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29th December 2017, 02:37 PM #1Senior Member
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Plunge router for router table with above-table adjustments?
I need a (big) router to fit into a table that adjusts from above the table and will reliably hold those adjustments while the router is working. I was going to use one of the new Triton routers but having heard some negative comments about them I thought I would look for something else. The problem is....I can't find anything locally (Australia) and am reluctant to go offshore. Then I thought of things like car scissor-jacks and other things but then thought to ask if anyone else had come across this problem and how did they solve it? Getting the collet above the table would be a great advantage (another advantage for the Triton) but it's not absolutely essential.
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29th December 2017 02:37 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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30th December 2017, 05:05 AM #2Novice
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- Nov 2008
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- sydney
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hi old hilly as you know I recently bought a triton only to find having collet problems , before I bought that one I bought a Ryobi from Bunnings for a 150 bucks about a year ago to use as a deditcated table router , by the time I went to use it I tried a cutter in it and it ran out about half a mm so it vibrated to . After further investigation I found that my dewalt dw621 routers collet nut had the same thread diameter and pitch. Problem was the collet itself didn't fit luckily for me I am a machinist I took the router apart took the armature to work a bored the end of the shaft to take the collet of my dewalt which locates the router bits much more accurately. After that I checked the runout and was delighted with a runout of only .08mm vibration problem was eliminated. I did forget to mention that I had lost the receipt for the router from Bunnings so I was stuck with it , but I am pleased with my outcome. I also am thinking about how I am going to mount the router underneath the table and I am toying with the idea of taking the routers plate of completely and making up some clamps which will clamp firmly around the posts. This will allow the routers spindle to protrude further up through the router table giving access to the nut from the top of the table. I am also going to remove the depth stop post that it comes with and make a nut to fit in its place , I will mount a fixed screw to the router table which you can turn to adjust the router height from the top of the router table. Anyway a bit of designing to do if it all goes well I will get back to you with some photos etc. I did try the car scissor jack idea but I just didn't like it. The router I bought from Bunnings is a 1650 watt variable speed motor. I also think Ryobi has a six year warranty now so for a $150 you cant go wrong. Anyway by for now. regards Mark.
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30th December 2017, 06:38 AM #3Senior Member
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- May 2009
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- NSW
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- 489
Thanks Mark, it's interesting that the Ryobi collet had a runout problem whereas the Dewalt did not. I suspect that the Dewalt was a more expensive (hence better designed) machine than the Ryobi. As I no longer have the facilities to do machining work (or almost any work) for the time being it looks like I need to go for something middle of the range that will work "out of the box".
There is a little Scheppach bench-top machine from Hare and Forbes that looked like it would do the job but I haven't found anyone that admits to owning one so I am reluctant to proceed in that direction. Some of the cast iron tables seem very thick and so reduce the height of the router bit above the table which means either getting bits with long shanks or not setting the bit as deep in the collet. Which leaves the older Triton stand-alone table and base assembly as about the only option.
I had an early model Triton in a Triton table and it was great. Before I got the Triton router I had a Makita in the same table and changing bits was a real PITA because you almost needed to turn the table on it's side to get to the spindle. I had some threaded rod fitted into the base plate, running through a hole in the router with a tube spanner on a nut on the rod that moved the router up and down. Inelegant but functional and a little awkward. Now I want something a bit better. I thought of a router lift but the lift, the unusual router and the table are just beyond the budget. Back to getting splinters from head scratching.
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30th December 2017, 10:41 AM #4Woodworking mechanic
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- Jan 2014
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- Sydney Upper North Shore
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There was a Scheppach one for sale in the “for sale” section of the forum. Sold yesterday. I’d suggest you contact the seller if you want an opinion on its good and/or bad aspects.
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30th December 2017, 01:20 PM #5Senior Member
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Thanks Lappa, I will do that now.
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30th December 2017, 02:47 PM #6Novice
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- Aug 2017
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- 15
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30th December 2017, 05:10 PM #7Woodworking mechanic
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- Jan 2014
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- Sydney Upper North Shore
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- 4,472
Have a bad experience with a Scheppach table router did we!
There nothing like a detailed analysis on the pros and cons of a piece of equipment.
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2nd January 2018, 04:38 AM #8Senior Member
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- NSW
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Please gotazx, tell us more!
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2nd January 2018, 08:57 AM #9
OH, I can recommend the Router Raizer as the best value for money lift, along with the Muscle Chuck for ease of set up and above table access.
I like the old Elu routers, and have a few. I picked up an Elu 177e (2 1/4 hp, variable speed, soft start) on UK eBay for about $100. Shipping was about $40.
Handles removed for ease of access ...
Regards from Perth
DerekVisit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.
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2nd January 2018, 09:13 AM #10
This is the one referred to by Lappa and just happens to be for sale again. Bit further to travel for you than the guy that pulled out.
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2nd January 2018, 03:13 PM #11Senior Member
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- NSW
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Definitely too far to travel. W T Heck is a "Muscle Chuck"? Professor Google, here I come.
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2nd January 2018, 03:28 PM #12Senior Member
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- May 2009
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- NSW
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Well, allowing for the fact that 3G wireless internet is about the same speed as my old dial-up I found out that something like this could be the answer to my needs if not my wants.
Thanks Derek!
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2nd January 2018, 05:45 PM #13GOLD MEMBER
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- May 2011
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- Albury
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- 3,030
The Makita RP2301FC is a 3hp router that has height adjustment above the table available by way of an M6 machine screw with a Phillips head drive. PH3 is the right size screw driver. This is also a variable speed model so very suitable for table use. I can recommend it.
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3rd January 2018, 06:06 AM #14Senior Member
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- May 2009
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- NSW
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- 489
Thanks Aldav, had a look at the Makita page and yes, that feature is still listed in the handbook down near the back page. As you seem to have experience with this machine, how long do you think the adjustment system (the threads in the aluminum body are my concern) will last? Can you take the plunge return springs out to take some of the weight off that little M6 bolt to make things easier to lift? Or am I just worrying too much?
And Total Tools are having a sale in Port Macquarie....Decisions, decisions!
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3rd January 2018, 09:59 AM #15GOLD MEMBER
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- May 2011
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- Albury
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- 3,030
I'm away at the moment so don't have access to my router, but from memory the motor bracket where the screw goes through is fairly thick. I haven't had any problems and use the above table screw for adjustment all the time. A bit of dry lube or graphite is probably a good idea. If the threads did fail over time it should be possible to drill the hole out and tap it to take a M8 x 1.25 or M10 x 1.5 machine screw. That could be a significant improvement over the standard screw because it would allow you to use a crank handle to do the winding, faster and more secure grip on the screw head. That said the standard setup isn't too bad until you want to make a big adjustment.
I haven't removed the springs, but apparently it can be done - see post #15 in this thread - Questions Re: DIY Router Tables
Although bit changes have to be done below the table the change can be completed with a single spanner thanks to the shaft lock, it does make things considerably easier. If you can pick one of these routers up for under $600 it's pretty good buying.