craftsman 1 1/2 HP router good ?
Jeong Ho Lee
Today, I saw an ad of $59.99 Craftsman 1 1/2 HP router. The price is less than
1/2 of other name brands' 1 1/2 HP routers. Is this cheap one OK for me ?
Thanks,
jLee
Bennett Leeds
I don't know you. I doubt this router is OK for you.
Chances are, this router has what is known as a one-piece collet. That is,
the collet is really just a threaded split in an extended motor shank.
As such, it wears out quickly and cannot be replaced short of taking the
router in for Sears service (and this will cost you $$). Even when new,
the grip isn't very good and is restricted to 1/4" shank bits.
Unless you want a disposable router, do not buy this router. The name brand
versions that cost twice as much are four times better, and will last twenty
times longer with periodic <$10 collet and brush replacement.
- Bennett Leeds
ben...@mv.us.adobe.com
J.Andrew Sexton
the motor (and hence bit) to travel vertically in the router body is partially made with plastic
that is not stiff enough. The result is a motor which is not held in place securely. I use this router
only when I don't care about the quality of the finished cut (i.e., very, very seldom). I hate it so much I've
taken up using hand planes for most things. The fact that I paid money for the darn thing is the only reason
I don't pitch it out, besides I might need a boat anchor sometime.
If your gonna buy a router, get a good one or else you'll live to regret it.
bisc...@ex.hp.com
Don't do it. I bought one. Pure junk. The plastic collar doesn't hold
the bit. It's useless. I brought it back after less than a year of trying
to use it and got most of my money back. Get a Porter-Cable. Costs more,
but I'll probably have it forever.
--paul
Michael T Jones
I bought one of these a few years ago. Pure Junk. The housing which is threaded to allow
the motor (and hence bit) to travel vertically in the router body is partially made with plastic
that is not stiff enough. The result is a motor which is not held in place securely. I use this router
only when I don't care about the quality of the finished cut (i.e., very, very seldom). I hate it so much I've
taken up using hand planes for most things. The fact that I paid money for the darn thing is the only reason
I don't pitch it out, besides I might need a boat anchor sometime.
If your gonna buy a router, get a good one or else you'll live to regret it.
----------
Ihave the same Craftsman Router and as you have pointed out the plastic heigth
adjustment mechanism is a poor choice of materials (plastic), First thing I
did was tighten the two adjustment screws as tight as they would go without
stripping or breking the plastic then csecuring that little arm, which will
take a pair of vice grips to do. This has resolved the problem of the motor
not being secure but it is a pain in the but to adjust the heigth. The other
thing I have been expirimenting with is I have put a pipe strap with a screw
adjust around the whole plastic housing then once I get the height set I
grab my handy screw driver and tighten it up and it works great. At least
I am not having to use it as a boat anchor 0 0
|
\_/
vjpa...@gmail.com
Good luck! And happy hobbying.
Markem
hub...@ccanoemail.ca
replying to an ancient post ..
I was happily discovering usenet around that time -
on my Tandy PC < AMD 386 > - dial-up of course !
John T.
Leon
Craftsman routers.
dpb
...
> And 26 years ago and a bit further the collects did not hold well on the
> Craftsman routers.
Doesn't say some models may have had problems but I never ran across it.
Still use the 1/4" fixed base one now and then for smaller stuff. I'm
not sure whether the 1/2" is still around or not, even.
I've always liked the 1/4" a lot -- very nice handles w/ integrated
switch, the top is flat like a pancake so can just set it down upside
down w/o worrying, has spindle lock for changing bits, ... all could ask
for in an inexpensive tool that has lasted 30 years, probably. Couldn't
begin to say when actually got it.
--
DerbyDad03
I don't think it was 1.5 HP though. 3/4 HP sounds more familiar.
Timing wise, 30-ish years ago sounds right. Hated that thing. So frigging
loud! Got introduced to the PC 690 and never looked back. Quieter, smoother,
more powerful. I've actually got 2, one handheld, one hanging on the router
table. ($55 pawn shop find, brand new.)
I'd like a full size variable speed router (I have a VS trim router) but with
2 working PC 690's and the trim unit, I just can't justify spending the money.
I remember watching Norm build a router table way back then. He had huge
drawers on the bottom built to hold multiple routers. I remember saying to
myself "Holy crap! He doesn't change router bits, he changes routers!"
Tom Crist
Unquestionably Confused
describe. Trigger in the grip handle that mechanically triggered the
switch in the motor housing via a black covered cable.
My father bought it ca 1964 and gave it to me. Bought another at a
garage sale about 17 years later. One of them is still mounted in a DIY
router table that I built.
These were made, of course, before Craftsman became Crapsman! LOL!
Leon
collect did slip. AND IIRC it was a single wrench collect, that may
have been the issue, not being able to hold the button and router tight
enough with one hand. IIRC I bought before 1995.
Leon
for about 22 years not. It was a new model then and is still popular.
One of its features was that it was quieter. And surprisingly it is
pretty quiet on all but the top speed, until you start actually using it.
dpb
given time -- and the target price/audience that decided the quality
point as well.
--
dpb
> I still own two of the Craftsman "Commercials" similar to what you
> describe. Trigger in the grip handle that mechanically triggered the
> switch in the motor housing via a black covered cable.
>
> My father bought it ca 1964 and gave it to me. Bought another at a
> garage sale about 17 years later. One of them is still mounted in a DIY
> router table that I built.
>
> These were made, of course, before Craftsman became Crapsman! LOL!
handle that were my grandfathers dating back to the 1930s that is as
good as any Ridgid.
--