Posts Tagged ‘recreation’

Product Description-Incra Precision Tools LS25WFNCSYS

By Ken Schulte

Everyone that is interested in woodworking wants to make something that makes others say ‘wow”
A router table adds a new dimension to your woodworking because of its amazing versatility. For such a simple concept, a spinning blade, the router table has so many different profiles.

I have always said that when you put your project on the router table it is wood, when you take it off, its furniture.

Here are the top reasons why you want a router table in your shop.

· Amazing versatility

· Versatile edge profiles

· Template following capabilities

· Dado and groove cutting

· Raised panel doors construction

· Precision joinery

· Rounding over wood

· Tables available in Large and bench top sizes

· Tons of accessories are available

· Router bits are available for almost anything

· You can make your own router table, but not your own table saw!

Just think, if you bought a 50-piece router bit set and brought it home, you could literally do 50 different types of cutting. That’s like getting 50 different machines in your shop.

Here are some cool things you can do with “unique” router bits

· Glue Joints

· Mortising

· Lock Mitres (for strong joints)

· Architectural moldings

· Stile and Rail joinery

· Box joints

· Panel raising

· Tongue and groove joints

· Finger joints

· Laminate trimming

· Face framing bits

· Dovetail joinery

· Sign making

· Rabbets

· Biscuit joining

· Slot cutting

· Round overs

· Fluting

· Multi beading

· Picture hanging bits

· Mullion cutters

One of the better aspects of routing on a router table is the ability to attach a dust collector to your router fence. I personally like a portable dust collector that is dedicated to my router table. If you can split the dust hose using a “T” you can collect dust at the router fence and again at the bottom of the table. This keeps your shop clean and organized.

There are so many accessories out there, it can boggle the mind. You can find almost anything for the most demanding project. With so many accessories available, I find it valuable to have a router table cabinet with drawers. Under the table portion of the cabinet is open so the router can breathe. Underneath I like having two drawers that keep all my router table items in one place. I could never keep all the little knobs, allen wrenches, collet wrenches and speed controls, to name a few, all organized. Imagine how easy it is with a couple of drawers to help you keep it all together.

So how do you learn more about your router table? You read, read and read some more. Thanks to the Internet, there is so much out there (for free) that you can learn. Hopefully this article has inspired you to go out and buy a router table and make something amazing.

If this article has inspired you, you may want to learn more about what type of router to purchase when you set up your router table. There are a lot of choices out there and the Internet can either help you or confuse you. I will be posting another article on this very subject.

Ken Schulte is a contributing editor to Router Table Depot. You can find other articles directly related to woodworking with routers and router tables at http://www.routertabledepot.com/Articles.html This site is dedicated to woodworking with router tables. Inside you will find not only lots of products to choose from, but extensive resources to extend your workshop knowledge.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Schulte
http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-You-Want-A-Router-Table-In-Your-Woodworking-Shop&id=369924

This is Bench Dog’s only small router table. It is what we call a “mini cabinet” It has all the features of their larger cabinets but in a smaller size that is designed to fit under your work bench. This table would be good to take on the job if you do any sort of contracting work. It has all the good design features that you come to expect from Bench Dog and the price is reasonable. $239

Top

• 24” x 16”
• Laminate covered
• Miter Gauge slot with ¼ accessory t-slot
• 8 Leveling screws
• Fits all standard Bench Dog Inserts

Fence

• 22” x 3 5/8”
• Adjustable sub fences
• Bit guard included
• Jointing capabilities

Insert

• 2” bit hole
• Phenolic
• Predrilled for these routers only: Bosch 1617series, DW616/618series, DW621, DW625, Fein RT1800, Hitachi M12VC, Makita 1100series, Milwaukee 5615/16/19 series, Milwaukee 5625, All Porter Cable, Triton MOF001 and TRA001

Cabinet

• 15” inside height 22” outside height
• Birch Ply
• Rubber Feet
• Twin steel rail supports

Customer reviews

There are quite a few customer reviews for this product. I have taken a brief snapshot of them to give you an idea.

