Maybe now I have a reason to buy a router...

[ChadTower]

Just picked up a Bally Fathom... one of the primary plastics is cracked in half pretty badly.  I'm thinking up ways to repro this complex shape.  Router, anyone?

[Chris G]

Man, you're just on a pinball-buying tear, aren't you? 

[ChadTower]

No, only bought the one, if you're talking about my thread in Arcade Misc.  Same pin.

[Chris G]

Ah yes... duh. 

I think I remember you talking about wanting to go with a fixed router in another post.  Is that still your plan?  I think I've "researched" myself into a plunge.

Chris

[ChadTower]

Haven't decided yet, I was looking for a specific reason to buy one first.  As it is this is a stretch.  I'm talking about buying an expensive power tool to make a thin plastic part. 

[ScottS]

Haven't decided yet, I was looking for a specific reason to buy one first.  As it is this is a stretch.  I'm talking about buying an expensive power tool to make a thin plastic part. 

A router is always a good tool to have around. Especially the kits that include a 2 or 2.25HP motor with both fixed and plunge bases. That said, in your particular case it might be cheaper to get someone to make the part for you. In this area, Tap Plastics would be the place I'd contact.

BTW, depending on the type of plastic and the thickness, you might see if you could use a jigsaw to make the part (assuming you own a jigsaw). Might require some sanding and polishing of the cut edge to get it to look good, but that's pretty easy to handle.

[ChadTower]

I do have a jigsaw and have thought of that... pinball plastics are soft and I'm not sure that a jigsaw would work with the material.  It's possible I could sandwich it between two thin hardwoods and try it that way, I suppose.  That would require a blade with the most teeth I could possibly find, yes?

[ScottS]

I do have a jigsaw and have thought of that... pinball plastics are soft and I'm not sure that a jigsaw would work with the material.  It's possible I could sandwich it between two thin hardwoods and try it that way, I suppose.  That would require a blade with the most teeth I could possibly find, yes?

That's sort of what I was thinking: put the plastic on top of a piece of wood, or sandwich it between two pieces of wood. In terms of blades, I think you'd just have to try a couple. Tap Plastics sells table saw blades for plastics and they seem to have a large number of teeth. On the other hand, when I was building my deck out of Trex, which is basically just recycled soda bottles and sawdust, they suggested using a low number of teeth; blades with lots of heat would tend to overheat and gum up.

I'd get two or three different blades and try them on some scrap plastic. If the plastic starts to melt or the blade gets gunked up, switch to one with fewer teeth per inch. If the blade is fine but the cut is ragged, switch to a blade with more teeth per inch.

[NiteWalker]

Go for it and get a router. You won't regret it unless you mangle a couple of fingers.

I also would suggest getting a combo kit with a plunge and fixed base. Here's one, and here's my favorite. I have both kits and like the dewalt kit much better. It's a better machine and kit in most respects. And while you're at it, might as well get this too.

Once you get a router you'll wonder how you ever managed without one.

[ChadTower]

Pricey... I'll have to wait until they come down enough to justify or else just get a lower end model.  I'm not a heavy woodworker.

[NiteWalker]

Not too long ago the dewalt kit hit $149.99. That's cheaper than the fixed base alone. But yeah, wait for a sale. Don't cut yourself short by getting a sub par router. It'll only disappoint you in the end. Save the pennies for a good tool, even if you don't use it that often (c'mon now, it's a router. Once you use it you won't be able to put it down ). It'll just last that much longer.

[ChadTower]

Your enchanting is evil.

[Chris G]

I second that.  This Nitewalker guy's got me into 2 tools for almost $400.  It's going to be like a McDonald's employee cutting a Filet o' Fish with a sushi knife.   

Chris

[NiteWalker]

Both of you will thank me in the end.

[ChadTower]

Maybe... but it may be my wife's foot that thanks you in the end if I buy half the stuff I'm nearly buying... 

[NiteWalker]

I'm married too. And I've felt the wrath of the foot many times...

Here, use this: "But honey, by getting this now while it's on sale I actually saved us money." May or may not work, and if it does it likely won't work twice.

Another quick trick is to build her a small jewlery box. She'll love you for it. If all else fails bring up her shoe collection.

Oh yes, there's ways around this.

[ChadTower]

My wife has a nice jewelry box... she isn't into jewelry, though, and got mad at me the one time I spent any real cash on earrings for her.

I do tend to wait until I have a specific use for a tool, most of the time, and that is what saves me from the wrath.  Especially if it's a honeydo task.

[Chris G]

Both of you will thank me in the end.

I'm already thanking you - the help and encouragement is appreciated.   

I just tried to use this Amazon gift certificate I had to buy the jigsaw and they say it has "already been applied to another order".  I asked by whom and they said they couldn't tell me but that it wasn't my account.  So it's obviously fraud but they're saying I'm out of luck.  WTF!!!  Grrrr..... 

