Replies

1. 
   Jeff | Mar 11, 2003 02:45pm | #1

   I can't give you any plans, but this might help.

   Years ago, Sears sold a router plate that mounted on a radial arm saw.

   It seems to work good for the few times I use it.

   I can't say it's very heavy duty.

   I seem to remember a plan somewhere for building one like it.

   Jeff

2. 
   kennedy136 | Mar 11, 2003 05:20pm | #2

   Splinter,

         "A man who cuts his own wood warms himself twice"

   Actually it is more like 4-5 times LOL

   1 cut the tree

   2 load it on the truck/trailer

   3unload the wood and stack it

   4split it

   5 carry it into where it is going to be burned

   Have a good one.

                                       Mark

3. 
   rslatm | Mar 11, 2003 05:43pm | #3

   Pin routers are a great and little known tool to the average woodworker. Woodtek from Woodworkers supply makes a pin router for $2,000. I can make my own tools as well but I can buy used far cheaper than I can make something. I once had an Onsrud  pin router I picked up for $500.  Veritas makes a simple table pin router thing that is relly inexpensive and will probably suffice. Popular Mechanics had a DIY model on their website awhile ago.  Grizzly has one for around $1600 that has a small footprint and can be put in a basement shop. There's no way you can make anything as good for the money. 

   
   

   ---

   Edited 3/11/2003 10:46:28 AM ET by Rick at Arch. Timber and Millwork

1. 
   user-6808154 | Mar 12, 2003 12:25am | #4

   Thanks for the input Rick, unfortunately I moved about a year ago to Northern Canada and do not have the access I once had to tools suppliers and manufacturers that I had in the Toronto ,Canada area. I would be interested in knowing where you managed to find an Onsrud for $500.00(would that be US funds-cause it would work out to about $2000.00 Canadian haha).

   Thanks Again,Splinter

   "A man who cuts his own wood warms himself twice"

   Edited 3/11/2003 5:26:38 PM ET by Splinter

1. 
   blutt | Mar 12, 2003 03:40am | #6

   This may sound naive but, why can't you use a drill press geared to run at its highest speed ?  It would be very stable and give you great height control. 

   I read an article, I don't remember where, about making crown molding on an inverted router and thought it was a great technique.

   Michael

1. 
   UncleDunc | Mar 12, 2003 04:20am | #7

   Three reasons that I can think of. The highest speed on the drill press may still not be as fast as a particular bit wants to run. Too much lateral deflection. And the spindle bearings in a drill press are not engineered for significant and sustained side loads.

2. 
   forestgirl | Mar 12, 2003 08:40am | #8

   Splinter, here's the link to the Veritas pin router arm that was mentioned:

   http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=43038&category=1,43000&ccurrency=1&SID=

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

4. 
   krumy1 | Mar 12, 2003 02:21am | #5

   Don't know how heavy duty you  want your router to be but shopsmith made one for years. A PC690 fit in the arm and it worked well. I have seen two sell on Ebay, one of them was one that I had. I would've kept it but for the fact I'm lucky enough to have a very old, very heavy duty pin router. I would suggest that if you're not in a big hurry to watch ebay for another one or even the different forum classifieds.

   Steve K

5. 
   rslatm | Mar 12, 2003 06:38pm | #9

   Kind of chintzy but...

   http://popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/workshop/1997/2/pin_router/

   I can make all kinds of things as I have access to welding and machine shops but I can usually srounge the real thing up cheaper. I just know the offbeat places to look. For instance auctions are great but the one that feature woodworking tools aren't alwys the best. Printing shop and metal shops have woodworking tools. I've cold called shops...all kinds just asking if they have anything for sale or know of a buddy that does. Sometimes they haven't gotten around to thinking too hard even advertising it  never mind even selling it.
6. 
   wrick2003 | Mar 13, 2003 04:53am | #10

   "Router Jigs and Techniques" by Patrick Spielman , a Sterling publication, has a plan for an overhead router, but it seems limited.

   i would study one of those extending drawing table lamps, and try to duplicate one that would bear the weight of a router in use. my lamp has two sets of springs that seem to hold it in the position you place it. there is 360 degree of the actual lamp where it meets the frame. seems like a fella could make one out of scraps and a trip to the hardware store.  

    good luck    rg

1. 
   rslatm | Mar 13, 2003 02:48pm | #11

   http://www.intarsia.net/e-book/pinrout.htm

   http://www.patrickind.com/products/machine_list/pin_router2.htm

   http://www.bergeson-inc.com/html/routers/inv1387.html

   http://www.porta-nails.com/univroutertable.html

   http://www.nebraskatool.com/IMAGES/RoutersPin/Mvc-005f.jpg

   When you speak of the drawing table lamps I suspect you don't really understand what a pin router is and can do.  Rigid stability is the key.

1. 
   wrick2003 | Mar 13, 2003 04:44pm | #12

   rick, thanks for that clarification.