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Author Topic: Need to buy a router....help  (Read 2640 times)

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cboy

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Need to buy a router....help
« on: May 05, 2009, 07:11:08 pm »
So I already ordered a 1/16" Slot cutter and a 1" long pattern/flush cutter

but i have no router to use them in.

they are both 1/4" bits so i know i need a 1/4" Collet

i'm looking for a router hopefully under 100.00. Suggestions? Ive been looking on sears.com and amazon.com but it seems lots of them are either 1) way over 100.00 2) not plunge 3) not variable speeds.....

suggestions are appreciated

Octo

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Re: Need to buy a router....help
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2009, 12:25:32 am »
Check out your local pawn shops or Craigslist.org. If you don't plan on using your router to make a living, try this from Harbor Freight. There's a cheaper one, but I don't think it has variable speed settings.

cboy

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Re: Need to buy a router....help
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2009, 04:00:09 am »
i guess what im asking is will i need these features?

plunge, variable speed?

im making a bartop and bottom mounting the joysticks and doing tmolding..... i might do a roundover for the monitor bezel

MrMojoZ

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Re: Need to buy a router....help
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2009, 09:23:39 am »
I could live without the plunge base on my router if I needed to.

Octo

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Re: Need to buy a router....help
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2009, 11:06:31 am »
You don't "need" the plunge feature, but it does make life easier, especially when routing stuff like recesses for joysticks. I would definitely get one with variable speeds though. I picked up a decent B&D router for about $40 at the pawn shop, almost brand new.

cboy

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Re: Need to buy a router....help
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2009, 04:00:39 pm »
thanks for the replies!  :)

SG Jaycurl

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Re: Need to buy a router....help
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2009, 04:30:49 pm »
I borrowed a "Tool Shop" brand router from a co-worker. It was a fixed-base, router, yet it still worked pretty well.

I think that it was less than $100, but it still had some nicer features than the $140 Milwaukee router that I bought.

Chadwick

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Re: Need to buy a router....help
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2009, 03:28:33 pm »
I recommend a laminate router.  It will come with 1/4" collet, and is easier to handle and control as you only need one hand to operate it.  It will be more than sufficient for any arcade related routing you'll ever do.


« Last Edit: May 07, 2009, 03:33:04 pm by Chadwick »

cboy

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Re: Need to buy a router....help
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2009, 04:00:17 pm »
will that let me do slot cutting, flush trimming and possibly a roundover as well? hmmmm that might work if so

Chadwick

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Re: Need to buy a router....help
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2009, 10:18:10 am »
Yes, you can do all of those operations.  The DeWalt has several different bases available for different operations as well.  There is nothing a full size router will do that this will not (for arcade work), except maybe plunge, but it is very easy to "hand plunge" with one of these.