Router and T-Molding bits

wow nice, i've been looking into getting a router myself but only have tested the water when it comes to research.

wonder if you can get that router at harbor freight... it looks like something they'd carry. as long as it works well and doesn't get clogged up it looks win!
 
What's the diameter of the bearing on the arbors? Trying to see what slot depth it'll cut...
 
when it comes to tool I always try to stay away from china junk especially if it plugs in the wall. now for hand tools that I will only use a few times in it life then I go cheap. my garage is 90% craftsman / husky / cobolt hand tools. most of my air is craftsman with a couple of cheap taiwan tools.

the router I have is a craftsman with bits, but I do have the same set pictured.....big lots.. think they are between 10 - 20 bucks ( my father gave them to me)

the t-molding bit you wont find at HD or Lowes...at least not here. I have a woodcrafters here in knoxville and pick up the whiteside bit and shank for about the same as mail order (about $30).

now for the router I was up in Piegon Forge the other week and found a new tool store
called Tool Outlet. They sale reconditioned tools and some new ones also. I picked up the battery powered ridgid drill and flashlight to combliment this http://www.homedepot.com/Featured-P...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
which I got for christmas, but at the outlet store the same set with the drill and 2 batteries was the same cost as the jobmax by its self. they also have a nice selection of routers too.
Robert
 
UPDATE:

Just got back from harbor freight....they have a 6-pack of slot cutters starts at 1/16
and I think it ends at 5/16...just looked on their website and they dont list them.

If all you have to do is a cabinet or 2 they this is a good deal $26.95(with 1/4 arbor).
I paid $30 for one cutter at woodcrafters, of course it is made in the usa where the harbor freight is made in china.
Robert
 
That router in the Ebay listing most likely has a 1/4" collet. The PC bits look to have a 1/2" shaft, so that wouldn't work.

You can get an entry level router, with both 1/4" and 1/2" collets at Lowes or Sears, for under $100. This is right at $100, but there are some budget Skil brand kits that would do great..
http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-...ower-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1302387174&sr=1-2

I wouldn't buy anything that cheap as the Ebay listing or anything at HF with a motor. If you're going to use it a few times, you're wasting your money. On the other hand, you don't need a 3&1/4hp hog either...

I'd have to recommend these for budget slot cutting bits. Unlike what you'd find in a big box store, here the 1/4" and 1/2" shaft cost the same:
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_slot.html#anchor_slotct3w

If at all possible, get a router with a 1/2" collet and use the 1/2" shaft bits. It will feel a bit more solid, sturdy, and less dinky.
 
One thing I've noticed about my "kinda cheap" router is that it has horrible bearing runout. This means that the bit attached to the router will "wiggle" around and not stay completely true and perpendicular to the router plate. This wiggle decreases the accuracy of the cuts the router makes. While I haven't had an issue with the slot cutting bits due to this issue. However, any edge cleaning, straight cut bits, template bits become inaccurate to the point where you can feel and see the "wobble" in the line of the final cut.

For the record, I'm using a refurbished Black and Decker router that I found at their outlet. It was cheap, to the point where I probably won't mind buying another especially now that I've seen how much nicer it makes my final product by using a router. It was almost a trial run of sorts for me, and now that I know how handy and useful they are, I'll definitely invest in a "real" one, not a toy.

My plan for the replacement is to keep an eye out on CraigsList, as a few friends have told me that is "the place to go" for power tools. Apparently you can get some real deals on quality used tools, but you HAVE to know what you are looking for, looking at, and what you should pay.
 
Well the bits I listed are Porter Cable so they should last forever, but yeah as for the router I might not be as lucky. Guess I'll play it by ear with the router and just keep an eye out on CL for a quality used router.
 
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