Main > Woodworking
Router confusion - plunge vs fixed
Donkey_Kong:
--- Quote from: ScottS on December 18, 2006, 01:12:10 am ---BTW, why would you need to route the inside of a finished control panel?
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To add goodies that were released after you finish your control panel of course!!
BTW: This is THE last time I mention "Rotozip" around this place man! I get lots a flack for it everytime that I do...shhhhhh
:laugh2: :laugh2:
ScottS:
--- Quote from: Donkey_Kong on December 18, 2006, 08:58:24 am ---To add goodies that were released after you finish your control panel of course!!
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Great in theory, but I'm not sure how much this actually comes up in real life. For most things, you could probably just drill holes from the top. If you really need to route from the back, you're probably going to have to disassemble the control panel/controls/wiring anyway so you might as well stick with a trim router/laminate trimmer or a full-sized router.
Feel free to give the RotoZip a try, just make sure you buy from someplace with a liberal return policy...
javeryh:
I've never had trouble routing something with just my fixed base router. Even if a plunge would do the job better (like recessing panels or something) I just set the depth on my fixed base and gently drop it in to the center of the material I want to remove. Routers rule!
Borkunit:
So a question I have is can a fixed base router be used to cut counter-sunk holes for joysticks on the under side of the panel where they are not on the edge? how does one start? Drill a pilot hole or something?
Thanks!
javeryh:
--- Quote from: Borkunit on December 19, 2006, 01:56:11 pm ---So a question I have is can a fixed base router be used to cut counter-sunk holes for joysticks on the under side of the panel where they are not on the edge? how does one start? Drill a pilot hole or something?
Thanks!
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Yes. Especially since you have to drill out a hole for the joystick to go through. That hole creates your edge to remove the rest of the material where the joystick will go. I made this with a fixed base router and it was easy as pie!
First, I laid everything out in pencil. Then I drilled out the center hole with a 1-1/8" forstner bit. Next, I scored the edges of the rectangle with a razor using a straightedge. Finally, I used a dado cutting bit to remove the rest of the material. The depth of the cut is 3/8" and I made 3 passes at it going 1/8" deeper each time. The whole process took about an hour.