Laminate Trimmer and MDF

[Queeg]

Hello all,

First off this is my first post in a great forum. I really appreciate the amount of work everyone here does to help each other out. I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge from browsing for a few months, and have now launched the building of my first cabinet.

Now onto my question, is a laminate trimmer sufficient for an MDF cabinet build? I need to route t molding slots, cut a recess for my JLFs, and cut a hole for the JLF body. That's all it will be used for, and Home Depot has a Ryobi trimmer for $50.

I'm just not sure how necessary variable speed or a plunge function are.

Any help is much appreciated.

[miles2912]

You are going to want a router.  Harbor Freight makes some real cheap routers that will work fine for making a cab.  Sign up for deals and they will send you 20% off coupons.

[Queeg]

Thanks for the quick reply.

So if I were to use a router without a plunge, when cutting a recess do I simply "drop" the router into the wood and then trace out the area?

Watch the announcements, project unveiling soon to come.

[cboy]

FWIW I did my cab project with my Bosch Laminate Router.

Without a "plunge" function I was still able to do the recess for the joystick, I drilled the hole for the joystick 1st, then put the router bit in the hole and cut the rest out

Flush Cut Bit for triming both sides exactly the same

1/16" Slot Cutter   for t-molding

Straight Cut Bit for routing out the recess for my joystick and exhaust fan

Worked great for what I did.

[Queeg]

Ah that makes a lot of sense to start the recess cutting from a hole. Thanks again for the input and I think I might pick up that laminate router. I've got the bits already so I hope to get this project on its feet soon.

[cboy]

last thing to consider is.... laminate routers are 1/4" shank which may or may not cause a problem

i was able to find all the bits I wanted in 1/4" shank

[Epyx]

Even if your router is 1/2" shank you can get an adapter for 1/4" bits...but from what I have seen the same range of bits exist for both 1/2" and 1/4" irrespective of  adapters.

[Chadwick]

A good laminate router will do all you'll ever need for cabinet building.  Get a high quality laminate router and it will last and perform much better than a cheap, full-size router at the same price point.

[Queeg]

The only problem with that is I don't think that I can find a high quality laminate trimmer for near the same price as a cheap router ($59.99). I think  I'm just going to pick up the ryobi trimmer for $50 and see what it's like. I can't wait to start routing, it looks fun 

[miles2912]

I still think that that this ...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43585

Combined with a 20% off coupon will be a lot easier than a laminate trimmer and the same price if not cheaper.  If you are going to cut one side out using the other side as a pattern this is the way to go.

[Queeg]

ahhhhhhhhhh

I have had terrible experiences with Chicago Electric tools.

But I just checked and Ryobi has a router for 59.99 as well that I'll check out.

[severdhed]

i know you dont like the chicago tools, but i used this one

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914

when i built my new control panel.  it was all i needed.  routed t molding slot, used the flush trim bit to cut MDF, and routed out areas for mounting joysticks, as well as flush trim cutting the plexiglass.  the nice thing about it is it is small..which makes it very easy to work with.  the best part is it is only $25.  it may not be a good name brand, but for the price, it is hard to beat it.

my point being, even if you dont want to go with the cheap, chicago electric tools, a trim router will be more than enough to do the job.  if you need to plunge cut something, it is easy to hold the router above the MDF and just lower it into place. 

[Queeg]

Man that is really cheap. I might have to suck it up and get that one. Anyone have a coupon code or the like?

[Beretta]

i've been looking at those chicago tool trim routers also, they're on sell for 19.99.

so they're ok for slot cutting and trimming what about using it with chamfer bits?

does it have enough power? I dont have a router but im gonna need one for my project..
im a bit routers stupid is os much i've never used one although i understand the basic operation.

personally i've had good luck with chicago power tools.. i have a jigsaw, circular saw and d-handle drill form them all from HF, the circular saw came with a pretty nice blade to boot.
all of them was reasonably priced, i actually like the circular better then craftsmen i've used, it's even got a little laser guide.

they all have good power only complain with them was the d-handle drill had a plastic off hand handle.. that snapped pretty much right away when using it for masonry.

[severdhed]

i haven't used a chamfer bit in mine, but i did use a roundover bit, and it worked just fine.  i am pleasantly suprised by how well this little router works.  and since it is so small, it is very easy to manipulate

[Queeg]

I did end up buying the Chicago Electric Router because like you said it's on sale for 19.99. It worked decently, although you can't muscle through things quickly like you could with full size router. I say worked because after about the 5th bout of routing I went to tighten the (plastic) depth adjustment wing and it cracked right off. I vow never to buy from them again, but if you're gentle it might work our nicely for you.

On another note I got a Ryobi full size router on sale for 49.99 at Home Depot and it has been very satisfactory.

[Beretta]

hmm, that really sucks now i dont know what to do.. i dont wanna pay 50 bucks for a router.. on the other hand i dont wanna buy a 20 dollar router that has a plastic bit that will break off so easily

can't find a cheap used router on CL in my area either.

anyone else have one of these trim routers? i need some more opinions.

[Queeg]

Yeah sorry for the bad news but I thought it was information worth knowing. If you have a harbor freight store near you, I'd say what the hell and buy it anyway. If it breaks you can just exchange it at the store. I just returned mine but you could keep exchanging until the job is done .

I didn't want to buy a router either as I was just coming off an internship and getting back into college with no active job. But every penny was well worth it, the tool is so versatile and easy to use I ended up using it for all kinds of cuts I didn't expect a router could do.

[Beretta]

ya i suppose i could do that, although i've got 2 other projects i wanna do, cabs are already bought so it's gonna happen.. this first project is sort of a practice run.

so if it survived the practice run but then crapped out 3 months later when i start on the other two i'd be SoL.

[Chadwick]

$80.00, but well worth it.  I've had my DeWalt laminate router for 10+ years with zero problems.

[severdhed]

harbor freight will sell you a 3 year warranty for a few bucks, and if it breaks, just exchange it.  yeah, they may not be the best things out there, but from what i have experienced, they generally perform better than you would expect them to. 

[cboy]

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PR20EVSK-1-Horsepower-Variable-Router/dp/B000ANQHTA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1251484551&sr=8-1

I really love my Bosch laminate router. Its 109.00 and worth the extra 30.00 over the dewalt, the adjustments for height changes are way easier and you can do micro adjustments very easily.

[shags0024]

$80.00, but well worth it.  I've had my DeWalt laminate router for 10+ years with zero problems.

I agree with Chadwick
I have found that if you spend the money one time on a quality built tool you will save in the long run. Buy the best quality you can afford.

[miles2912]

I agree that spending money on tools that you will use is well worth it.  I spent 30 in a HF router about 4 years ago.  Built the cab with it and it has been sitting ever since.