Router Buying Help

[steveh]

Greetings,

I am looking to buy a router/bits for my arcade machine project.  I have never used one (actually i might have used one in highschool.)
I want something all around that i could use for any and every possible use i might need in building a cab.  i obviously need to cut the slots for tmolding, and i want to be able to flush-mount, or recess a joysick.  I might want to cut plexi (can i do this) or laminate.  Can i get a good router that does this all or do i need different hw?

I found 2 different routers in a decent price range at harbor freight.  Ive been pretty happy with the tools i purchased there before.  The first one is:
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-horsepower-fixed-base-router-68341.html
its a 2 HP Fixed base Router
the Second is:
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-half-hp-variable-speed-plunge-router-67119.html
this is a 1.5 HP Plunge Router

Im not really familiar with the difference in these routers.  Is the plunge router a better option, even though it has less HP.  Why would i want a plunge router over a Fixed base router.

Also is any one familair with these? should i spend 2-3 times more for a different name brand?

They also have this smaller router:
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-quarter-inch-trim-router-44914.html


Also with the router, i guess i will need bits.  Ive seen some threads on bits, but im not exactly sure what bits i would need.  would a kit like this cover all my bases, or should i just look elsewhere for bits?
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piece-carbide-tip-router-bits-46832.html

thanks for your help.

[Mysterioii]

<<Gets some popcorn and sits to wait for the Harbor Freight-bashing to start>>   

[Mysterioii]

On a serious note there are lots of folks here who can give you some very educated assistance in this matter, and I'm sure they'll be along shortly.  And I'm not being snarky, they know their stuff.

[griffindodd]

Consider buying a used high quality brand. I got a Bosch 2.25hp plunge 1/2 and 1/4 from ebay for $120 shipped and it was barely used, it's sooooooooooooo nice.

My recommendation for router bits are Whiteside or Freud all the way, no point in buying cheap bits they will just mess up your work and dull quickly.

www.woodworkersworld.net have the best prices on Whiteside, it's where I buy all mine from.

[selfie]

I have zero experience with Harbour Freight so I won't go there. But as a guide I have 4 Makita plunge routers that have performed flawlessly for years other than needing new brushes and bearings.

Go with a plunge router over the fixed base. The ability to adjust the depth of cut will make the tool a lot more versatile.

The 1/4" job is a laminate trimmer. It's a very handy tool to have, but don't expect it to have the guts to cut MDF or ply thicker than 1/4" or cut T mould slots with out seriously straining the motor. They are very good for trimming acrylic (plexiglass). Short of a LASER cutter, a router with a sharp bit is the best tool for high quality cut finish in plastics.

A pack of bits like the one you have shown is a good idea to have to learn how to use the router and to have the odd bit that you may only need once.

For high quality bits I use Vortex tools, CMT and CT tools bits. Not cheap though.

[yaksplat]

Consider buying a used high quality brand. I got a Bosch 2.25hp plunge 1/2 and 1/4 from ebay for $120 shipped and it was barely used, it's sooooooooooooo nice.

My recommendation for router bits are Whiteside or Freud all the way, no point in buying cheap bits they will just mess up your work and dull quickly.

www.woodworkersworld.net have the best prices on Whiteside, it's where I buy all mine from.

+1 to everything in this post

[jmike]

I would recommend you get a name brand router, just cause you'll need one in the long run for future projects (I have a fixed base Craftsman router that came with a table. I think I got it during the holidays for $90).
I've bought some things from Harbor Freight, some have been pretty good, but some are poorly made. (stay away from the plastic clamps)

I do however have the small trim router you showed the link for and love it. It's been working really well but again I don't force it with a heavy load, just cut out the plexi or even trim down the laminate.

Hope that helps.

 

[pinballjim]

Just remember you can always get 20% off at Harbor Freight with a coupon.

Rig up a dimmer switch and you can make it variable speed, too.

[Mysterioii]

I got an email just yesterday with a "special offer direct from the president of Harbor Freight, just for their bestest customers ever in the whole wide world."  You know what it was?  That 20%-on-one-item-good-in-stores-only coupon you can get all over the place...

I actually do buy a few things from them if I need something cheap that I know won't see frequent or heavy use; I know the quality is pretty low but I'm not as hard on 'em as some folks.  But man I wish you could use that coupon for online orders, I'm just not conveniently close to the stores...

