quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:
I gave away my plunge router. I just start a regular one and tip it in. It's been years.

I used routers regularly back before there were plunge routers. Arc is right, tipping it in is not hard (rest the back side of the base on the work piece and lower the bit into the work). I never saw the need for a plunge router. Neat idea, but not necessary.

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:
I gave away my plunge router. I just start a regular one and tip it in. It's been years.

I used routers regularly back before there were plunge routers. Arc is right, tipping it in is not hard (rest the back side of the base on the work piece and lower the bit into the work). I never saw the need for a plunge router. Neat idea, but not necessary.

"Tipping it in" works for some things, but isn't great when you're trying to cut a feature that is the same width as the bit.

You can always just use a smaller bit, but then the setup is more work and making the cut takes longer.

Is it a sign of the times that when I heard "router", my first thought was computer networking device?

Used my router yesterday on some MDF and I don't need a plunge router but I do need a router table.
Luckily the piece I was routing was small and I could just turn the router upside down and use the guide.
Not real safe or stable but it worked....carefully of course.
A table is on my list now.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
A table is on my list now.

Too bad you're not closer to me. I have a really nice phenolic top and fence designed specifically for use in a table top router implementation. Unfortunately (for me), I opted for a different router table solution and only used this top twice across sawhorses as a portable solution at my folks house. I'd let you have it for a song just to free up the space it currently occupies in my shop.

quote:

just to free up the space it currently occupies in my shop

That's why I am going get a fold-up table (hopefully it will be stable enough).

I have both and do enjoy the ease of adjusting depth for successive cuts with a plunge router. But as noted you can accomplish the same without a plunge base.