Thread: Trim Router advice

I posted information here: Routing hand sawn half-blind pin dovetail sockets

Regards from Perth

Derek

Thanks Derek.

I think I'll order one today but maybe with the tilting base.

BTW, how long did it take to reach you in Perth (I'm in Sydney)?

Slight delay on the product review; in addition to the plunge base having a post sticking out the bottom the actual trimmer unit has way too much run out; probably caused by a poorly machined collet. Looks like I may have picked up a Friday Arvo special because the rest of the gear is pretty good.

I’ve contacted the seller and he has sent out a new unit, hopefully it will arrive before I return to work next Thursday so I can post the review.

A065B260-4D95-438A-B716-A076F40CD85C.jpg4381E12B-1B7C-49C1-BE31-6080899F7BD3.jpgC5848058-D103-440D-9904-586A1BCBB85B.jpg

Good to know -- mine arrives tomorrow (fingers crossed).

Just to reassure, mine has nil issues at all. Having said that, I do not have the plunge attachment - I did not bother with it as I have a small plunge router and did not feel the need for two such machines.

Here is a comparison of the Katsu vs Makita in a breakdown ...



The bottom line is that the machines are different, and the Katsu borrows the Makita components.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

Slight delay on the product review; in addition to the plunge base having a post sticking out the bottom the actual trimmer unit has way too much run out; probably caused by a poorly machined collet. Looks like I may have picked up a Friday Arvo special because the rest of the gear is pretty good.

I’ve contacted the seller and he has sent out a new unit, hopefully it will arrive before I return to work next Thursday so I can post the review.

A065B260-4D95-438A-B716-A076F40CD85C.jpg4381E12B-1B7C-49C1-BE31-6080899F7BD3.jpgC5848058-D103-440D-9904-586A1BCBB85B.jpg

Why a template guide and cutter with a bearing inserted in the router ?

Simply to check concentricity between the template guide bush and the router bit. As this is a Made-In-China-Makita-Copy with zero QA I wanted to see how accurate the assembly was; the pressed steel guide bush needs to be concentric to the trimmer body when fitted into the plunge base to be of any use.

I used a flush trimming bit because it gives the best visual indication.

I ordered one of these over the weekend, and it arrived yesterday - pretty good for 60-odd bucks. Starts up, makes a noise, so initially seems ok.

I just ordered the basic machine without the lunge as I have plans for the little beast...

Plans? Tell us more...

Originally Posted by Gassito

Plans? Tell us more...

I'm playing around with two DIY build machines: a Fe$tool domino-type machine, and something along the lines of the Castle 100 pocket hole cutter.

Had a play with a carbitool straight 4mm bit this eve (for dominos) but found it quite easy to burn the wood, so I think I'll get a spiral upcut bit and see how that fares instead

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

Simply to check concentricity between the template guide bush and the router bit. As this is a Made-In-China-Makita-Copy with zero QA I wanted to see how accurate the assembly was; the pressed steel guide bush needs to be concentric to the trimmer body when fitted into the plunge base to be of any use.

I used a flush trimming bit because it gives the best visual indication.

Sounds a good idea

Originally Posted by Bernmc

I'm playing around with two DIY build machines: a Fe$tool domino-type machine, and something along the lines of the Castle 100 pocket hole cutter.

Had a play with a carbitool straight 4mm bit this eve (for dominos) but found it quite easy to burn the wood, so I think I'll get a spiral upcut bit and see how that fares instead

As well as the spiral bits, you can buy plunge bits. I’ve got a couple I used when routing a heap of dowel holes. They can also rebate, groove and trim cut. They have cutters on the ends.

59181464-F278-4F19-8EDA-526ED5B0BB76.jpg

Bernmc:

Hope you have time to post those two DIYs here sometime soon.

Originally Posted by Lappa

As well as the spiral bits, you can buy plunge bits. I’ve got a couple I used when routing a heap of dowel holes. They can also rebate, groove and trim cut. They have cutters on the ends.

The carbitool 4mm was a plunge bit, but the tiny thing only has one cutting blade - not sure if that was why it seemed to struggle (could be operator incompetence). I think the drill action of a spiral will be ideal for a domino-type machine made with one of these puny routers that needs to plunge and cut a slot. The smallest dominos are 4mm and 6mm, so I'll see if Total tools has a 4 and 6mm upcut spiral, otherwise it'll be timbecon or carbatec