[steveh]

They just opened a store in town, and ive been pretty happy with the quality of the tools i have gotten there.  That being said ive not bought many power tools from there.  only thing i have gotten is a drill.  and it seems to work well. 

It sounds like a router is a handy tool and i just don't want to go wrong.  I also don't want to spend an arm and a leg on something that i dont know how often it will get used.

If the Harbor Freight Routers are not that great, or at minimum suspect maybe ill look else where.  alternative routers are 4x as expensive tho.  One router i did look at is this:  http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-1617EVSPK-4-Horsepower-Variable-Collets/dp/B00005RHPD/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3C6473R62G6MD&coliid=I1TJZ0F9H1KZ7R

i spoke with my uncle and he might have a good router in his shed.  so i think ill look that way first.

If he does not have one, what do you think about the Bosch i just listed.  is it overkill?

also what router bits should i get.  I would like a kit with a collection of bits (guess you never know what you need) but i would also like to know what size type ect, bits i should get for all around arcade building.

[pinballjim]

Harbor Freight has always been fine with one exception.  My mom bought some sander thing there, last one on the shelf, and they kept insisting she get the warranty.  She declined and got it home and it didn't work.  Months later when I found out about this debacle, I opened it up and it was full of sheetrock rust.  Someone had burned it out on the job, wiped it off, and returned it.

Anyway, we did the ol'shifty return as warranty trick.  Bought another one, stuck the burned out one in the box, and did an exchange. 

Just use some common sense and take a look at it before you buy it.  I don't walk into Lowe's or Home Depot without a knife to open up the boxes of anything I'm about to buy either and those employees can give me dirty looks all they want.

[griffindodd]

Bosch 2HP plunge Router with 1/4 and 1/2 inch collets, exactly the same as mine, $108, will last forever...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOSCH-1613EVS-Plunge-ROUTER-/261096479929?pt=Routers_Bits&hash=item3cca901cb9

[SavannahLion]

Harbor Freight has always been fine with one exception.  My mom bought some sander thing there, last one on the shelf, and they kept insisting she get the warranty.  She declined and got it home and it didn't work.  Months later when I found out about this debacle, I opened it up and it was full of sheetrock rust.  Someone had burned it out on the job, wiped it off, and returned it.

Anyway, we did the ol'shifty return as warranty trick.  Bought another one, stuck the burned out one in the box, and did an exchange. 

Just use some common sense and take a look at it before you buy it.  I don't walk into Lowe's or Home Depot without a knife to open up the boxes of anything I'm about to buy either and those employees can give me dirty looks all they want.

That's actually good advice. Here's an interesting note though. Home Depot actually has a policy where you're not allowed to open a box on the shelves. This applies to both customers and employees alike. I think the intent is to prevent people from stealing the parts. Quite honestly, I never cared for or followed this particular policy. I have no qualms about opening boxes for the reason described above. Though since I've left HD, I do believe they changed their policy to not opening boxes without an employee present. Problem is, there's rarely an employee present.

In a kind of jumbled thought process, I used to work at returns and I was pretty damn good at filtering this kind of returns. I used to fire that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- right up in front of the customer and if it didn't work... well... you get the idea. Non-working units were required to be tagged as RTV units, never to be sold by the store. On the sly, I used to take a pen and mark a hidden spot. Over time, I found these marked units on the shelves that were supposed to go back as RTV or disposed of. Come to find out they had hired a "repair tech" (a college kid in his early 20's) to repair those tools and put them back on the shelf. They coined it as "recovery", I'm not sure if it's on the books but selling a used and/or repaired item as new probably isn't exactly kosher.

In the same vein, I've heard rumors that Fry's sometimes gets a hold of the security seals and puts them on returns to avoid green tagging. I've also heard that sometimes that some stores don't green tag. I haven't quite seen this yet, so it's buyer beware.

[kahlid74]

Bosch routers are fantastic if you have the money to spend.  If not I've had great luck with Ryobi's routers too.  If you plan to use it a lot I would try to go with the Bosch just because of it's life span.

[steveh]

So my uncle ended up having a craftsman Plunge router.  so i now have that.  Ill have to look at it tonght and get more details on it.

As for bits, what types sizes ect, of bit should i be getting?

