Thread: Dust collection for Elu Routers

Magnificent routers there, Derek: I doubt anybody else (DeWalt/Trend included) will ever build a tool as well as these were made. It's ironic that, despite their basic templates being over 30 years old there's been no substantial improvement by any other manufacturers over these pioneering designs. Just a few gimmicks like ratchet collets, bayonet bushes and the like.

It also shows how when a tool is designed carefully and in consultation with end users that there's absolutely no need to radically change or redesign every few years. Just the odd incremental tweak every decade or so. That the bearings, brushes, in fact just about each & every wearing part is interchangeable between an original Elu or Perles, or a later CMT or the latest Trend or DeWalt means that any aged router can access the entire OEM & aftermarket range of accessories, jigs and guides etc that have ever been made by any manufacturer for any of these differently branded tools. The variety of accessories made must number in the thousands by now.

It also means that, as you've found, modern accessories will fit much older versions with little or no modification required.

Also, as the Industry leading routers in their 3 particular market segments, these 3 are the standard by which all other routers are judged, even after 30 years! It's also pretty remarkable that a full range of parts are still produced for them, due I suspect to the fact that there's just so many of them out there.

It's only conjecture, but I suspect that there's probably more of these routers still in use in their various liveries that have been produced over the last 30 years than all other manufacturers' routers combined! I also suspect that most of these 3 ELU/Perles/DeWalt/CMT/Trend machines are still going, and that due to their ubiquity & the universal availability of spares & repairs, most will still be going in another 30 years!

In an age where even the most expensive SCMS are lucky to last beyond the 3 year warranty period it's a proud record to achieve! The times where a Radial Arm Saw was designed for a lifespan of 50-100 years are long gone! Welcome to the era of the disposable power tool.

I was trying to recall who else made a version of the 177e, and of course it was CMT. There's looked a very close match to the Elu, and they had a dust chute. Do they still make this one?

Regards from Perth

Derek

The Dewalt DW625 is as a far as I know an exact copy of the Elu MOF177E.
I still have my 177e purchased in the 1980's
It should be possible to get a dust thingy for the Dewalt to fit

Mark, the DeWalt base is different from the Elu. The DeWalt has a round inner base, while the Elu is rectangular. That's why I went for one from Trend. In any event, I could not get DeWalt to sell me the dust chute (I thought I could modify it).

You are welcome to pop over and see it if you are interested in one for your own 177e.







Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

I was trying to recall who else made a version of the 177e, and of course it was CMT. There's looked a very close match to the Elu, and they had a dust chute. Do they still make this one?

Regards from Perth

Derek

DeWalt seem to make their latter day versions all over. I've seen DWs from Germany, England & Italy. All essentially the same, but also simply lacking the sheer precision quality in the castings and smoothness of the Perles-made Swiss "originals". In actual fact, Elu's first routers were actually "Muhlackers" from W. Germany which were never the equal of the Perles.

Ironically, Perles still makes a clone of the 96/96E in their Slovenian Factory, whereas today's production of Trends & DeWalts comes from (I suspect) the old CMT Electroli factory in Italy. None are quite as well made as the Swiss tools were. About the only modern equal would be the big 2600w Mafell, which of course has no current peers at all.

Originally Posted by mark david

The Dewalt DW625 is as a far as I know an exact copy of the Elu MOF177E.
I still have my 177e purchased in the 1980's
It should be possible to get a dust thingy for the Dewalt to fit

There were in fact 3 slightly different "generations" of Elu's 177/E, each visually identifiable prior to the change in livery to DeWalt.

The 3rd. generation Elu was apart from the obvious colour variance otherwise indistinguishable, however the DW625/Trend T10/T11 were themselves also updated a few years ago with more power and in the latter tool's case above-router-table height adjustment.

This constant incremental improvement is one of the reasons why this 30+ year old design is still arguably the most successful & popular even after such a long time.

Ooooh, I have a recently acquired router "fetish" and have just discovered this thread. I'd love a MOF96....eventually perhaps (is anyone selling one?).

Mafell are fantastic (well, i can only judge by the quality of their jigsaw, of which I have one).

But in regards to the upper end of the router market, and Steve may join me on this.....I would say Scheer/Koch are up there with the 2600w Mafell (which ive not seen here in Oz). I need to ensure I eat my wheetbix in the morning when i plan on using my Scheer as it has absolute buckets of torque. It's perfect concentricity of the shaft, collets and bits and will turn timber into wheetbix for me to eat for breakfast.
I only have their fixed speed model HM-16 (1800W), but an utter pleasure to work with.

Their customer service is in typical German fashion awesome and they respond in a way that makes their Green and Black compadres look hopeless.

Having said that. I would love a MOF96. Derek let me know if you ever want to sell yours


Cheers,
Siggy

Originally Posted by Ratbag

DeWalt seem to make their latter day versions all over. I've seen DWs from Germany, England & Italy. All essentially the same, but also simply lacking the sheer precision quality in the castings and smoothness of the Perles-made Swiss "originals". In actual fact, Elu's first routers were actually "Muhlackers" from W. Germany which were never the equal of the Perles.

Ironically, Perles still makes a clone of the 96/96E in their Slovenian Factory, whereas today's production of Trends & DeWalts comes from (I suspect) the old CMT Electroli factory in Italy. None are quite as well made as the Swiss tools were. About the only modern equal would be the big 2600w Mafell, which of course has no current peers at all.

Routers can be addictive. I have a scheer HM-18 E. Very rare two Eli MOF 11’s and a MOF 96. And An OF 1400. I really wouldn’t sell any of them. I think Trend routers makes a MOF 96. And your right Siggy it’s a great small machine.

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