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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!harvard!sasaki
From: sasaki@harvard.ARPA (Marty Sasaki)
Newsgroups: net.rec.wood
Subject: routers, router tables, Sear's tools
Message-ID: <478@harvard.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 17:25:53 EST
Article-I.D.: harvard.478
Posted: Tue Nov  5 17:25:53 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 8-Nov-85 06:41:11 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Harvard Science Center
Lines: 38

There have been a couple of articles about routers posted recently.
Here is my two cents... ("Ever notice how it's a penny for your
thoughts, yet you put in your two cents? Someone is making a penny on
the deal." - Steven Wright)

Don't buy a Sears router. I wouldn't buy a regular "consumer" Black
and Decker router either. Basically, the motors are anemic and the
plastic used to make the bases isn't stiff enough. The height
adjustment isn't very precise. If you are only going to use the router
occasionally, then maybe a 1HP Sears on sale is reasonable. I speak
from experience here, I own a 1-1/2HP Sears and find that it isn't
adequate for my needs.

I'm planning on buying a 1-1/2HP Porter Cable router, the one with the
1/2 inch collet. I wouldn't recommend buying a router that didn't take
a 1/2 inch collet. The vertical adjustment is very good, and the
router itself is very solidly made. I saw it on sale at Trendlines for
$129.95, so it should be available locally for under $150.

If I needed a plunge router I would probably buy a Japanese router. A
friend has a monster 3HP plunch router which looks like it would cut
through anything.

Porter Cable also has a nice router table which you can buy with or
without the motor. It has separately adjustable fences and looks
pretty sturdy.

After the router fiasco, when I wanted to buy a table saw, I checked
out Sears machinery and found that, in general, the quality is poor
for the cost compared to other companies. The run-out on saws is
usually pretty poor, the fences are poor, and the tops are often
warped. 
-- 
----------------
  Marty Sasaki				net:   sasaki@harvard.{arpa,uucp}
  Havard University Science Center	phone: 617-495-1270
  One Oxford Street
  Cambridge, MA 02138