[wcndave]

normally routers are either 1/2" or 1/4" bits in the US.

you can get adapters to convert 1/2" to 1/4" so the bigger size is more versatile.  Should be obvious which yours is.

if you are new to routing make sure you go the right way.  you always go against the direction of cut, so go anti-clockwise around the outside, and for inside holes (like doors recess or side windows, go clockwise.

also, wear ear defenders and safety glasses, and consider a dust extraction (bit like a vacuum), but that costs more, so if doing MDF just make sure at least that you wear a respirator.  that MDF particles are really really nasty, like glass in your lungs.

[steveh]

ill take a look this weekend and see what type of bit it takes.  I know i need a slot cutter for the tmolding, something like this i guess

http://www.amazon.com/Freud-63-100-16-Inch-Cutter-4-Inch/dp/B0002TUCRA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3C6473R62G6MD&coliid=I10TNRG0OJ1OLY

Something like this to copy peices (ie if i cut one side of a cab, and want to copy it for a second?
http://www.amazon.com/Freud-42-114-Bearing-Diameter-Hi-Density/dp/B0000225YC/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1348840646&sr=1-1&keywords=router+flush+trim+bit

and something like this for trackballs and joystics, to countersink it?
http://www.amazon.com/Freud-50-102-2-Inch-Bearing-Flush/dp/B0000225XQ/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_y

I also found this kit.  The reviews appear to be decent.  I know everyone is a fan of Freud bits, but would something like this get me what i need (i think it has everything except the tmolding bit)

http://www.amazon.com/MLCS-8810-Pattern-Router-5-Piece/dp/B000GG09RM/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1348840646&sr=1-3&keywords=router+flush+trim+bit

[wcndave]

ill take a look this weekend and see what type of bit it takes.  I know i need a slot cutter for the tmolding, something like this i guess

http://www.amazon.com/Freud-63-100-16-Inch-Cutter-4-Inch/dp/B0002TUCRA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3C6473R62G6MD&coliid=I10TNRG0OJ1OLY

Yes but check that 1/16 is right for your moulding you plan on getting.

Something like this to copy peices (ie if i cut one side of a cab, and want to copy it for a second?
http://www.amazon.com/Freud-42-114-Bearing-Diameter-Hi-Density/dp/B0000225YC/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1348840646&sr=1-1&keywords=router+flush+trim+bit

yes, but this piece is quite long.  Check the depth of plunge etc, as you may need a short or long pattern bit for this job.

Personally i like to put the template on top and flush trim, as the template is smaller and has to fit within the boundaries.  The one you have shown is bottom bearing, so the template goes underneath.

and something like this for trackballs and joystics, to countersink it?
http://www.amazon.com/Freud-50-102-2-Inch-Bearing-Flush/dp/B0000225XQ/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_y

THIS is a top bearing version, and also shorter.  If the blade is long enouh for your wood, and a bit extra, ie 5/8 or 3/4 plus a bit, then it will do for cutting with templates above.

For cutouts for joys and trackballs, you can use straight edges or make a template, you can freehand, you can use a normal bit and a bushing guide etc...

Just make sure that the bit is long enough to reach, so the bearing rides, however not so long you cannot cut a shallow depth.  My dewalt has 85mm of movement, so almost any bit will work, however my trend, i have some that don't reach and some reach too far!

I also found this kit.  The reviews appear to be decent.  I know everyone is a fan of Freud bits, but would something like this get me what i need (i think it has everything except the tmolding bit)

http://www.amazon.com/MLCS-8810-Pattern-Router-5-Piece/dp/B000GG09RM/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1348840646&sr=1-3&keywords=router+flush+trim+bit

These are all pattern bits.  You may well only need one.  In which case the second one if long enough. Or a longer bersion imho.

If you want to do lots with template above and below, and plan on varying from 1/4"to 1/2" to 3/4" materials throughout, get the set.

[Lilwolf]

I got the red skill plunger router you see around.  Great for some stuff, still works... only issue is that if you try to clamp it down to a location (so its like a fixed) the mechanism to do it is a bit clumsy and doesn't seem to really sit at the fixed length.

I'm considering buying a nice fixed, and use the skill for plunger only portions (start stuff) and the other for the real work.

[wcndave]

plunge is far more flexible.  as a woodworker i have 4 plunge routers and no fixed base on.  only one i might get would be a dedicated laminate trimmer.

as is usually the case with tools, quality counts, get as good as you can afford and don't get box-brand tools.  if you want to do this once off and never use again, borrow one from someone!