Router and Router table

[Ash Parikh]

I am in market to buy a router table. But before I do that I want to replace my 25 year old Craftsman Router. I am a moderate woodworker with better than average skill and week end user but believe in precision. Budget $400 for both.

[John Schaben]

Right now Craftsman has a 2 HP two base combo kit on sale for $80. I think it has above table access also but not sure on that model. Would be worth looking into. Woodcraft also has a Black Friday sale on the 3~1/4 HP Freud for $199. That just runs a couple of days though.
The little Hitachi you mentioned is a nice little router but the motor twists to set the depth, not good for table use in my opinion. The cord keeps wrapping around. Not unusable, just a PIA in my opinion.

[Kerry Werry]

I have Rigid that I got for 199.00 Cdn at HD, probably cheaper for you Yankees :-) comew with regular and plunge bases..

Has same hole pattern as Porter Cable for table mounting.

Seems like a good piece of gear for the money.

KLW

[Harry Tilley]

Get the big P C router motor only for your table. It will handle any thing you throw at it, especially the big back cutters. Its also variable speed so you have lots of choices on speed. Get a plan and build your own table with Kreg pocket holes.

judget

[John Schaben]

Harry Tilley said:

Get the big P C router motor only for your table. It will handle any thing you throw at it, especially the big back cutters. Its also variable speed so you have lots of choices on speed. Get a plan and build your own table with Kreg pocket holes.

judget

I 100% agree about the big PC, downside is you really need to factor in a lift for that big dog bad boy.
Sorta blows a $400 budget.

[Dale Chinn]

Some research on the web on routers and router pricing will allow you to get the router that meets your needs at the best price. I agree the big PC motor is out of the question based on cost and the need for a lift. It is a slippery slope with routers, router tables, fences and lifts.

Save some money by building your own router table base (cabinet or bench top base) and either making your own router table or buying one. Many articles on the woodworking websites on building router tables. You should be able to come in under your budget.

[Gary roofner]

I have been studying the router table issue. I did not have much money I went with a sears 2hp router found $80 . I found a problem with sears router very poor adjustment
however there are 2 solutions. I didn't know about the second. Here is a picture.

Another solution is in this link http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pag...
Robert had another similar product from Rockler may even the same product.
Actually there is 3 fixes a router lift with a purchase plate.
I had a router table from sears had problems I fixed those however I am probably build my own routertable a portable with a purchase plate because of fence.
I have not made a rasied panel yet probably about as demanding a task performed by a rotertable. I would like the advice of others about needing 3 hp router or is multiple passes with a 2 hp router just as good?

[Robert J Guidry Sr]

The link you had is the same Router Raizer sold by Rockler. As for your question about 2 vs 3 Hp, check the specs of the 2 hp router and see if it is recommended to run a raised panel bit the size you want to run. These are large heavy bits and need the hp to run them. Even with a 3 hp rouuter it is recommended to run them in several passes. As far as I know the only bits recommended one pass is shaper bits on a shaper.

Bob



Robert had another similar product from Rockler may even the same product.
Actually there is 3 fixes a router lift with a purchase plate.
I had a router table from sears had problems I fixed those however I am probably build my own routertable a portable with a purchase plate because of fence.
I have not made a rasied panel yet probably about as demanding a task performed by a rotertable. I would like the advice of others about needing 3 hp router or is multiple passes with a 2 hp router just as good?

[Dale Chinn]

Reading this thread, I did a quick search and found this discussion on another forum. From what I have read, you can use a 2-1/4 hp router to cut raised panels, but multiple passes and even with a 3+ hp there is general agreement that you should at least two cuts. I have looked at doing raised panels stiles and rails, but have not gotten into it as yet. The cost for a set of raised panel bits can set you back.

Here is the link to just one discussion (many on the web) on this topic:

http://www.woodworking.com/ww/Article/Routers_7492.aspx

Dale

[Ash Parikh]

What you think about PC variable speed combo like 895PK? I like the power and ease of height adjustment from above the table.

