625 repair ... Ouch

[jfc]

Your right there . Now i have a fair few blocks and cutters for the spindle moulder i hardly use the router table . In fact i only use it for cupboard doors but i will be swapping that over to the spindle moulder soon so the router table will be pushed back to the wall rather in the middle of the workshop .

[Scrit]

Aug 1, 2008 18:43:05 GMT ivan said:

I'm beginning to get the idea. I suppose we (not just the self taught?) get seduced by the handy router, turn it upside down and get seduced even further (this is Not going where you may think) and then make it permanent becuase it's so handy. A router-blinkered position keeps the shaper away?

Yes. Routers don't have TEFC (totally enclosed fan cooled) motors, they are only rated for intermittent use (spindle moulders are rated for continuous use), and you are generally limited to what the cutter manufactuers offer you by way of profiles. As Mr. Grim says with a spindle moulder the range of shapes is limited to what you can grind (and even if you don't do a Mr. G it is still possible to modify a bought-in set of knives by lightly regrinding the profiles). Lightweight shapers are really an American phenomenon and were originally supplied with 2- and 3-wing cutters, router cutter collets came later. Over here, though, the cost differential between a spindle moulder and a decent router, router table, etc. isn't actually that much so I can't understand why more people don't have them.

For example a basic Kity 429 with a sliding carraige will set you back around £700 - a DW625 with a collet extender in a Record roter table (which arguably has much poorer fences and has no sliding carraige) will run you about £450 to £500. For the extra £200 you get a machine which will do much larger rebates and mouldings in one pass and will do reasonable size tenons as well. It won't, however, burn-out every 300 or so hours because it is designed for the task.

Maybe it's just that the spindle acquired a fearsome reputation in the days of square blocks and French heads (and I remember both of them), or it's just pure ignorance of the machine. Or a combination of both. Whatever it is most people who make the switch from router in table to spindle moulder aren't so keen to go back

Scrit

[engineerone]

interesting comment scrit, but i think you miss one more point.

we have been over sold the router for years, and every body is led to believe that it will do all manner of jobs. and of course people have been convinced that they can use it both in a table and freehand

a spindle moulder by definition is a machine which takes up room, and is not so easy to move around, and of course as you say, as a result of pr, people are worried about using them.

certainly if i were setting up a semi pro shop, i would use a moulder because it seems much more cost effective, once you have begun to understand the abilities of the machine, and of course you don't read too much into jason's worried responses ;D

paul

[Telos]

Talking of routers and the fact that spindle moulders are good value in comparison. Has anyone seen this insanely expensive new router gadget? It looks like another attempt at engineering precision in woodworking, all for the low, low price of £1500 excluding router or motor!! What with the price of the Dollar at the mo' you could buy an Onsrud for that price!