

Nice one. Thanks.

 

[Phil1975]

Mike, Where did you get the part threaded rods you're using on your jig? I spent hours looking for something similar the other night to make something essentially the same as you've made, but I couldn't find anything suitable.