Woodworker's Journal fall-2008, страница 10

Combination kits are the "Dynamic Duo" of routing these days. You get both fixed and plunge bases with an interchangeable motor pack: exceptional value for all-around routing.

finally, don't underestimate the importance of dust collection on a table saw. Saws with shrouds that surround the blade allow a dust collector to grab the debris right at the source so it doesn't coat your nasal passages and worse, your lungs.

Routers & Router Tables

For edge profiling, mortising, template work and joinery, routers are invaluable core shop tools. But you don't need one of every size. Think hard about the work you do now and plan to do years from now. If you have no real plans to make wide custom molding or raise panels for cabinet doors, a httge 3 hp router may be more heft and cost than you need. Instead,

buy a Vh to Wh hp combo kit with a motor ^^^^ that fits in both a fixed and a plunge base.

V These two-base kits are top-notch, in my experience, and their aggregate cost is less than what you'll spend buying individual machines. Mount the fixed-base in your router table and use the other one for handheld work.

Here's what to look for in a quality router: variable-speed control with electronic feedback that maintains bit speed under load. Make sure the plunge base moves smoothly up and down with depth-setting controls that are easy to comprehend. You'll appreciate subbases that accept standard TV-diameter rub collars, and a sturdy edge guide is always a plus.

A router table is vita! to my woodworking. The ability to feed wood past the bit instead of guiding the tool over it is helpful for milling small or narrow parts. A router table is the only safe way to raise panels with those monstrous-sized bits. And, I like the added control offered by a stout, easy-to-adjust router table fence when milling rabbets, dadoes and mortises.

Do you need to buy a prefabricated router table? Certainly not, although some excellent systems are out there. If you're on a tight budget, build your own custom table from a good set of plans. Then, save up for a router lift. A mechanical lift will give you above-the-table bit changing ease, plus the ability to micro-adjust your bit height. Make sure your lift can accommodate a 3 hp router in the event you ever decide to step up to heavier cutting operations down the road.

Whether you build or buy a router table, it's a must-have upgrade that converts your handheld router into a respectable stationary tool. Here's the ticket to advanced joinery, panel-raising and heavy profiting jobs.

A router lift compliments your router table by allowing above-the-table bit changes and precise bit height control. While it's an expensive add-on, it's a sure thing for convenience and flawless results.

10 POWER TOOLS THAT WILL GROW WITH YOU

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