1. Excellent portable router table
2. Better Than Most, But Still Some Issues
3. Well-Made Table
4. A Best Buy in Router Tables
5. Perfect router table for a weekend warrior
6. The FINEST Benchtop router table at ANY price!
7. Quality well built table
8. Excellent Portable Router Table
9. quality product
10. solid, well-built router table

You can find this table at Bench Dog 40-001 Router Table

This is a router table combo deal, you really do not see much of them at all any more. I will have to find some more of these types of table out there since they are a package that is ready to go and is very handy for most woodworkers.  Includes Freud’s FT2200E Plunge router, adjustable fence and aluminum insert.

• Includes Freud’s FT2200E 3 1/4 hp 15 amp variable speed router w/soft start, 10,000 to 22,500 rpm, electronic speed control, micro adjustable depth control, and 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch collets included
• SH-5 micro adjustable fence to .001 inch. Includes dust collection port, MDF fence faces, chip guard, and mounting screws
• Premium 9 x 12 aluminum insert plate that won’t sag under heavy weight router. Precision machined for flatness and an 8-point leveling system for a flush fit. Comes with two snap down rings and starter pin
• Sturdy 16 gauge steel stand. Height adjusts from 32 to 38 inches and comes with rubber leveling feet and a large 31 1/2 inch x 23 1/2 inch x 1 inch laminated MDF table top.
• 5 year limited warranty on the FT2200E Router. 60 days warranty on fence, table top, and legs

From the Manufacturer
Freud’s new router / table combo package makes it easy to set up a professional router table system. For one price you receive Freud’s FT2200E 3 1/4 HP 15 amp electronic variable speed router with soft start, SH- 5 micro-adjustable router fence to .001 inch and built in dust collection port, a large 31 1/2 inch x 23 1/2 inch x 1 inch table top constructed of high pressure laminate with MDF core and 3/4 inch t-track, a 9 x 12 aluminum insert plate that won’t sag under weight of heavy router and precision machined for flatness, and a sturdy 16 gauge steel stand adjustable in height from 32 to 38 inches. Includes rubber leveling feet to ensure table is level.

There are a lot of thoughts about putting a plunge router into a router table.  Some people do and some dont.  I am a big fan of buying combo kits that have both bases so that you can keep the fixed base in the table and use the plunge base around the shop.  There is a really good article about this very subject that will help you decide which base type to get. The article is a two parter and a great read.   Routers for router tables.

Freud RTS5220 Router/Table Combo Package. Includes FT2200E Router, SH-5 Micro-Adjustable Fence, Aluminum Insert Plate and Sturdy 16 Gauge Steel Stand

Are you the type of guy that wants to buy something once, and never again?  For some tools , I find myself doing just that.  If I know the tool I really don’t want to buy a inexpensive one to see if I like it.  If it is something I know I am going to use a lot, I go out and buy something that I know my kids will fight over when I am dead.  Certain big items like table saws, router tables, drill presses, band saws and dust collectors all fit this mindset (for me).  Although expensive ,this top is one of those items where you buy once and you never have to think about replacing it.  Its heavy duty and will last several lifetimes if you take care of it.  Quality is not an issue with this since your really cannot due a whole lot to damage a cast iron top.  This one tops out at $429, and you have to purchase an insert and a fence.  See the product review at the bottom.

Features and Specs:

Do you need the toughest router table top on the market?  Then look no further than the Bench Dog 40-100 cast iron table top.

This cast iron top is heavy duty, it will meet all your expectations for any project that you can throw at it.  It is a solid one piece unit weighing in at 100lbs.

• machine ground to .008
• 12 point leveling and locking capabilities
• Fits both Baltic Birch Cabinet and the Steel ProStand
• Dual track miter and t-track, molded into top.
• Fence Slots fit Pro Fence 32
• This model number (40-100) is for the top only, Insert is sold seperately

If your looking to order the top and the fence, that item number is called the Bench Dog Pro Max 40-301, Cast Iron table and fence combo

If your looking to order this top, Pro Fence and Pro Cabinet, that is called the Bench Dog RT Complete 40-300

I also found a helpful review on Amazon that gives some good insight to the stability issue I mention above.  This is a amazon product review.  When I find more, I will reference them here.

A couple years ago I spent nearly $300 on a Rockler MDF router table. I thought I was buying quality – wrong. After about a year the blasted thing warped with just the weight of the router. It now has a bow of about 3/16″ from the sides to the center. Talk about disappointing. You can’t do quality routing on a warped router table.

