i'm in the process of restoring an old cocktail arcade machine. i
will be placing laminate around (and on top) of the cabinet to pretty
it up. in the course of trying to figure out how to cut the laminate
to form, i've decide to try my hand at routing. unfortunately i don't
have a router. i checked at HD and they were showing off the dremel
which looks about what i need however when i demo'd it, i was rather
unimpressed with the feel of it and at $100 + router base (30), i
wondered if there was a better (more bang for the buck) solution.
admittedly, i do like the versatility of the dremel and so i would
like a more substantial tool along these lines.
the mini die grinder plus air compressor is an interesting idea. is
it possible to pick up a pancake compressor for the (internal) home
and power these types of tools? can you buy a router base for any of
mini die grinders out there? i may also need to do some simple
cutting, say straight cuts or jig type cuts on 3/4 inch plywood,
drilling (for joysticks and buttons), and sanding but that would be
about the extent of my needs right now.
thanks
Ilike the extra power of a die grinder since most of my work tends to
be on something larger than a fishing reel or something similiar. I
like Dremel but it doesn't do a whole lot very fast.
On 25 Jan 2004 13:50:28 -0800, [email protected] (matt) wrote:
>i'm in the process of restoring an old cocktail arcade machine. i
>will be placing laminate around (and on top) of the cabinet to pretty
>it up. in the course of trying to figure out how to cut the laminate
>to form, i've decide to try my hand at routing. unfortunately i don't
>have a router. i checked at HD and they were showing off the dremel
>which looks about what i need however when i demo'd it, i was rather
>unimpressed with the feel of it and at $100 + router base (30), i
>wondered if there was a better (more bang for the buck) solution.
>
>admittedly, i do like the versatility of the dremel and so i would
>like a more substantial tool along these lines.
>
>the mini die grinder plus air compressor is an interesting idea. is
>it possible to pick up a pancake compressor for the (internal) home
>and power these types of tools? can you buy a router base for any of
>mini die grinders out there? i may also need to do some simple
>cutting, say straight cuts or jig type cuts on 3/4 inch plywood,
>drilling (for joysticks and buttons), and sanding but that would be
>about the extent of my needs right now.
>
>thanks
Bridger <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> On 25 Jan 2004 13:50:28 -0800, [email protected] (matt) wrote:
>
>
> go to a real (non borg) tool store and shop for laminate trimmers. the
> basic machine is a small router and will be useful for other small
> routing jobs. for about the same money it's much more robust than a
> dremel type machine and will likely come with all of the attachments
> needed to get the job at hand done.
>
>
took your advice and stopped by www.woodcraft.com (they have a store
near us). a search on rotary tool brought up one by proxxon. anyone
have any experience with this brand?
On 25 Jan 2004 13:50:28 -0800, [email protected] (matt) wrote:
>i'm in the process of restoring an old cocktail arcade machine. i
>will be placing laminate around (and on top) of the cabinet to pretty
>it up. in the course of trying to figure out how to cut the laminate
>to form, i've decide to try my hand at routing. unfortunately i don't
>have a router. i checked at HD and they were showing off the dremel
>which looks about what i need however when i demo'd it, i was rather
>unimpressed with the feel of it and at $100 + router base (30), i
>wondered if there was a better (more bang for the buck) solution.
go to a real (non borg) tool store and shop for laminate trimmers. the
basic machine is a small router and will be useful for other small
routing jobs. for about the same money it's much more robust than a
dremel type machine and will likely come with all of the attachments
needed to get the job at hand done.
>
>admittedly, i do like the versatility of the dremel and so i would
>like a more substantial tool along these lines.
electric die grinders are available, very useful for general
trimming/adjusting type jobs but aren't laminate trimmers.
>
>the mini die grinder plus air compressor is an interesting idea. is
>it possible to pick up a pancake compressor for the (internal) home
>and power these types of tools?
a pancake compressor will fail to run an air die grinder.
> can you buy a router base for any of
>mini die grinders out there?
I doubt it.
> i may also need to do some simple
>cutting, say straight cuts or jig type cuts on 3/4 inch plywood,
try a jigsaw.
>drilling (for joysticks and buttons),
try a drill
> and sanding
try a.... oh, heck. research cabinet scrapers. much more fun, less
messy and more accurate than sanding.
>but that would be
>about the extent of my needs right now.
>
>thanks
de nada...
Bridger
I have most of the tools you've mentioned, for various purposes.
I've used a Dremel, a RTX, and Makita die grinders for power
carving. I've used the Dremel, RTX, and trim routers for routing
work.
<snip>
> have a router. i checked at HD and they were showing off the dremel
> which looks about what i need however when i demo'd it, i was rather
> unimpressed with the feel of it and at $100 + router base (30),
Relatively low power, somewhat unsteady, base is not very rugged.
You'd be better off with a laminate trim router for this purpose.
The B&D RTX tools have more power than the older Dremels, I think
they're well made for the price.
But even with the B&D add on base, there are the same stability
questions.
> admittedly, i do like the versatility of the dremel ...
It won't do a good job at what you want. If you want to do power
carving, get a die grinder or RTX. If you want to clean up trim,
get the trim router.
You'll just waste time and material trying to do well with the
multifunction device. Buy a GOOD trim router, and a throw-away
grade Dremel-type tool.
> the mini die grinder plus air compressor is an interesting idea.
Never saw a router base for one. The Makita electric die
grinder is solid and works well, but feels a little under-
powered. Never tried the air die grinder.
I actually tried to use a laminate trimmer to replace a
die grinder for carving. Very very very very very dangerous.
On 25 Jan 2004 19:27:09 -0800, [email protected] (matt) wrote:
>Bridger <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>> On 25 Jan 2004 13:50:28 -0800, [email protected] (matt) wrote:
>>
>
>>
>> go to a real (non borg) tool store and shop for laminate trimmers. the
>> basic machine is a small router and will be useful for other small
>> routing jobs. for about the same money it's much more robust than a
>> dremel type machine and will likely come with all of the attachments
>> needed to get the job at hand done.
>>
>>
>
>took your advice and stopped by www.woodcraft.com (they have a store
>near us). a search on rotary tool brought up one by proxxon. anyone
>have any experience with this brand?
if this is what you are looking at:
http://tinyurl.com/2cq6m
it looks closer to a dremel than a laminate trimmer. it does seem to
be decent machinery, but I would rather use a laminate trimmer to trim
laminate. I guess I'm just a little kooky that way....
I have and use and like my porter cable laminate trimmer. I bought the
full kit with 3 bases. I figured it was better to get the right stuff
right away. here's the kit I have:
http://www.toolmarts.com/pc_97310.html
several other manufacturers offer similar kits- the bosch also seems
to be high quality. Woodcraft offers the dewalt kit:
http://tinyurl.com/24jcv
which I can't make a recommendation either way not having used it.
I suspect that your long term needs will run more towards router use
than laminate production, so you might consider making the jump up to
a light router.