Woodworker's Journal 2004-28-6, страница 47
TOOL REVIEW Stable footing for the router Is provided by the Leight FMT's oversized subbase. But it also incorporates two tiny guide pins — roughly centered in the light gray Teflon® pads — to control the movement of the tool. Twin mortises can easily be cut with Leigh FMT's router accessory. Shift the jig's top from side to side when cutting double tenons. Here, the first tenon has been cut and the top is being moved so the second can be cut. The sight isn't needed, because the top's stops were set before starting to cut. A sampling of joints cut using the FMT includes a single mortise and tenon, surely the most commonplace form, as well as a twin mortise and tenon suitable for post and rail constructions, and a double joint, used with wide stiles. 82 Leigh Frame Mortise and Tenon Jig Function: Cuts mortises and tenons Price: $855_ Shipping weight. 30 lbs._ Phone: 800-663-8932 _ Leigh FMT WoodRat The next of my shop's invaders turned out, once I got used to it hanging on the wall, to be a very practical joinery cutter. Woodworker are always on the lookout for easier, faster, more accurate — and, yes, more foolproof — means of cutting joints. The router is a great tool for this work, but each joint usually requires a different setup, a different jig — router table, dovetail jig, mortise and tenon jigs and on and on. Though fairly expensive (about $7(X)) exclusive of the router and bits, the WoodRat might be what you're looking for. It cuts dadoes and rabbets, sliding dovetails, mortises and tenons, laps, through and half-blind dovetails and box joints. But what is it? you ask. It's a mounting for a plunge router that gives you a range of movement in three axes. As much as 40" of side-to-side movement is provided by an extruded aluminum beam assembly that's hung on the wall. The main channel fixes the unit, providing a reference point for all the movement. Nested into the face of the channel is the sliding bar. Two parallel vertical fences, each opposed by an adjustable cam clamp, enable you to secure work to the sliding bar, and a crank and cable mechanism allows you to move the sliding bar left and right, taking the work with it. This is the first axis of movement. The router itself is mounted on a plate that's attached to the top of the channel and cantilevers over its face and the sliding bar. rI1iis complex mounting can be shifted in and out and raised slightly (using shims), and it can be twisted left and right. The router can be immobilized or allowed to slide fore and aft. This is the second axis of movement The router's plunge gives you a little vertical movement, the third axis. Tool Review continues on page 84 ... |
