DF

"David F. Eisan"

30/12/2004 9:47 PM

Put a Power Feeder on my Router Table (w/pics)

Evening All,

I have a ton of doors to make and I didn't like the idea of hand feeding all
that material over my router table. I have been meaning to make a new better
router table, but I have just not got around to it, so I brought home a
power feeder from work and just bolted to my existing somewhat down and out
router table.

The router table is the only piece of woodworking machinery that has ever
bitten me and I am leery of hand feeding boards over it. I must say that
pushing the board into the first wheel, and grabbing it from the third wheel
was much easier on the sphincter muscle than hand feeding. Not only that,
but running at 14 ft/min gave excellent quality of cut with a set of CMT
cutters, no burning and no discernible milling marks. Not like when I was
hand feeding, little burn marks when I was moving my hands, or jiggles in
the profile. I am sold on this and wish I had bought one a long time ago.

The Delta 36-850 1/4 HP power feeder parts out of the box,

http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/parts.jpg

The power feeder mounted to my router table,

http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/ontable.jpg

A bunch of rough cut rails,

http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/roughcutparts.jpg

The rails all milled,

http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/milled.jpg

Runing the rails through the router table with the power feeder,

http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/runthrough.jpg

All the rails milled,

http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/milled2.jpg

These are all rough length and some multiple length, I will cut all the
rails and stiles from this stock tomorrow.

David.


This topic has 16 replies

SI

"Slowhand"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 12:58 PM


"David F. Eisan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> I think I will try climb cutting (standing *way* out of the way) today,
> just
> to see if the setup can do it.

When I first started woodworking, one my first projects involved a climb cut
with one of those huge multi purpose router bits. Full cut depth, no
feeder.

I've never seen a board get ripped from my hands so fast and hit the back
wall (25 feet away) so fast in my life.

And I haven't done it since.

I do like your feeder set up though and have been considering one for quite
some time now. I get tired of having to sand my moulding because of hand
feeding technique.
SH

Ji

"John, in MN"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 4:40 PM

On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 12:21:12 -0500, "David F. Eisan"
[snip]
>I think I will try climb cutting into the cutter today. The powerfeeder
>wheels have 3/4" of sprung travel and provide lots of downforce, enough I
>think to allow climb cutting.
>
>David.
>
>
We had a meeting at one of the local high school wood shops recently.
They used power feeders on the router tables and climbed cut without
any problems. Smooooth cut.
--
John, in Minnesota

DJ

"Dave Jackson"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 6:54 AM

We recently acquired this one
http://www.deltamachinery.com/index.aspe=136&p=4746
fitted with a Maggi feeder. Ran just about $3k including shaper, mobile
base, feeder, sliding shaper jig, roller infeed/outfeed stands and several
cutters. Totally awesome combination. I've been able to mill well over 2
thousand linear feet of flooring in a days time! I don't know what you
consider a "ton" of doors, but even cutting the cope, stick and panels are
much easier with a machine that can cut them in one pass. Just my
$.02 --dave






"David F. Eisan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Evening All,
>
> I have a ton of doors to make and I didn't like the idea of hand feeding
> all
> that material over my router table. I have been meaning to make a new
> better
> router table, but I have just not got around to it, so I brought home a
> power feeder from work and just bolted to my existing somewhat down and
> out
> router table.
>
> The router table is the only piece of woodworking machinery that has ever
> bitten me and I am leery of hand feeding boards over it. I must say that
> pushing the board into the first wheel, and grabbing it from the third
> wheel
> was much easier on the sphincter muscle than hand feeding. Not only that,
> but running at 14 ft/min gave excellent quality of cut with a set of CMT
> cutters, no burning and no discernible milling marks. Not like when I was
> hand feeding, little burn marks when I was moving my hands, or jiggles in
> the profile. I am sold on this and wish I had bought one a long time ago.
>
> The Delta 36-850 1/4 HP power feeder parts out of the box,
>
> http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/parts.jpg
>
> The power feeder mounted to my router table,
>
> http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/ontable.jpg
>
> A bunch of rough cut rails,
>
> http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/roughcutparts.jpg
>
> The rails all milled,
>
> http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/milled.jpg
>
> Runing the rails through the router table with the power feeder,
>
> http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/runthrough.jpg
>
> All the rails milled,
>
> http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/milled2.jpg
>
> These are all rough length and some multiple length, I will cut all the
> rails and stiles from this stock tomorrow.
>
> David.
>
>

ON

Old Nick

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 5:34 PM

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 21:47:04 -0500, "David F. Eisan"
<[email protected]> vaguely proposed a theory
......and in reply I say!:

remove ns from my header address to reply via email

>I must say that
>pushing the board into the first wheel, and grabbing it from the third wheel
>was much easier on the sphincter muscle than hand feeding.

