This month’s article on laminate trimmers leads me to ask some questions. First of all, if a person (moi) has one small kitchen to do countertops for, does that person (moi) need a laminate trimmer, or could a regular router be substituted?
Second of all, what’s the deal with the manufacturer’s of these little machines?!? Good heavens, what a sorry bunch of tools that were reviewed for the article. It’s like the V.P.s of Product Development picked up the phone one night, called some flunkie, and said “Hey, put together a laminate trimmer we can toss on the market next week.” Sheesh.
I have a little PC — picked up at that auction last month. Have been toying with the idea of selling it, just because there’s other stuff I’d use more, but am wondering if I should keep it. I don’t really know what they’re used for other than putting a bevel on a cabinet top.
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Another proud member of the “I Rocked With ToolDoc Club” …. :>)
Replies
I bought my first laminate trimmer to do laminate work (Duh!!!). I found it so useful for other things, I bought another, and then another. In fact these are the most used routers in my whole collection.
I keep a 1/8" round-over bit in one, and a 1/4" round-over bit in the other. The third (the PC model with the round base) I use mostly for inlay work. I like their small size and the one-handed operation -- and I always reach for one if the bit I am using will fit through the hole in the base plate.
Ironically, I never use them for laminate work -- unless tight confines dictates. I prefer a big old D-handle for flush trimming and edge work.
I would say keep it around awhile and give it a try ......... you might find you like it. Gezuar.
Thanks for all the input on the various jobs laminate trimmers can be used for! I'll keep it around for awhile. So far, no one's mentioned any aggravating problems experienced with the tool, so maybe the author of that article was being too picky?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
forestgirl,
A laminate trimmer or full size router can be used for countertop work. One advantage with laminate trimmers is they can get closer on inside corners say of back splashes or other trimming applications .The trimmers are real lightweight and easy to handle , but lack the power of full size models for larger cuts .The most common use of a laminate trimmer is probably flush trimming.So for me the bottom line , if I only had one router it would not be a laminate trimmer.
dusty
Hi FG
I never bought a laminate trimmer till a few years ago.
For years I used a very small Rockwell router or my PC 100's.
I bought a PC310 for it's small size and one hand use. Kind of nice.
The best thing about small routers (Laminate trimmers or regular) is the ability to have a few ready to go with different bits always in them for a special use.
It would be nice to have a bunch of larger routers the same way, but space and cost start to add up.
Keep the router till you have a chance to play with it for a while.
Jeff
Edited 6/23/2004 8:02 am ET by Jeff in Vermont
A regular router will work fine. Some years back I worked for company that built exhibits for trade shows. Lots and lots of laminate work and not a laminate trimmer to be seen. We used 7/8 hp PC Model 100's, which still happens to be my favorite router. Worked in another shop after that doing cabinets for hospitals and medical offices- the PC 690 and a Milwaukee were the mainstays; never even saw a laminate trimmer.
Like others have said, a regular router works best. Don't get sucked into the vortex of "Omigod, I need a bunch of new tools". This can happen after prolonged exposure to FWW tool reviews.
I have to dissent......have done lots and lots of laminate work myself, and while a regular router will do fine, I prefer a laminate trimmer. I also use them for tons of other jobs. I would never want to not have one in the lineup.cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
Jackplane, just a note: I'm not out looking for an excuse to buy a laminate trimmer. I picked one up at an auction awhile back and was just wondering whether it was worth keeping, or should be sold to turn a buck instead.
My comment on the tool review related to the seemingly poor engineering that went into all of the laminate trimmers reviewed save for one (made in Spain I think). No one seems to be commenting on that, though.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I'd keep it; laminate trimmers, like all tools, have their place. The tilting base feature is a novel one for routers. But the smaller motors limit cutting capacity and shorten lifespan compared to their larger brethren.
Hi Forest girl,
I use my laminate trimmer more than I use a router, however less than I use my router table. I use it to cut mortices for hinges, strikes, and latches. It will cut more than you might think. I am not a big guy and holding a full size router (1 1/2 HP) to do vertical work is tireing and dangerous. There is less of a chance of damaging the work piece as well. I have also used if free hand with no guides, just following a pencil line, no way could I do that with a bigger unit.
MIke
Hi Forestgirl,
You’re quite right that the overall quality of engineering and ergonomic design going into the routers I tested ranged from pretty good to abysmal. But that said, a small router can be very useful. For years I’ve used this little Makita plunge router for small tasks. But it takes two hands to use. It’s really nice to have something small you can use one handed.
Regards,
Kim Carleton Graves
Carleton Woodworking
Hi Kim, thanks for chiming in! I really appreciate the review you wrote. It's the first one I've seen on laminate trimmers, and I like the "Advantages"/"Disadvantages" format and the detailed info you gave in each exam.
I was really amazed at the kinds of things that showed up. Deal-killers for me are, for example, "tightening the base can change the bit's depth and position" and the "too many tools" problem with the Freud trimmer (sheesh, no kidding). The two that you awarded Best Overall to are the only ones I'd even consider spending money on based on your review. The rest just have too many problems either in design or in execution of the design.
The PC97311 was a major disappointment -- I really expect them to to do better than to have the bit move around so much during height adjustment.
How much of a problem is that bit movement in "real life" when working with the trimmer? Do you end up having to do the adjustment several time to get things just right to cut?
The "considerable pressure" required on the spindle-lock of the DeWalt could be a big disadvantage for moi due to hand weakness and chronic tendinitis. Wonder if the spring could be replaced with a different one......forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Forestgirl; Many professional installers do not use routers for laminates at all. When they do use them they are more likely to use them to rough trim the edges than for beveling. It is too risky to bevel with a router (IMO). The beveling is best done with a large plasti-cut file. The trimming is often done with the corner of the same file. The bevel can then be refined and polished a bit with fine sandpaper on a block. Routers are faster BUT ... only if they don't cause a glitch that requires a redo (an all too common occurence). In such a case they are way WAY WAAAY slower.
That said I have found many uses for my laminate trimmer router (a PC). I did some fancy inlay work with it a couple of years ago (see attached). It is really my favorite router because its light weight and low power make it more controllable (read ... less likely to take a bite out of my work that leads to nasty language and higher material bills). It is also compact which is an advantage for a guy with a really packed truck (moi).
FG,
At least for the European market, Festool has one that seems to dance a jig. Too bad FWW didn't take a look at it, just for comparison's sake.
Alan
http://www.alanturnerfurnituremaker.com
Hi Surfaced 4 Sides,
Unfortunately, the lead time for articles is rather long – this one was written over a year ago - so there is a danger of articles becoming dated. Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see a tool from Festool available at that time. Too bad, I would have liked to include it in the review. I’ll check with my editor at FWW and see if I can do a follow up review on that tool.
Later: I just found two Festool models in question. They seem to be available only in Europe. My guess is that FWW wouldn’t bother to review a product that wasn’t available to their readership. And it would be hard to test them if they weren't made for 110V. But I will ask non-the-less.
Regards,
Kim Carleton GravesCarleton Woodworking
It was reviewed in the British Journal, Furniture and Cabinet Making, favorably. Cool tool, but the prtice is more than staggering for a little guy. But, if you were in the kitchen installation bu9isness, might be well justtified. I have a couple of Festool tools, the plunge saw, and the jigsaw, and both are great. Am waiting for the 1/2" router to hit the market, this summer they say, but that said, I hate routers generally becuase of the noise, and dust, but of course I do use them.
BTW, I have not yet read the article, only skimmed it, but I will be reading it. I am also in the process of re-reading all of the FWW, from issue #1. I am up to mid-79, and it is interesting to note the redevelopment of the hand tool market, and not just L-N. Osgoode's artiles on bent laminations have inspired me to quote a bent tapered lamination leg for kitchen table. Client liked it, but said the new kitchen broke their budget, but they might well be back. Then I will have to see if I can do it. Time iwll tell, but I really like the leg idea, so may make one for display anyway. Practice never hurts.Alan
http://www.alanturnerfurnituremaker.com
I just spoke with a Festool sales rep. They do not offer a laminate trimmer for sale in the North American market.
I wondered about the Festool upon reading the article, but for those who haven't read it, there's a trimmer by Virutex that looked very, very nice. Kim reported none of the problems the other trimmers presented, some definite advantages in ease-of-use, and a bonus in the form of a fence that doubles as a circle cutter.http://www.virutex.com/catalog/i30.html
I would like to see some of their other tools show up in reviews. They make several, but of interest would be their biscuit joiner and their hand-held planers, two of which are designed for both curved and flat stock. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I called Virutex to try to get that trimmer that was so well-reviewed but was told by the salesperson that "We had no idea how many people read Fine Woodworking," and that I wouldn't be able to get one until the end of July.
Now I'm considering the Makita.
Hah! Too funny (sorry, Matt, I can't help it). That's exactly what happened to Iturra Design (of band saw fame) when one of their products got rave reviews in FWW -- it launched them big-time, but realllllllllly put them behind the 8-ball production-wise.
You don't think it'd be worth waiting 4 weeks for? Ok, 5 weeks. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Haven't read this article....haven't particularly noticed any big quality issues with the ones I have, either.
I do note that Lamello has a new one; pretty radically different approach, and their tools are pretty good. Haven't seen one to try it out, but I'll be asking my rep.....was this one covered in the article?cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
I would be interested in seeing/using a Lamello trimmer. The question on purchase would depend on the price. Unfortunitly, Lamello has a reputation on $$$$
The one advantage a router has is that it has a wider base and more mass which makes it harder to unintentionally rock the tool and ding the edge. I made a base for my PC trimmer which doubled the stock base's width in one direction. I also put a grab hold feature at the end of the extended portion so i could control it with one hand and have my other hand on the router body. This set up gives me far better control than I every had using a router.
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