minor complaint about Craftsman router
Just to get this off my chest in a forum where it’ll be understood–I have a low end Craftsman router. Now, wait, before the “told you so’s” start flying, it was a gift from my dear, widowed mother.
I realized the other night that the distance from the edge of the base to the center of the collet is not exactly the same around the base. One section of the base is about 3/16″ farther out than the rest of the base. To make sure my eyes were seeing it right, I asked my PhD engineer wife to confirm. Yep. The circular base is asymetrical.
I’m all about doing the best with what I’ve got, and am a firm believer that the tools don’t make the man (or woman), but sometimes it’s hard to overcome the disadvantages of inaccurate manufactuing. Be that as it may, I’ll continue to make do.
Replies
Most routers are at least a bit off in this way, either being a bit asymmetrical or, more commonly, the base isn't concentric with the chuck. For precision work the best thing to do is put a square base, or a round base with one flat side, on the tool which will keep the bit at a a constant distance from the fence you are using.
A quick fix is to mark a point on the base with paint or tape and then pay attention as you use the tool to keep the marked spot always against the fence.
John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine
Thanks for the tips. I'm going to make a square base for it.
My PC890 comes with instructions for centering its baseplate to the bit. I haven't checked for circularity of its circumference though. Baseplates on most routers can be centered since they are attached through rather loose holes. That may be all the adjustment you need. BTW, I still use my two Craftsmans shamelessly.CadiddlehopperP.S.: Checked out a Craftsman this A.M. The base is as perfectly round as it needs to be. Used scale, not micrometer. It was centered within 1/2 mm, about .02 inch, with the clamp tightened. Maybe you should sell yours & buy the PC 890. Amazon had a great deal with 2 bases recently. Woodworkers Supply offers the kit with a great dovetail jig as a premium. Both great buys. It can use 1/2-inch bits which my Craftsmans cannot do. LOL.Cadid
Edited 5/26/2006 11:02 am ET by cadiddlehopper
My question...... is moot. See 30177.1
Thanks for the advice. Hopefully it won't be too long before I need to use it.
John is right. If your are cutting dadoes for instance and registering the router against a 'router T square' or some other straightedge just mark the base with a little Liquid Paper or Sharpie and keep that point registered against the straightedge all the way across and everything will be fine. Don't rotate the router as you route across the stock.
A router with a really out-of-whack base makes a great unit for mounting in a table.
Your handheld model should have the most accurately machined base.
Edited 5/19/2006 12:07 pm ET by BossCrunk
I never use a round base for following a straight edge, marked or not. Make a simple square or rectangular base. Some of my square bases are sized differently on each edge, making routing for dadoes that don't match the bit, easy.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
No "I told you so here" one of my favorite routers is my el-cheapo Craftsman.
It just does what it does
That said, my most expensive router, a Freud has the same issue. Had to make my own plate or return it.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled