Thread: Makita 3612 table mounting

Jonrick,

The 3612 is not really suitable as a table-mounted router, since it does not have variable speed, and therefore can only be safely used with small-diameter bits. I have a Makita 3612C permanently mounted in my table. It does have variable speed and it has a height adjustment knob, which allows the height to be adjusted easily without any auxiliary devices.

Rocker

get a triton instead. better by 1,000,000 (and this from a dyed in the wool makita user). enough said.

I agree with Zed (sometimes ) and the new 1400W Triton has an optional height winder which goes through the table - kewl.

Originally Posted by Rocker

Jonrick,

The 3612 is not really suitable as a table-mounted router, since it does not have variable speed, and therefore can only be safely used with small-diameter bits. I have a Makita 3612C permanently mounted in my table. It does have variable speed and it has a height adjustment knob, which allows the height to be adjusted easily without any auxiliary devices.

Rocker

Rocker,

Thanks for the reply, I am specifically considering the 3612cX1 which includes a three piece router bit set for making doors with the 3612c unit. Relative to the height adjustment, don't you have to access the adjustment knob from below the table?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Zed

get a triton instead. better by 1,000,000 (and this from a dyed in the wool makita user). enough said.

Zed your opinion please:confused: i had used the triton in a bench for around 8 months and realy liked it. but could never get good acurate micro height adjustment because of the geared knob that raises and lowers it made it rise and fall in set small increasments:confused: i went over and over the manual and poked and proded to no avail. it was such a cause of frustration that i would not buy one unless micro adjustment was possible . my question to you and other triton router users - is their a way to achieve micro adjustment when its in a bench:confused: gumbys sugestion of the new routers winder would fix that, but its smaller and less powerfull so thats out of the question for me

Originally Posted by redwood

Zed your opinion please:confused: i had used the triton in a bench for around 8 months and realy liked it. but could never get good acurate micro height adjustment because of the geared knob that raises and lowers it made it rise and fall in set small increasments:confused: i went over and over the manual and poked and proded to no avail. it was such a cause of frustration that i would not buy one unless micro adjustment was possible . my question to you and other triton router users - is their a way to achieve micro adjustment when its in a bench:confused: gumbys sugestion of the new routers winder would fix that, but its smaller and less powerfull so thats out of the question for me

Have you removed the plunge spring ? Also give it a good clean out with a blower gun every now and again. Mine is OK but does get stiff after a while. I find micro adjustment easier by raising the bhit up higher than required and lowering with the micro winder.

remove the plunge spring as gumbino sez, when you use the winder lock it in place, run it for a second at high speed, release the locking lever give the machine a hardish tap, and then rewind to desired height either up or down and relock. all routers in tables lower themselves by a fraction after you release the locking lever.

I just did the gifkins dovetail course at sturt and roger had makita and tritons. the tritons were easier and more accurate than the makita's by far. dont compromise a serious router purchase with the sweetener of 3 lousy router bits - think long term.... just the change bits above table feature is worth it alone.

Originally Posted by Gumby

Have you removed the plunge spring ? Also give it a good clean out with a blower gun every now and again. Mine is OK but does get stiff after a while. I find micro adjustment easier by raising the bhit up higher than required and lowering with the micro winder.

Interestingly, Gumby, I go the other way and make the last one upwards. seems to make more sense as its going against gravity and other predominaltly downwards forces. soi make the last adjustment up and then engage the locking lever. probably no mechanically logical reason for it, but it works for me.

was good advice you gave to remove the spring for under the table work. too many people miss that one in the manual they dont read when the get a new tool

Originally Posted by doug the slug

Interestingly, Gumby, I go the other way and make the last one upwards. seems to make more sense as its going against gravity and other predominaltly downwards forces. soi make the last adjustment up and then engage the locking lever. probably no mechanically logical reason for it, but it works for me.

Yeah, it's whatever works best i suppose. My router seems to go up in small jumps (probably needs another clean ) but going down is a lot smoother so it's easier to get the small increments. At least we agree on one thing though - Triton routers rule

Originally Posted by Gumby

Have you removed the plunge spring ? Also give it a good clean out with a blower gun every now and again. Mine is OK but does get stiff after a while. I find micro adjustment easier by raising the bhit up higher than required and lowering with the micro winder.

spring had been removed and i blow em out every time before and after i use them anyway. but my prob was the geared wheel to raise and lower the bits. when you pull the little cover back on the wheel to disengage it for raising and lowering their seems to be a point after the you have raised it where the gearing settles back into its self, and if you need to raise the bit by say .3 of a mill you can get it nearly right with a bit of a fiddle, but then when the cover springs back it settles back into its self and the bit drops a fraction. is their a way of permantly disengaging the cover its self alowing the wheel to opperate freely so the locking lever is the only thing holding it firmly in place:confused:

at the moment im using a tr12 hitachi in a bench and a old car jack under it and i can get cigarett paper adjustment with out any problems. but im tossing up wether to get the M12V which is an awsom router for a bench or the triton because i love the bit changing. maybe the triton can be used in a free plunge way so a car jack can be used on it to:confused:

Originally Posted by redwood

spring had been removed and i blow em out every time before and after i use them anyway. but my prob was the geared wheel to raise and lower the bits. when you pull the little cover back on the wheel to disengage it for raising and lowering their seems to be a point after the you have raised it where the gearing settles back into its self, and if you need to raise the bit by say .3 of a mill you can get it nearly right with a bit of a fiddle, but then when the cover springs back it settles back into its self and the bit drops a fraction. is their a way of permantly disengaging the cover its self alowing the wheel to opperate freely so the locking lever is the only thing holding it firmly in place:confused:

Sorry if I've misunderstood you here but you get it into place using the large wheel, which is correct. And it clicks into place. But then you should use the micro adjustment knob to move it .3m up or down, or whatever you want, not the large wheel.

Jonrick,

Yes the height winder on the 3612C is below the table, have you considered the Wodpecker lift which is around $US250 to $280 which has a fine adjustment. In regard to your earlier post I don't think the 3612 sells in the US but the special on the C with the router set looks very attractive. I find the adjustment on the Makita fine for the use its put to, but it is a bit touchy when being wound back up and for that I tend to pop the plate if winding up any distance.

John.

johnc,

Thanks for the reply and the reference to the woodpecker lift kit. Do you have any experience or knowledge of the Router Raizer kits sold by Rockler and others?

Thanks,