Dovetails with the Incra TSLS32 and PWS's new router body

Whacko!

Last week I received Professional Woodworking Supplies new AUKtools 240 volt router body for my lifter: 1800 watt Fixed Base Router Motor w/- Remote Variable Speed Control

I needed to do a few table upgrades first and didnt want to rush it (kid at Christmas!) and tonight everything was finished off.... so it was time to give it a test run.

In the table now is an Incra metric lifter (thank you metric!), the PWS motor body and PWS's new whizz bang remote controller.

The remote has lights showing on/off (nice!), speed controls and a No Volt Release. The lights are good for when I leave the shed, for I can see everything is off.

What is really fun though is the new motor body. It is super quiet (perhaps not as quiet as a CNC spindle) and slips right into the lifter with zero faffing around. Same with the controls - just plug it in and you get remote speed control.

Tonight I had a play with it using some scraps. This is my very first crack at dovetails on this setup and it was as close to perfect as one can get (for a machine). Getting the right bit height was quick (took only 3 test cuts, simply because my second test I wound it down not up the requisite clearance), finding centre is dead easy on metric (the scraps are arbitrary widths, hence they aren't centred) and cutting the blind dovetails is really easy.

Id regard this as fun. I had fun making dovetails... not something Id ever said before.

Im still waiting on my order of Veritas planes and whatnot so I can do them by hand, but the option for fast machine-made dovetails is now achievable.

Im super super dooper happy with the Incra lifter and PWS AUKtools motor combo. Id highly recommend it to people who want to upgrade their Triton TRA under-table setups.

... this sample is in 9mm MDF. Yep, MDF...

Attachment 416503 Attachment 416502

What's this? Christmas in July??:oo:
niiiiiiiiiice set--up:D
Any chance you will fit a Wixey digital measurement unit to the router or is the adjustment on the Incra Mast unit accurate enough?

It's quite the coincidence it's July Christmas. I've been planning for a lifter for literally years.

The Triton TRA001 has been fantastic and has served me well, but I've been getting into fine boxes more and more. It's fine accuracy was irritating. Some days I do a lot of different jobs and the constant reaching under the table (it's in a DC'd box) to lock the height was driving me crazy.

When everyone here began talking about lifters with CNC spindles and VFDs it was time to just do it... But I'm not smart enough nor patient enough to fool with the setup of that (plus, no metalworking skills/tools). PWS literally advertised in the AWW mag that week, so the gods demanded action.

Graeme had only the prototype as the shipment was still a bit away from landing, so he agreed to sell that.

Im pleased as it works well and the results today from playing around have made me a very happy chappy.

There is one last benefit, the router can take an ER collet from a mob in the USA. I'm going to grab one of those.... Very exciting!

Im off now for another play until the tennis starts :)

Tour De France is on.... or dovetailing... oh well, Home-made cheese cake and icecream must await!

Here is another sample, used the same settings but I clamped it better.

This is too easy.

Ive a Leigh D4R and an Incra iBox. Love both of them, but this is so simple its ridiculous.

What is really cool is I can just record all the settings and have it back to exactly the same in 2 minutes flat.

Lappa, I was rude and forgot to answer your question in all my enthusiasm... no, no Wixey yet, though the thickness sander and thicknesser have them and I reckon they are great. Ive a spare iGuaging one here still in its box from Timbercon (god knows where/when it came from)... so I'll spare some time on Tuesday to get that setup and right. Gotta admit, it will make setting heights dead easy.

For these on the Incra, one just keeps a "known good" dovetail for that cutter and re-setup is simply a matter of matching the height off the sample. Trivial really.

In these pictures Ive actually tried to capture the defects with a flash and angles to try and catch gaps..... This job took me less than one minute....

Though, it makes me even more enthusiastic for the handmade ones. These machined ones sure are fast and easy, but the class of a handmade isn't there.

Evan! :D

Attachment 416510 Attachment 416513 Attachment 416512 Attachment 416511

These are the ER Style collets that fit the router: Precision Porter-Cable Collet Kits!!!

Used some pine offcuts that were left over from dollshouses as a sample, but there is a small gap after glue up on a few of the tails on one end. I can see what I've done. One must have flat square material and ensure its against the fence nicely. You can't be lackadaisical or sloppy with presentation and process.

A waster board also seems important.

So, to my shame, I've no more pictures to show tonight!

