router question

[crappieseeker]

If you have time wicklundrh could you look up the one you are talking about and post a link to it for me please. Can you connect your plunge base to a routing table or does it have to have the fixed base on it to do that.

Porter Cable is the way to go in my opinion. I used to build for a living. I've burned up my fair share of routers, jig saws, and circular saws until I found the right ones that worked the best.

Porter Cable has a kit that comes with a fixed mount as well as a plunge base. I use my plunge base most of the time and just lock it in the fixed position. You will also get different throats to run different sized bits.

If you are looking to do dovetails and cabinet type jointery, I suggest the Porter cable dovetail jig. Comes with all the alluminum plates you need to do blind dovetails, pocket dovetails, dados, you name it. Comes with different collars that fit into the slots of the jig. Once proficient, you will do both pieces at the same time and never have a screwed up joint.

[wicklundrh]

If you go to Lowe'''s Home Improvement':' Appliances, Tools, Hardware, Paint, Flooring then go to tools, and wood working tools. You can narrow down your search to "Porter Cable". You should come up with about six pages of porter cable tools.
They have two different router models. A 2.25 HP and a 1.75 HP. Only the 2.25 comes as a kit with the fixed and plunge base. I recommend the biggest you can get. Bigger IS better in this case!

Picture of a 2.25 taken from lowes.com


Picture of Dovetail Jig (taken from Lowes)


Also, when using in a router table, you want to use the fixed base. My recommendation is to build your own table. Don't buy one. There are several woodworking sites that have free plans for building one. Then you get exactly what you want! They also give you some very good ideas on things from clamping to setting up fences.

["G"]

Get a high horsepower plunge router....preferably two and a half horsepower. You can lock the plunge router in the plunge position at any set depth and use it on a router table. You need high horse power if you are going to make cabinets so you can run large bits to make raised panel doors etc. I started with a one third HP craftsman and found it was not what I needed for building cabinets and furniture. I use a Hitachi two and a half hp now and it will do anything. A lot higher priced than a hundred bucks though. Some of my bits cost anywhere fron 40 to 100 bucks each. And I gave my craftsman router table away....way to small.....I built my own and the plunge router in lock position works great.

[wicklundrh]

I agree with G. Like I said, buy the biggest one you can get. You get what you pay for in this instance. If you are making high end cabinetry and furniture, they make some commercial grade ones that are out of this world. We are always limited by our pocket books! I have some cabinet door bits that are several hundred dollars for a set of two. I have a smaller shaper router table that would go to some jobs sites with me but my plunge router is an indespensible tool.

[crappieseeker]

I think I might be better off just buying a good table saw. I can rip my wood and do a lot of joints with it like a router. I wont be able to do designs and raised panels, but not really looking for that. Maybe I will get both a little at a time. Thanks everyone.