So, I went on a determined search to find a quality router table. I had decide that if I couldn’t find a commercially available unit I would have one custom made. But I wasn’t wasting any more money on junk.

Lo’ and behold I found that Benchdog makes a cast iron router table. $429 Sounds expensive but not when you consider that junk costs 2/3rds of that…it’s inexpensive in the long run.

I’ve been using it now for several months. This is one nice router table. I customized it a little bit because I needed to mount it to my work bench to accommodate my Incra micro-adjustable split router fence. The support table frame that I bought with it is also quality. I drilled two holes in the cast iron edge and bolted it to my (heavy) work bench. The set up works great. I do precision routing with this setup and am very pleased with the stability of the entire set up.

Note well since it is cast iron, it will rust. So, I clean it with Windex with ammonia, then spray a wax based corrosion inhibitor which also lubricates the surface (between uses). Note well, this router table weighs about a 100 lbs.

I also purchased the Benchdog router lift. Very nice. My first experience with a router lift. the only caveat is that the lift will not raise the router high enough to change bits. You have to lower the router and change bits below the table. Overall, I am extremely pleased.

Bench Dog Pro Top Phenolic is an intersting table since it is made entirely of Phenolic material.  This would mostly come down to preference since it is not made of MDF, which is very stable in my opinion, nor is it made of cast iron.  Any of the those materials make good flat table tops, so it really comes down to weight and personal preference when buying this table top.  Keep in mind Bench Dog now requires you to buy their inserts seperatly.  This is not a bad idea, because it keeps you from settling with what they give you verses what you would really rather have.

This top and fence sells for $340 on average.

The Bench Dog 40-201 Top and Fence set includes Bench Dogs 40-101 Pro Top and 40-132 Pro Fence all in one package.

• Enjoy a solid 3/4″ Phenolic top for amazing durability and stability.
• 31 1/2″ x 23 1/4″
• Built in dual miter track and t-track gives you amazing versatility that can be used with standard accessories.
• Mounts to any Bench Dog Cabinet or steel stand.  You can also mount it to fit your own design.
• The Insert for Bench Dog tables are now sold SEPERATELY

40-132 Fence

• Heavy duty Aluminum, one piece
• Fence length is 32″ x 3 1/2″
• Adjustable Subfences
• Bit Guard included
• 28” x 3 5/8”
• accessory t-lock, accepts 1/4″ & 5/16″ t-bolt plus 1/4″ hex bolt
• Dust Port 2 ½”
• Hole free sub fences

Bench Dog Router Table Inserts

Ever heard of the triton router line of routers?  They are made in Australia and have a pretty good reputation.  One of the coolest features is that you can make above the table bit changes and work a bit faster on your router table.

I do have one problem with it though, and that problem is that it is a big honking router.  It’s not just this router, but I generally have a problem with big honking routers in general.  I have written several articles in the past debating the use of large routers in router tables.  In my opinion, I really do not understand why someone would want one this big.  That is neither here nor there because most people will do what they want, and that is all well and good.  The weight is the main issue when you mount it to a acrylic or phenolic router insert plate.  If you store the router on the plate and IN the table, you will have some problems since the weight of the router will eventually sag the plate.

So here is the newest dilemma, I suggest getting a aluminum plate to solve this problem.  A customer writes me and says that he upgraded his table with a metal insert but left his Triton in the table for a few months.  So guess what?  I was astonished, it bent.  Maybe it was the grade aluminum used, maybe there was something else on the table or maybe the stars were aligned wrong, but it bent the plate.  I mention this so I can stand on my soap box and say HEY don’t store your router in the table!  It’s kind of like saying ” I told you so” but that is wrong and no one wants to hear that.  I could say, why dont you buy a shaper if you have to have a big honking horse under the hood?  But know one wants to hear that either.  But there is a moral to the story, and a technique if I may add one too.

Use a 2 1/4 horsepower router (pick your favorite), don’t shave off more than 1/4″ in one pass ( or less if you can) , since you will most likely burn the wood anyhow.  Slow down and enjoy the project and take small passes.  You will save a hundred bucks and some sanity to go with it.  Other than that, its a great router.

