For anyone interested, the price has come down, my row boat came in, so I chanced my luck with the imperial version last friday.
Everything aside from a hex screwdriver has worked straight out of the box, quite impressive. As usual with Leigh the user guide tries to leave nothing to chance and so gives me the hebejeebies, but the actual application has been quick and accurate on the test pieces.
OK it has not got a motor unlike the domino, but for me this a plus point. So many routers can be used and the set up is so very firm before any cuts are made that despite the DTs confidence is high. I might even finish something now!
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I'm getting old and next year may be my last to spend any money on tools. I have way to many now!
For quite some time I have been reading about the FMT and a WoodRat.
By the way, I have a Leigh D4R or is it a DR4 I forget..... Anyway I do not use it very often but when I do everything turns out perfect.
With the standard FMT, do you feel you have enough of the router 'guides' for all of your common needs? I see that the FMT has alot of options for different guides that cost 1/3 of the whole thing!
I think I like the WoodRat but I don't have any of the routers they have the push-bar for.. And I have 5 routers. One PC and 4 Ryobi.
OK I like my cheep Ryobi routers. I never needed a 3HP router.. I NEVER try to take that much material off at a time to matter!
Just a question.. I really hope you are happy with your new TOY!
Not that it is really a toy..
HAVE FUN with it. And I'm happy for ya!
Edited 9/16/2007 12:43 pm by WillGeorge
Edited 9/16/2007 12:44 pm by WillGeorge
Thank you for that. We can never feel old whilst we enjoy the camaraderie of this site.
Costs in the UK are high anyway, but I paid £439 and £ 52 for the additional guides, including the iniquitous value added tax.
I have seven routers, some bought second-hand. On the jig I have used an old GOF Bosch, and it decided to hang up in plunged mode! Took an hour to take it apart and free the rods, the trouble being that to get lubrication past the seals I had to dismantle the handles.
Like you I have travelled hopefully, having a Little Rat with an Elu mounted, a Triton router table and big Ryobi and a Leigh D-1258R dovetail jig. I still prefer to cut them by hand though.
And yes it is a toy, they all are. I had a friend who died early this year aged 94, and she left me a small thank you in her will, otherwise I would not have it. Going with the additional guides does give a lot of possibilities to use cutters which otherwise may be idle, and I try to use cheap half inch and quarter inch milling cutters where possible.
I think the Rat is versatile but now going down the wrong road with additional jigs but the Leigh will enable me to put the time into more interesting aspects of construction whilst retaining a high integrity of joints.
We do not have too many tools, rather we need more breathing space to enjoy them, say another fifty years!
All the best, David
Edited 9/17/2007 2:42 am ET by mufti
Make sure your FMT comes with the redesigned side stop fence - 6166A. Makes a lot of difference in ensuring no inadvertent creep in the joints.
http://www.leighjigs.com/fmt.php
LB
My thanks to you and JVK. The package deals shown on the website do not apply here, so I will get back to my supplier to see if the modified side stop is available.
I tend to wear belt and braces and cover my head with a riot helmet so most things are checked ahead of then botching it up! The tests to date are good though.
Don't trust the vertical bar to be 90 deg. Always check it with a square.
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