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newsCutting grooves with new router
I posted recently about ordering a router to help with construction of solar water distiller prototype #3:
http://bkhome.org/news/201909/figuring-out-how-to-cut-with-a-router.html
...el-cheapo router, just 30 bucks delivered. And, as I found out today, el-cheapo construction also!
The router, technically a "trimmer router", has a metal body and a
plastic frame/ base. The first thing that I noticed is that despite
tightening up the knob to lock the frame in place, the body still
wobbled in the frame. Tried tightening the knob a bit more, then heard a
loud crack ... the plastic cracked.
The reason is, tightening the knob only works on the top-end of the
plastic frame. Further down there is a fixed plastic bridge. This photo
shows where it cracked:
...to stop the wobble, I used a rubber window wedge (applied the wedge after it had cracked).
On the other side of the plastic frame, there was another problem. An
angle bracket is supplied that can be attached, however, the knob does
not tighten up on the frame, due to a plastic ridge in the middle. I had
to file the ridge down slightly:
I think that there is a reason for these two problems. The plastic
frame is made for a slightly larger diameter body, and angle bracket
with thicker metal. This el-cheapo product has scaled both down, but
have used the ill-fitting plastic frame.
I know it is only AU$30, but did expect better. When I get to write
the final DIY page for the solar water distiller, i will recommend
something further up the price scale, such as this:
...AU$69, but has a much better frame, metal, with accurate ratchet
height adjustment. Looks much better from the description and photos
anyway. Someone will need to buy one and let me know.
Despite the flaws in mine, it works and will do the simple job that I have for it...
I have 64x19mm pine, 3 metres long, and need to cut some grooves 3mm
wide and 5mm deep. It was very easy to do, here is the setup:
I used a router bit from Bunnings, 3.2mm (1/8 inch) diameter,
straight dual-flute, 100% tungsten, Diablo brand, and it cost as much as
the router. It cut real nice though.
EDIT 2019-10-04:
Router wobbled fixed! Required some simple surgery on the plastic frame,
now I can recommend this cheap router as suitable for this project. See
blog post:
http://bkhome.org/news/201910/router-frame-wobble-fixed.html
Tags: nomad