Now _that_ brings up an image.......aaargh! What a thing take into my
dreams into the New year! Gaak! I will just have to get drunk.....<G>

DF

"David F. Eisan"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 12:18 PM

Keef,

> One more picture if you could David, got something from the
> back? From looking at it I can't imagine the feeder base
> being mounted to the table top. Is it?

I will be in the shop later today and I will post a pic. See the foot or
base in the first photo? It is simply through bolted to the top. The top is
3/4" of MDF on 3/4" of plywood with countertop laminate on both sides.

> UA100, who was just yesterday thinking how much fun it would
> be to have a baby feeder for the An Ultimate Router Table...

I was just going to borrow this from work, but now I think I am going to buy
extra feet and mount them on my jointer and table saw. It is so much nicer
to powerfeed...

David.

DF

"David F. Eisan"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 12:11 PM

Hello there,

> I take it you aren't using featherboards? They pretty much take care of
> the "jiggles".

I consider myself a decent and compentent woodworker, I was never able to
get the quality of cut by hand that I now get with the power feeder.

I think I will try climb cutting (standing *way* out of the way) today, just
to see if the setup can do it.

David.



DD

David

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

30/12/2004 7:00 PM

I take it you aren't using featherboards? They pretty much take care of
the "jiggles".

David

David F. Eisan wrote:
Not like when I was
> hand feeding, little burn marks when I was moving my hands, or jiggles in
> the profile.
>

DF

"David F. Eisan"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 12:14 PM

Hello there Groggy,

> David, I reckon you are due for a spindle moulder (shaper Keith). No,
> make that overdue.

If I had the space I would get one. Put with the choice between the router
table that spins 20K with cheap cutters, and a machine that uses expensive
cutters and will not allow me to use small bits, I will have to stay with
the router table.

I plan to try to raise Keef on the AURT when I build mine...

David.



Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 3:34 PM


"Sam the Cat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...


> BTW -- is this pic reversed ?
> http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/runthrough.jpg

Perhaps just making a very light final run to help prevent tear out. A
pretty good practice.


>
> On my router table I feed from left to right facing the cutter -- againts
> the rotation of the blade.

Do you mean from right to left --against the rotation of the blade?




DF

"David F. Eisan"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 12:21 PM

Hello there,

> BTW -- is this pic reversed ?
> http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/runthrough.jpg
>
> On my router table I feed from left to right facing the cutter -- againts
> the rotation of the blade. This pic either shows already milled material
> heading back into the cutter or the whole operation is backwards from they
> way I would have done it. Inquiring minds.....

Nope, it is a fake shot. I didn't want to take the time to take a pic when I
was really doing the cutting, so I took a fake shot when I was done with the
equipment off, I cheated!

I think I will try climb cutting into the cutter today. The powerfeeder
wheels have 3/4" of sprung travel and provide lots of downforce, enough I
think to allow climb cutting.

David.


DF

"David F. Eisan"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 12:15 PM

Hello there,

> >I must say that
> >pushing the board into the first wheel, and grabbing it from the third
wheel
> >was much easier on the sphincter muscle than hand feeding.

> Now _that_ brings up an image.......aaargh! What a thing take into my
> dreams into the New year! Gaak! I will just have to get drunk.....<G>

What I was really getting at, was, that I was not uptight the entire time I
was using the table...

Somehow I think you were getting drunk anyway! :)

David



Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 2:18 PM


"David F. Eisan" wrote in message
> Evening All,
>
> I have a ton of doors to make and I didn't like the idea of hand feeding
all
> that material over my router table. I have been meaning to make a new
better
> router table, but I have just not got around to it, so I brought home a
> power feeder from work and just bolted to my existing somewhat down and
out
> router table.

