Thread: GMC 1500W Router micrometer adjustment

Maybe a silly question, but have you released the locking lever?

Tried with lever locked and unlocked, didn't make any difference.

With the router set at the original height, ensure that the vertical height adjustment nob is tight and the height release lever is locked.

Turn the millimetre adjustment nob until the end of the millmetre rod touches the height adjusting ferrel.

Now release the height release lever and the spring will enable the base to move out, this will shorten the depth of cut.

Now turn the millimetre adjusting nob one rotation for 1 millimetre or or whatever your required depth adjustment is.

Release the height release lever again and place some force downwards on the router handles at the same time and the base will now stop at your new height. Make sure the router bit can drop over the edge of your bench when you push down.

Lastly make sure the release lever is now locked hard to ensure the height does not alter during use.

Hope this makes sense, this all sounds complicated but once you do it a few times it will become easy.

BOL
Smokin

Sure Smokin has it worked out, seeing as he still has one. I found when I had a demo one that it had a real (insert rude word) way of using the microadjuster - basically meant you had to take the router to full extension, then wind all the way down with the microadjuster. If you wanted coarse adjustment again, you had to wind the microadjuster right out again.

Don't go too far or the nut drops off the end of the bolt, inside the router.

I ditched both the ones I had.

But follow Smokin's instructions - he does have one to talk to!

Thanks for the endorsement Stuart. I primarily use my GMC router in my router table, I found this micro adjustment to be a PITA to use in the table, so I built a router raiser out of some steel offcuts. This has made router adjustment a simple task by just winding a handle that fits into a hole in the table top.

So Howie get your router into a table you won't look back and you can do much more finer work as well. Not forgetting the safety advantages as well.

Smokin

PS, Keep up the good work Stuart, you're site is number 1 on my bookmarks. I have been an avid follower of your site since way back in your Triton days and the little tin shed. I visit it daily, your daily posts must be difficult but they are inspiring...

Hi smokin',

Would love to see photos of your router raiser, as I have the same GMC router, and the same experience of below-table height adjustment

Beeroll

I have built my table to fit on the Triton 2000WC, I used an offcut of melamine as the table surface with some ribs to stop it sagging, they actually sit on the support structure of the table. I recessed the router base into the melamine 6 mm and reinforced this with a piece of laminex.

I have made the raza mostly from 25 x 25 hollow section with a piece of 30 x 10 for the cross pivot as you can see and I used a 30 mm long M12 nut with 60 mm of thread to give me a min of 25 mm travel. You actually require at least 70 mm of travel but you cannot do this with the short pivot arm as the vertical supports tend to move too far out of the vertical plane . This is the reason there are three holes to select from depending on how far you require the router to raise. I have found that the middle hole is mostly suitable and don't have to change this very often.

I have also left the height locking lever on the router and continue to use this after I have raised the router. This ensures that the router cannot move during use.

The winder handle in the table top is the Triton saw bench height adjuster winder and has a hex shaft, I had to purchase a hex head set screw to attach to the adjustment thread in order to use this winder.

The cradle that supports the router is 2 pieces of 8 mm bar bent to match the router housing and welded to a 25 x 25 angle. This cradle is attached to the vertical support with a lose pivot to allow the vertical support to move off the vertical plane as the router is raised.

I have to say that this raza works brilliantly and makes height setting so simple and accurate. It is definitely worth having...

Thanks smokin!

Will study your work carefully, and apply your lessons. I'm planning to make a table saw/router workcentre like the one expat is making in the General woodwork forum, and I reckon this will be an excellent add on!

Plus which: now I can finally justify buying that runout GMC arc welder to the , oops, I mean



PS - note to mods - I just clicked the "More" smilies option. Nice work - someone takes their job seriously! You all deserve a

Beeroll

I didn't mention that apart from the router this table has cost me less than $10 and around 30 hrs to put together all up over the last 12 months. All the materials were offcuts and leftovers from past projects.

I hope my better half appreciates my efficientness(tightness).

Smokin

That's a pretty serious effort on the router lift there Smokin! Good stuff