Here is another link to a review of this router to be totally fair  Review

This is a review of Router Table Depot’s Large RM 405 router table.  This table turned out to be much better than I ever expected.  A couple of things stood out.  First is the fence.  Everyone knows that the fence is the heart and soul of a table.  I really liked the heavy duty aluminum core.  The picture just does not show how heavy and robust this thing is.  It also has these 6″ high MDF extensions.  Now other tables such as Bench Dog or Woodpeckers give you a 3′ high extension, so these were really stand out.  The extra space can help you use vertical bits which tend to stand up taller and in turn you would be routing larger items like a door panel.  So having the extra few inches on the fence saved me from building up my own custom fence just to get the job done.

The table top is nice too, laminated on both sides and sporting a typical acrylic insert.  This insert is fine for normal everyday routing, which is what I mostly do.  It also has a miter track so that you can add something like a coping sled or a featherboard too.  The stand is slightly different than what is pictured.  It would appear to have been improved slightly by adding a bigger leg and adding a slight camber to it.  You can still add a shelf and I give the design a thumbs up for the money.

Here are the features of the table for your research:

Top

• 31 3/4″ x 23 3/4″
• 1 3/8″ thick
• Top and bottom laminate surface
• 3/4″ mitre track installed

Insert

• Deluxe Insert with removable rings
• 12″x 9″ x 3/8″ thick
• 1/4″ mounting lip
• 1 1/4″ opening for Porter Cable style bushings
• 2 5/8″ opening
• 4″ opening
• Can be used with any router
• Starter pin included
• Stays perfectly in place with magnets and set screws to the top  Perfect for fine precision work.

Fence

• Split fence design
• Aluminum angle iron with dust cutout
• Aluminum measures 33″ x 4″ x 4″
• MDF adjustable fences are a whopping 1″ thick
• MDF fences measure 18″ x 6″
• T-track installed for accessories!
• Upgraded dust port with 2 1/2 adaptor to attach directly to 2 1/2″ hose
• Measuring tape on top of fence
• High quality laminate covering

Stand

• Sturdy Steel design
• Easy assembly
• 27″ x 19″ x 32″

Shipping Dimensions

• 34″ x 26″ x 8″

You can find the table right on their site.  Router Table or by going to Router Table Depot directly.

By Ryan Henderson

Any individual that owns any type of tools knows the importance of keeping them maintained and in good working order. Most of the wood working tools for example are not cheap to buy. In addition, they will not do the best job they are designed for if the applicable ones are not kept sharp.

Keeping the woodworking tools sharp does not only make for precision work it reduces the possibility of accidents as well. This means that you are going to have to invest in some tools just to do the job of keeping the others sharpened. The problem is how do you know which ones to buy for what tool. What you are going to need will also be determined as to the type of woodworking you do. Each specialized area has its own tool requirements. For example, if you do woodcarving or construct wood furniture then your needs will be different.

There are some tools that you can hand sharpen but there are others that will require power sharpeners. You will need to learn about each one of your tools then determine what will be needed to sharpen them.

One thing you are going to learn is that power equipment designed for sharpening tools do not necessarily do a better job they are just able to do the same job much faster. For tools that have been neglected the power sharpening tools work great at removing any build up debris on the cutting components. Most often, these cutting edges are gouged and this really is where you will need the power sharpening equipment to do an effective job.

One of the most popular pieces of equipment for sharpening is the grinders. It must be noted that the shop grinders are not for using on woodworking tools in their original state. They need some modifications done to them first. You will need to remove the original wheel that comes on the shop grinder and replace it with one of the wheels that is designed specifically for sharpening wood working tools. The original blade that came on your grinder is designed for sharpening items such as the blades of your lawnmower or for grinding in general.

Another part that also needs to be changed is the tool rest. You will find the tool rest that comes on the grinder difficult to adjust because it’s so small. This makes it most difficult for any type of control of your grinding. Doing your grinding up grades won’t be difficult to do because they are readily available on the market.

Once you have purchased your grinder and completed the necessary changes to it then you will be ready to start getting your woodworking tools back in shape where they can do a great job just like they were designed to do. Often novices to woodworking tools will blame the inferior job they are doing on the quality of the tool not realizing it’s because of a dull blade. Then there are some that will attempt to just change the blade instead of sharpening the one they have.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and learnt something from it.

What to do next:

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Henderson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Calling-All-Woodworkers—Understanding-Sharpening-Tools-and-Equipment—Woodworking&id=2378385

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