Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site harvard.ARPA 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