Customize the cheap tools for one task…
February 24, 2010 by admin
Filed under Router Tips
Dad, through his woodworking club in Phoenix found that there were 5 guys that want to get a set up to do just these dovetail joints. The big trouble is getting the set up right.
Dad’s solution is to find five elements that can be used specifically for the blind dovetail joint. The idea was to create the custom set up just to make dovetail joints for drawers. Dad, mounted the router bit, 7/16 guide and the base plate on the router and set up the height of the router bit to work with the dovetail jig, then we set up the dovetail jig and made sure it worked.
Here was his solution:
1) One cheap plunge router,($26.00),
2) One cheap dovetail bit, ($1.50)
3) A guide and base plate, ($25.00) and
4) One cheap dovetail jig, ($39.95)
Now the five guys have their custom made dovetail joint making machine for under $100.00. So the idea here is to find the cheap equipment and set them up to complete a specific task. Once the set up have been made and it works you don’t change the set up or use these tools for any other routing tasks. They are used for this specific task and set up for just one purpose.
I am really interested in this topic. Could you provide more details and perhaps some pictures or diagrams?
Thanks,
Keith
Rick’s comments:
Really this is a concept is about using and leveraging the cheap router that you purchase from places like let’s say Harbor Freight. Not sure we need photos of the cheap router that is set up to cut half blind dovetails.
This is about the idea of setting up a router process with specific tools. The price of the low end router is so reasonable and feasible, which makes this concept even something we can be talking about.
thanks, Rick
great plan!
Rick,
I think the idea is a good one.
Why does the router need to be a plunge? Wouldn’t a fixed router work just as well, since it will only be used for this purpose?
Jack
Rick’s comments:
The fixed router for the half-blind dovetail will work fine…we are talking about getting the cheapest router with the cheapest dovetail bit.
Rick
I think one photo of the final arrived at set up is all that is requested. This would be very informative to all.
Guys:
This concept is about the idea of using cheap tools to create different custom router set ups. With this set up you leave these tools set up in the custom operation.
My example:
Is the half blind dovetail joint and a photo would be me cutting the joint. What this post is about is the fact that you can create one, two or more custom set ups with the cheap tools.
Another example:
Maybe you want to set up the just the 1/4″ round over bit with the custom set up in my plywood table mounted router…
Regards, Rick
I thought this was so ingenious! Please keep me on the list for future updates.