[NiteWalker]

I would call back and try to speak to a supervisor. they're usually really good about taking care of their customers. There's been a few times that I had to call in because of a promo mix up. Every time was handled in my favor.

Glad I can help. 

[leapinlew]

Buy it!

Tell her it's to fix the bushes.

[ChadTower]

Heh.  She's smarter than that.  She'd expect to see me using it on the bushes.

[Chris G]

Heh.  She's smarter than that.  She'd expect to see me using it on the bushes.

Shouldn't be a problem... per Nitewalker's profile, "Routers can do anything."

[ChadTower]

Maybe I can get a ditch digging bit and route the damaged plants out of the ground.

[leapinlew]

Heh.  She's smarter than that.  She'd expect to see me using it on the bushes.

 

[Crax]

Maybe I can get a ditch digging bit and route the damaged plants out of the ground.

You need the router to make some decorative wood slats that support the bushes as well as look nice.

[ChadTower]

I have it!

I've been thinking of building a few bartops for varying purposes... well, the way to do that is to make a template kit and route them out, yes?   

Plus there is a big pile of old weathered scrap wood in my yard from small demolitions.  I could practice on it all weekend.

[NiteWalker]

Awesome.
What router did you get?

What kind of bar top are you trying to build?

Be careful with the scraps, make sure there's no hidden nails or screws. Nothing makes the mudhole pucker up quicker than carbide hitting metal...

[ChadTower]

I mean I have the reason... still need to wait on the right deal for the tool. 

I have a thread in the projects section discussing the design of a horror FPS bartop and following that will be at least one Dreamcast bartop.  If I become proficient at making them I may knock out a couple a year and see what the local market brings for them. 

[NiteWalker]

oh...
See! Got me all excited!

 
The horror bartop sounds cool. I'll check that thread out. A dc bartop sounds cool too.
Yeah a router will help you out big time for shaping the top and even the other pieces if needed.

Can't wait to see these ideas come to fruition.

[NiteWalker]

Better yet, here's a good start for a deal on a router. I might go to HD to check it out myself.

[Buddabing]

This guy has a whole page devoted to the topic of reproducing your own plastics. I hope the plastics in question are flat, like slingshot plastics.

[ChadTower]

Yeah, these are standard playfield plastics.  One is pretty big and a complex shape.  I hadn't thought of a rotary tool router attachment... I do have a Black
and Decker rotary tool.

Thanks for the link, I think I read through that a couple of years ago but didn't remember it.

[ChadTower]

This isn't too far from me, probably 45 minutes drive... maybe I could talk him down from $150.  I can't tell from the pics, is that plunge or fixed base?




Also this one... not as good a router but $100 and has a table.

[Crax]

This isn't too far from me, probably 45 minutes drive... maybe I could talk him down from $150.  I can't tell from the pics, is that plunge or fixed base?

From what it looks like in pic1, it has a fixed D-handle base and a plunge base as well.  It's a 3 piece set he says, so I am assuming he is referring to the two bases and the motor.

[ChadTower]

Looking backwards on CL I see that he has been posting it 4 or more times already.  Maybe I can talk him down to $125.  Do you see any obvious flaws or missing pieces?

[Crax]

That second pic is of the plunge base #6931, so it definitely has both bases.  I would call/email him and find out what model of router he has as that base can be used for multiple models.   Looks pretty good, but if he has posted it 4 times with no luck, then make sure he lowers the price for you.  He says it's hardly used, but make sure it isn't rusty or anything like that as well.

[ChadTower]

Already emailed to get the model #...    We'll see what he says, maybe I'll get lucky and it's the 800 series.

[Crax]

Already emailed to get the model #...    We'll see what he says, maybe I'll get lucky and it's the 800 series.

Don't think that base will work an 800.  It's supposed to be for 630, 670, 690, 691 models

[ChadTower]

It also seems to come with the other 69x series... the 693 and 694 3 part kits both have it.

[NiteWalker]

Here's the scoop. The first router you linked to is a Porter Cable 693LRPK with the d-handle base as well. Very good price at $150, even better if you can swing him to $130 or $140. The motor is a 690. Those things were built to last. There are 20 year old originals around still running as good as they day they were made. I have 2 of those routers and would happily own 20.

The second router kit you linked to is a ryobi. I used to have the same router. The depth adjustment ring froze up on me. No amount of wd-40 or any type of lube would get it moving again. It was a decent router for the 3 years I had it though. Not worth $100 though. I'd say $75 tops because the router only takes 1/4" shank bits.

If you happen to get the porter cable kit you can throw the fixed base in a shop built router table (if you can build a box you can build a router table) and use the plunge and d-handle bases for out of the table work. The fixed base can be left attached to the table. Just change the motor to whatever base you need.

Hope this helps out.