Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Got Wood?

A round-over router bit will have a bearing guide on the top so that you cant over cut into the wood. Clamp the wood top down so it doesn't slide all over the place, and use your plunge router in a locked down position. (you should be able to lock it so it doesn't plunge up or down)

Yeah, I bought a set of round over bits, just want to make sure I know the safe way to use them before I mess around with something that has sharp edges and does 15K RPM. Thanks for confirming freehanding it (as it were).

Well, rats. Looks like I ordered the wrong ones... didn't look at the description and bought some 1/2" shank bits and I only have a 1/4" router!

Guess it's time to buy that fixed router I was thinking about using for the router table...

Check!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004TKHV?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00

what brand of plunge router do you have.. you might be able to buy a 1/2 collet for it to fit your router bit and any future ones that you might get

I own 5 routers. a couple of the Porter Cable 690's, a Rona house brand, and two Porter Cable 892's I think. I might even have a sixth .. sold the colt trim one last year.

Don't spend more than you need. I'd look for one in a garage sale if you can. The ones with blood and part of someones finger generally sell pretty darn cheep.

I did not know you could do that. How would one figure out if the whole collet assembly is replaceable.

I tend to swing back and forth on how I buy tools. At this point, I'm in a "get the best I can afford because it makes a big difference" phase. This may apply mostly to hand tools (my Veritas plane is SO MUCH NICER than my Stanley), but I do appreciate the nicer stuff.

I don't really have any really nice power tools (table saw is a craigslist special 1980s vintage Craftsman, drill press is a little Harbor Freight sale item), so I'm treating myself with the Bosch.

The plunge router is pretty aggravating to use with the table, so I had been planning on getting a fixed base one in any case.

You know what they say......it all starts with tools for men....

Yes, Lee Valley do a good job on their planes and there is quite a bit of technology and research going into them. I've had many a good chat with Robin Lee (owner) about them. Though, I do own a few Lie Neilson tools, and they sure are beautiful with all the brass.

As for a router. I worked on the theory that I spend or waste more time swapping bits and getting them setup correctly, that it cost me far less to have multiple routers configured correctly, than one or two really good routers and messing up my work with them not setup right.

I bought my Porter Cable 690s refurb for $75. For my table's I have gone with the newer 894 as they have a better lock system with the collet and used them with a Jessem Master Lift FX & II.

Too many toys and not enough time to really use them.