Having never seen an Incra TSLS32 in the flesh, I was wondering how you use it to position the timber for each of the cuts for the dovetails, if that is indeed what you are doing.
I don't think I'll ever buy one as my shed is small, my table saw is home built and doubles as my work bench/assembly table - blade down of course:D
BTW - great win to the Roger F. last night

The Incra TSLS fence is the single greatest thing I own (other than the Festool Domino, the TS55 tracksaw, the RO150, the incra rulers and and and) but it is something I use every single day for every single job.

It wins me business over my competitors, every time.

Its that simple.

Here is a video showing how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddlw88RskCg

Are you using the TSLS on an extension to your table saw or an LS positioner on a separate router table for this? Can't understand why you wouldn't have been able to do this previously with the Triton router in the table. :?

There were two real reasons for the upgrade: noise and accuracy.

-- I despise noise. Must be something wrong with my brain. The Triton is a noisy beast. A few of the dudes here have been talking about CNC spindles and VFD's and how amazingly quiet they are.... my jealousy was getting a bit too much... I use the Peltor10 Red headmuffs, which are fabulous, but after an 8 hours sesh in the studio I feel a kind of "pressure deafness" if such a thing exists. It actually sort of hurts not to hear... I know it sounds bizarre, but its true.

-- As for accuracy, the Triton TRA001 was good but there were a few things that were beginning to really bug me. After making a guess to height, a test cut is needed, and to do so one has to lock the black handle underneath... and unlock it... every single time.

-- when I'm really into my work, I can really pump it out. Its no problem getting out a table, four chairs and 15 boxes in a day... but everything that slows me down makes me cranky. My setup isnt great - I'm severely space limited... so the router table needs to lowered/change if I make a cut on the table saw. If I lower the router to do a trim, then I need to get it back to the same position quickly. The Triton didn't let me do that. Most of the commercial jobs are hard to break into easily managed processes that are free of each bit of gear... it would be great to have more space, some tables spare and a spare machine (such as two routers).. if I had that then it would be nice :)

-- I also find that the Tritons bind occasionally (some PFTE solves that for a bit). There is a smidge too much slack in their height gearing and the fact I need to keep going under the table to lock it into place.... was making me nuts. I really dont think its a thing that would rankle anyone else, but I tend to get a bit crazy on the small stuff (never the big stuff!!)

The picture shows the setup is pretty cramped.

The circle in the picture is how Ive mounted the controller and "powerboard" on a blank of MDF. This in turn is fitted with one of the little incra rail nuts to fit hold it to the TSLS cross arm. I dont really take it off, so its a good place.

One last impression after using the new AUKtools motor with remote and the Incra Lifter for a bit.... Im in luuuurrrrrvvvvveee... It is soooo nice to raise the bit by 0.05mm, down 0.10mm.... lower it completely and have it right back to where it was in a few winds.... Lock it solid above the table... Its magic like your first girlfriend.

The magnetic pop-in inserts with the extra cutouts for dust are remarkably effective. I'll do a video and a few pictures for BobL for his opinion later on.

Sorry for all the words!

(The workshop cat is Fizzi, a mini-maine-coon. She supervises me most of the day. The arrow is showing the hot air coming from the AirCon!! They always find the warmest spot in winter :) )

Attachment 416542

That is a disgustingly good set up you have there!! I am not the least bit envious, however!!:rolleyes::rolleyes:

:) oh, that's only a small selection of everything :)

what s cool, its all covered by QBE in my contents. They are an excellent insurer.

There is more good news. I had a problem with runout on the prototype motor body. I noticed a worsening vibration, so grabbed the dial indicator. The collet socket was out 9 thou and the total at the base of a test carbide shaft was 18 thou. Totally buggered.

SO Grahame of PWS shipped another body super quick smart. I mounted this up yesterday and gave it a blast on a complex job for a client.

UNBELEIVABLE, it is super nice, super smooth, super quiet and super accurate. No razz, buzz and zero vibration. It's out less than 1 thou at the socket (my DI measures only that small on the lines, but it looks to be about 2/3 of that thousandth) and total at 1" up on a mounted carbide shaft is just a hair less than 3 thou.

im ecstatic.

Also, they have made several improvements: better socket for the on/off/speed controller, much better collets, an adjustment on the speed knob location (better) and finally a spare set of brushes. Id swear it's quieter too.

i was going to go with a CNC motor and VFD, but there is no need. Go with the motor/controller package from Professional Woodworking Supplies. It's fantastic.

100% recommended lifter package.

"I want what he's having":D