Router advice needed (1 Viewer)

[Todd Stout]

I need to get my hands on a router to use to make the driver and internal brace cut outs for a set of 3 Adire kit281s and 2 kit81s. I probably won't need it for much else besides the speakers so I'd prefer to keep it inexpensive. I first found the 2HP Firestorm Plunge Router at Lowes for $69 but it doesn't seem to be compatible with the Jasper Jig. I started looking at the routers that are listed on Jasper's site and they all cost about $180 on up. I see that Sears has the Craftsman 1/4 in. Plunge Router for $69 but I've read some bad reviews of their cheaper models. I also found the Ryobi RE180PL at Home Depot for $99.

Will a $70-$100 router work well enough to make the holes I need for 5 speakers or do I need to spend $150-$200 to do the job right?

Thanks.

 

[Robert_J]

I've made a bunch a speakers with a 1/4" Craftsman plunge router and the Jasper Jig. It works. Now, the depth guage is flimsy. The motor will bog down if you try to cut a lot so make a few passes cutting a little deeper each time. If this is going to be a long-term hobby, then think about spending the money for a 1/2" router with dust collection. With the Craftsman, you will be covered from head to toe in MDF dust.

-Robert

 

[Patrick Sun]

Yeah, you'll look like this if you don't have a dust collection attachment to your router. Ah...good times.

 

[Mattak]

Do yourself a huge favor and spend just slightly more for a Hitachi M12 router (KM12SC - single speed kit with both fixed and plunge bases, M12SC - single speed with just fixed base, KM12VC - variable speed kit with both bases, or M12VC - variable speed with just fixed base). At amazon the variable speed kit runs almost $200, or with just fixed base is $120. The single speed kit is about $120 when in stock, and just $95 with just fixed base. If you can wait for the single speed kit to come back in stock I would go with that, here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=UTF8&v=glance

It has both 1/2" and 1/4" collets, soft start, a nice case, fixed base, plunge base, an extra larger base platform, a nice carrying case, etc. It's night and day better than the POS craftsman I'd been using previously. I've not had a time where I needed variable speed, and you can even get away without a plunge base but it's nice to have. Screw jasperjig if it doesn't fit, I use a piece of plexi or 1/4" hard plywood anyways

 

[Phill O]

This is the router that I have. It is a basic router by todays standards. (porter cable hasn't updated the design) But it is well supported with accessories.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=228013

 

[Todd Stout]

Thanks for all of the replies. $120 for that Hitachi looks like a pretty good deal. Is that model in stock very often? That Porter Cable model looks like a nice one too. It appears as though I have a little bit of thinking to do about this.

I really want to hurry up and do something. I bought my Adire kits back in 2002 just before going back to school to finish my degree. I finally finished last year (WOO HOO) so my attention drifted back to my speaker kits again. A friend of mine and I spent several hours a few months ago cutting up all of the flat panels for 5 speakers using a table saw. I really thought we had messed the cuts up pretty bad until I took another look at the panels again a few weeks ago. They appear to fit together rather well so I'd like to finally cut out the driver and internal brace holes and get these cabinets built.

 

[Mike Strassburg]

I picked up a Skil brand plunge router locally for $80 and it works quite well. I use a scrap piece of pegboard for a circle jig that works fine.