Wealden's guide bearings

[Froggy]

I've had three guide bearings collapse in the last couple of months, all from Wealden's and none of them used that heavily :? . Do guide bearings generally fall to bits this easily? Has anyone else had this problem? Or have I just had an unluckly run?

 

[davin]

Watching with interest, was going to order one this week!
If I do buy one, any advice on how to "lead in", seeing as I haven't got any form of lead pin on my spindle moulder.
Or can I do without it.
Thanks
Davin

 

[Oryxdesign]

Are we talking router guide bearings or spindle guide bearings?

davin you could feed in off the fence set back just slightly, use a sled too, I'm slightly nervous for you not knowing what kind of experience you have.

 

[Froggy]

Simon - It's a router. Sorry for not been specific.

Davin - On the router table you can lead in without the pin but it's appantly safer with one. On a spindle, I don't know (wish I had one!).

 

[RogerP]

No pin on my router table - I just start off with care and never had a problem.

 

[Oryxdesign]

You boys without a pin should get one and a guard. It might be possible to do with care but it isn't safe. First time you do have a problem it's likely to cost you a finger. A pin can be a simple as a bolt with a bit of Perspex on top for a guard.

 

[tomatwark]

Davin

I agree with Simon on this, you must have some sort of lead in and certainly a guard, the same applies to both a spindle and a router table.

If you have not done curved work with bearings or a ring fence on a spindle moulder before I would strongly advise that you get someone to show you how to do it as if you get it wrong it can get very nasty very quickly.

I have done a lot of curved work over the years and in fact I am just making some templates and jigs up today for a bedroom I am about to start.

BUT I would not be prepared to advise over a forum as it is best to be shown what to do and what to watch out for.

Tom

 

[davin]

Hello all.

Don't wish to hijack the thread regarding Wealden tools.
But thanks for the concern and helpful advice.
It is a spindle moulder I meant. I normally do curved work on my router table with a disposable blade bearing cutter (from Wealden which is highly recommended, http://www.wealdentool.com/acatalog/Onl ... m_269.html)

I dont have a pin for this either but i usually leave a straight section on the template to lead first.
The sections I have been doing recently are just too big for the router cutter, hence the interest in the bearing ring.
I have used ring fences with bonnet guards before.but with these the ring is larger than the cutter block so you only have a very small contact point (if that makes sense).With the bearing being the same size as the block making snatching possible, is that correct?
So the advice is make a lead in pin of some sort.and have fence as close as possible. Could I make a ring fence out of ply?
Davin

 

[beech1948]

Froggy,
I use a few guide bearings but have not used Wealdon's. I would call them and ask and maybe give them a modest complaint about losing 3 bearings. My bearings have all lasted quite well. They were from Titmans and are the Premium Bearing Guides.

Al

 

[Froggy]

Thanks Al. I think I'll try Titmans (it can't harm to compare) and call Wealden's as you suggest.

 

[tomatwark]

A lot of the router bearings are standard bearings and will available from you local supplier and a lot cheaper.

Tom

 

[Froggy]

A lot of the router bearings are standard bearings and will available from you local supplier and a lot cheaper.

Tom

Appreciate the input Tom, but there's no such thing as a 'local supplier' where I live!!

 

[Froggy]

Ahhhhhh a fourth bearing from Wealdens broke!!!! This time I have contacted them (last Sunday) and they haven't even bothered to reply to my email.

 

[promhandicam]

Were all the bearings from the same batch? if not then I suspect you might be doing something wrong as I've almost exclusively got wealden cutters and I've never had a problem. What size bearing are you talking about or are they different sizes?

 

[Phil Sewell]

I'm intrigued to know why this is happening. I too use just about only Wealdons cutters and have never had any problems with their bearings.
Phil.

 

[Froggy]

I have also used Wealdens almost exclusively for years with no complaints and I've been using bearing cutters for years with no problems. So I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. Two of the bearings were from a 2 flute straight cutter and the other 2 from a rebate cutter. Both were less than a year old and neither have had much use. I'm an hobbist not a pro and don't use them every day. Because I've had no problem in the past with Wealdens I suspect it's a dodgy batch. What dissappoints me is that they haven't bothered to reply to my email.

 

[devonwoody]

My bearings from Wealdens are five years old on my router bits, even some Perform bearings are running OK as well.

I do not have a pin on my router table (Triton). My table has a good fence and sliding track type arrangements, why do you need a pin? Any links to routing videos around?

 

[sometimewoodworker]

My bearings from Wealdens are five years old on my router bits, even some Perform bearings are running OK as well.

I do not have a pin on my router table (Triton). My table has a good fence and sliding track type arrangements, why do you need a pin? Any links to routing videos around?

http://www.routerworkshop.com/safetypin01.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sDHctfXS1M

Should give enough to convince you.

 

[Froggy]

I do not have a pin on my router table (Triton). My table has a good fence and sliding track type arrangements, why do you need a pin? Any links to routing videos around?

Have I missed something?!!! :?: I'm not talking about 'pins'. I don't know where you've got that from, it's the bearings on the cutter that are a problem, and I agree that normally they are not a problem from Wealdens. The other thing to mention (not that I think it's significant, but because you've mentioned it) is that they have broken while freehand routing not on the router table.

 

[devonwoody]

Froggy, I think someone suggested you could work with a pin instead of a bearing?