Thread: set up 2 routers on 1 table.

The only cheap brand of power tools I buy are GMC and I'm happy with most of their tools including routers.

It shouldn't be necessary to remove the plunge router springs but a big advantage is that the router chuck will come up another 20 to 25mm higher which is a big help changing bits in a table. So you shouldn't need extensions.


Various ways of lifting routers including using a car jack have been descibed on these forums.

Also niki has posted some threads on making router tables and lift arrangements

so I suggest you search niki's posts in particular and other router posts generally.

All the answers to your project are in these forum threads

For box making, I bought 2 new 1400 watt Triton routers for my router table. These provide plenty of power for box making. Get a good second-hand big router for the tough jobs. A little bit of extra expenditure now will pay off later.

If it was my decision I would go the Triton router way, either big or small. The MOF001 (small) router has the additional advantage of above table height adjustment. If I couldn't afford the 2 now I would start with one, bit changing is so easy and quick you may even find that is all you need.

I used a Makita 3600BR for years, and the bit changing was always a pain. Since using the Triton TRA001 (big one) I don't think twice about changing bits.

Having spent a fair bit of money on a good dovetail jig, why potentially spoil it by going the cheap router and "cheap" extension bit way.


I will probably be taken to task here, but I have never liked the idea of putting an extension between my router collet and a router bit spinning at 20,000 rpm. Some people swear by the Xtreme extension, but if you pay your $125 for that and $130 for a cheap router, why not pay the extra $30 and get the Triton MOF001? And get above table height adjustment as a bonus (admittedly at a slightly increased cost).

Originally Posted by Big Shed

If it was my decision I would go the Triton router way, either big or small. The MOF001 (small) router has the additional advantage of above table height adjustment. If I couldn't afford the 2 now I would start with one, bit changing is so easy and quick you may even find that is all you need.

I used a Makita 3600BR for years, and the bit changing was always a pain. Since using the Triton TRA001 (big one) I don't think twice about changing bits.

Having spent a fair bit of money on a good dovetail jig, why potentially spoil it by going the cheap router and "cheap" extension bit way.


I will probably be taken to task here, but I have never liked the idea of putting an extension between my router collet and a router bit spinning at 20,000 rpm. Some people swear by the Xtreme extension, but if you pay your $125 for that and $130 for a cheap router, why not pay the extra $30 and get the Triton MOF001? And get above table height adjustment as a bonus (admittedly at a slightly increased cost).

In 100% agreement on this. I had my Makita 3600BR in a table for a while but it was a total PITA to change bits. Specially with 2 spanners. The MOF001's are worth the money.

If you're going to spend $100-145 for 2 routers which could total $200-

290, buy yourself a Triton MOF001 (1400w) which retails at Bunnings for

about $280. This way you can change the bit above the table and you

also have very fine easy adjustment as well.

I'm at NUNDAH and I have a Gifkins, would you like to come here for some help and tips?

Thanks guys, what you have said here makes sense, The small Triton seems the way to go and I can always add another one at a later date if need be and finances permit.
Hi ho, Hi ho, its off to Bunnings I go.
I really appreciate everyones input, thanks again.

John

Or you could try the Ryobi's modified in this thread;

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...dazzler+router

And dont forget that you need to factor in what sort of table top you are going to use. Are you going to use a plate insert to fix the router into the table (in which case you dont need an extension collet) or directly to a decent thickness top in which case you will need one.

A quality extension collett (i can vouch for the Xtreme Xtension Collett sold by Professional Woodwork Supplies) has no negative issues at all and some positive ones (dampening large bits vibration) and allow above table bit replacement.

If your mounting in a Triton table then Triton are definately the best option. Outside of this the arguement for them lessens a bit.

i would do some more googling on these forums before heading to bunnings. may save some dough in the long run

I can't afford much more than GMC.
But, my local hardware store sells GMC 1020Watt routers for $47.
I have bought three....silly, but they don't sell spare parts.....so it's cheaper to buy three than to get spares.......eventually I will buy 5 for the set-up I wan't......2 in a flat table, 1 In a side type table, one for hand held, and one for spares. If they bugger up within 2 years I'm cool, but most of my gear(GMC) is over 4 years old.
Not the high end of living....but workable.

I went tot the Brisbane wood show last week and treated myself to a Gifkins dovetail jig.now what I want to do is set up a router table with 2 routers so that I dont have to keep changing and swapping the bits around.

I have done this, in fact I have one triton and 2 makitas in the one table, but thats another post all together. If your concern is saving time, don't waste your time on two non-triton routers. The time you save with the above table bit changing will make up for the setup time of a second router. Trust me, been there done that

I checked out Bunnings and all the routers they have are plunge routers and I was wondering if any of those are suitable for table mounting under the table and if so whcih would be the best ones to buy for that purpose. I see a problem as to adjusting the rise and fall of these type of routers and I was hoping that you guys may be able to point me in the right direction..Bunnings had routers for around the $100- $145 that seemed powerful enough. Are the GMC brand any good for this kind of application. Or are the other cheap brands better than GMC.

Stay away from GMC for in table use, the collets can slip and the adjustment mechanism is not very good (at least on the old models). If you decide to go for two routers and you are just using the them for the gifkins get 2 second hand makitas 3612 or 3600br. They are very accurate to adjust and very easy once the spring is removed.

Do I have to make any adjustments to the router to work under the table such as removing the springs. Somebody told me I would have to do this.
How do I adjust the rise and fall of this kind of router.

see above.

I like the idea of being able to change the bit above the table top but like I said the Triton is a bit out of my reach. I see that both Carba tec and Timbercon have extension collets that would enable me to do this but I was wondering if using one of these would put too much strain on the router or be unstable with this kind of extension and lose the accuracy of the cut.The Carba-Tec bit adds 63 mm to the router and the Timbercon one adds up to 45 mm. Both are 1/2 inch collets and prices are for the Carba-Tec $79 (page 103 of their catalogue) and the Timbercon one is $69.90 (page 49 of the Timbercon catalogue) Are these worth thinking about?

I wouldn't feel too safe with a router colet extension but that is just me.

If I can set up 2 cheaper routers on one table say areound $130 each and even if I used the collets if they are okay to use, it would all come in at under $400. nearly half price of buying 2 of the big Triton routers or save around $150 if I used the smaller Triton machines. I guess the bottom line is I have about $400 budget to work with so would welcome any suggestions.

I STILL THINK BETTER OFF TO JUST BUY ONE TRITON ROUTER. In my opinion it is the best table router you can get in Australia. Once you have used it in a table you cannot go back.

regards

Marios

one triton only,its the only way to go.

I would go for the Triton, or at least one with a fine adjuster, such as the Ryobi for $150 mark.

I have just bought the 1400W Triton and the above tabel change is great. I don't have the above table winder, but using it today at eye-level, it was just as easy to reach under.

Hi

Sadly, until munruben comes back and tells us what kind of table top he is going to put said router(s) we may as well be talking to the hand , or is that the thumbs

cheers

Yeah, But I like that!!

The Triton seems to get the nod from all the contributors..........but even considering all their faults, that's three GMC's.
One day, when the pension god really Shytes in my wallet......I'll get a good one.

Good survey stuff though