Harry Tilley said:

Get the big P C router motor only for your table. It will handle any thing you throw at it, especially the big back cutters. Its also variable speed so you have lots of choices on speed. Get a plan and build your own table with Kreg pocket holes.

judget

[John Schaben]

Gary roofner said:

I have been studying the router table issue. I did not have much money I went with a sears 2hp router found $80 . I found a problem with sears router very poor adjustment
however there are 2 solutions. I didn't know about the second. Here is a picture.

Another solution is in this link http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pag...
Robert had another similar product from Rockler may even the same product.
Actually there is 3 fixes a router lift with a purchase plate.
I had a router table from sears had problems I fixed those however I am probably build my own routertable a portable with a purchase plate because of fence.
I have not made a rasied panel yet probably about as demanding a task performed by a rotertable. I would like the advice of others about needing 3 hp router or is multiple passes with a 2 hp router just as good?

Hi Gary - not to sure just what the issue was that you had with the depth setting but that looks like an effective fix.
You can do raised panels just fine with ~2 HP routers, just take some extra cuts. Most I know that do a lot of raised panels will take 3 cuts with a big router, 2 passes to get close and the last pass at 1/64 to clean up. Maybe need one extra pass with a 2HP.

[Gary roofner]

The Craftsmen are notoris bad rack and pinions slip when adusting hard to adust the jack fixes this problem.

John Schaben said:

Gary roofner said:

I have been studying the router table issue. I did not have much money I went with a sears 2hp router found $80 . I found a problem with sears router very poor adjustment
however there are 2 solutions. I didn't know about the second. Here is a picture.

Another solution is in this link http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pag...
Robert had another similar product from Rockler may even the same product.
Actually there is 3 fixes a router lift with a purchase plate.
I had a router table from sears had problems I fixed those however I am probably build my own routertable a portable with a purchase plate because of fence.
I have not made a rasied panel yet probably about as demanding a task performed by a rotertable. I would like the advice of others about needing 3 hp router or is multiple passes with a 2 hp router just as good?

Hi Gary - not to sure just what the issue was that you had with the depth setting but that looks like an effective fix.
You can do raised panels just fine with ~2 HP routers, just take some extra cuts. Most I know that do a lot of raised panels will take 3 cuts with a big router, 2 passes to get close and the last pass at 1/64 to clean up. Maybe need one extra pass with a 2HP.

[John Schaben]

Gary roofner said:

The Craftsmen are notoris bad rack and pinions slip when adusting hard to adust the jack fixes this problem.

John Schaben said:

Gary roofner said:

I have been studying the router table issue. I did not have much money I went with a sears 2hp router found $80 . I found a problem with sears router very poor adjustment
however there are 2 solutions. I didn't know about the second. Here is a picture.

Another solution is in this link http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pag...
Robert had another similar product from Rockler may even the same product.
Actually there is 3 fixes a router lift with a purchase plate.
I had a router table from sears had problems I fixed those however I am probably build my own routertable a portable with a purchase plate because of fence.
I have not made a rasied panel yet probably about as demanding a task performed by a rotertable. I would like the advice of others about needing 3 hp router or is multiple passes with a 2 hp router just as good?

Hi Gary - not to sure just what the issue was that you had with the depth setting but that looks like an effective fix.
You can do raised panels just fine with ~2 HP routers, just take some extra cuts. Most I know that do a lot of raised panels will take 3 cuts with a big router, 2 passes to get close and the last pass at 1/64 to clean up. Maybe need one extra pass with a 2HP.

OK, wasn't sure. Depends on who's making Crapsmans flavor of the year I guess. Not a big Craftsman fan myself. Got one Sears router I inherited from my father and it's such a POS I set it up for dovetails and that's the way it stays. I had heard on other forums that the newer ones were pretty good, that $80 kit being an especially good value. Guess I'm glad I passed on it and went for the Freud.