Looking to add a template routing kit to my shop. I see Whiteside is well-reviewed but also more expensive (about $56). I realize cheapest isn't always workable as some reviews for those aren't very good. Looking at "mid price" I noted Taylor Tools has what looks like a nice kit as does Powertec. Any thoughts or kits you have found to work well?
Also, I don't currently have a plunge router that will work with the insert. Thinking a small one would be ideal for this purpose. I have a small Dewalt so could potentially add a plunge base. Didn't know if there might be a cheaper option that I could just dedicate to this.
I’ve got the DeWalt plunge base for their trim router and it works well enough. You don’t need it, unless your design doesn’t have a wide enough area to tilt the router into place.
As for the inlay kit, I say buy-once-cry-once. You might find you use it more than you think!
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
Ryan, I assume that a standard (porter cable?) bushing fits the Dewalt compact plunge base? With it being smaller, I just want to make sure that they didn't make the center hole smaller too. Also, is it adjustable so that it can be perfectly centered?
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
I've made collar bases for my trim router from masonite (clear plastic would be better). Easy enough to do since, as Nathan points out, some adjustability is necessary. I like having the base-to-router screw holes oversized to allow for the centering to occur there versus a "sloppy" bushing hole. That bushing nut can be a tough reach to cinch up while installed on the router. A hinge mortice bit (with shaft guide bearing) and a template can be used for inlay routing as well, but you are limited to typically 1/4" radii on the corners and a minimum depth depending on the template thickness. Greater depths can be achieved once the bearing can ride along a previous cuts wall.
How about Acme? Reviews on these companies are not very good. Lowe's lists it, but currently "out of stock" which is unfortunate as I have gift certificate $ available
Same here. I bought something a few years ago from CPO (also cannot remember what it was). Whatever it was was quite a bit cheaper than other places at the time. I don't remember any issues.
EDIT: Now I remember. I looked it up in Quicken and it was in 2018. I bought a new Nova Chuck for my new lathe.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
Going to continue to check local. I've had so many little (annoying) issues with shipped items that if I can pick it up local, I think that might be better.
For the kit - there are two options. I'm thinking the 1/8 as that would allow more detailed shapes? But then the 1/4 might be more stable and would be fine for my current project of a cross inlay. Wish this came with the centering cone.
Barb, the "powertec" set up uses the "PC style" threaded base, and that will marry well with your DeWalt router. The one Mike Taylor is selling has the Bosch base, and will be fine on a bosch router, (rarer) than the PC style. All of these should be made to point out these differences, because the "sloppy" Bruce and Nathan are talking about is real, if you use the wrong "style" base. I have had all PC style for ages, and end up getting just routers that marry to that style, and don't have issues. If you start doing a lot of this, and want to upgrade to the Whiteside it's PC style. It used to be right away they would say PC style, then Bosch wanted to be??? different??? Anyhow I steer clear of their stuff just because it seemed at first they are the ones wanted to be different, they sure aren't any better. Now hardly anyone wants to point it out, and a lot of folks don't know they are 2 very close sizes, but are different. BTW Leigh is PC style, and having a PC style router will allow much better fit with all of their jigs too.
id go with the 1/8", as you said will allow for more detaileD inlays. just gotta go slow as to not break the bit. just have a spare in case. DAMHIKT ! 🤣
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