They are tres slick ... been on my wish list since I used one at a door shop
to mill cabinet door rails and stiles. Congratulations ... betcha $489
retail you don't take it back to work. ;)

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

sd

sandman

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 12:59 PM

In article <[email protected]>,
"David F. Eisan" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hello there,
>
> > I take it you aren't using featherboards? They pretty much take care of
> > the "jiggles".
>
> I consider myself a decent and compentent woodworker, I was never able to
> get the quality of cut by hand that I now get with the power feeder.
>
> I think I will try climb cutting (standing *way* out of the way) today, just
> to see if the setup can do it.
>
> David.
>
>
>
>

I have built a lot of laminate counter tops over the years with wood
edges. I would always climb-cut. A 1/2" thick acrylic base on a PC
production router gave me the weight and the cuts were always very
shallow. Looked a bit silly, all that engine with such a wee bit, but I
never had any (especially oak) tear out. Birdseye maple fared much
better with climb-cutting as well. Fewer burns, etc.
If the cut is small enough, the whole climb-cutting deal is quite doable.

We used a Delta power feeder on the table saw to eliminate the "changing
hands"-gouges.

A very useful and safe tool.

Weaver makes a decent unit which uses belts.

UA

Unisaw A100

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 6:48 AM

One more picture if you could David, got something from the
back? From looking at it I can't imagine the feeder base
being mounted to the table top. Is it?

Come to think of it, I'm semi-surprised someone hasn't
already come up with a fence/feeder combo. It t'would not
be a big thing to do really.

UA100, who was just yesterday thinking how much fun it would
be to have a baby feeder for the An Ultimate Router Table...

Gs

Groggy

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 5:16 AM

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 21:47:04 -0500, "David F. Eisan"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Evening All,
>
>I have a ton of doors to make and I didn't like the idea of hand feeding all
>that material over my router table. I have been meaning to make a new better
>router table, but I have just not got around to it, so I brought home a
>power feeder from work and just bolted to my existing somewhat down and out
>router table.
>
>The router table is the only piece of woodworking machinery that has ever
>bitten me and I am leery of hand feeding boards over it. I must say that
>pushing the board into the first wheel, and grabbing it from the third wheel
>was much easier on the sphincter muscle than hand feeding. Not only that,
>but running at 14 ft/min gave excellent quality of cut with a set of CMT
>cutters, no burning and no discernible milling marks. Not like when I was
>hand feeding, little burn marks when I was moving my hands, or jiggles in
>the profile. I am sold on this and wish I had bought one a long time ago.
>
>The Delta 36-850 1/4 HP power feeder parts out of the box,
>
>http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/parts.jpg
>
>The power feeder mounted to my router table,
>
>http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/ontable.jpg
>
>A bunch of rough cut rails,
>
>http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/roughcutparts.jpg
>
>The rails all milled,
>
>http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/milled.jpg
>
>Runing the rails through the router table with the power feeder,
>
>http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/runthrough.jpg
>
>All the rails milled,
>
>http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/milled2.jpg
>
>These are all rough length and some multiple length, I will cut all the
>rails and stiles from this stock tomorrow.
>
>David.

David, I reckon you are due for a spindle moulder (shaper Keith). No,
make that overdue.

Go on, you know you want one...

http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=954

Avoid the home page, it has been infected with the Handyman Club of
America virus

cheers
Groggy

BTW, finished that kitchen yet? Enquiring minds etc...

St

"Sam the Cat"

in reply to "David F. Eisan" on 30/12/2004 9:47 PM

31/12/2004 8:40 AM


"David F. Eisan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Evening All,
>
> I have a ton of doors to make and I didn't like the idea of hand feeding
all
> that material over my router table. I have been meaning to make a new
better
> router table, but I have just not got around to it, so I brought home a
> power feeder from work and just bolted to my existing somewhat down and
out
> router table.


BTW -- is this pic reversed ?
http://www.federatedtool.com/david/img/runthrough.jpg

On my router table I feed from left to right facing the cutter -- againts
the rotation of the blade. This pic either shows already milled material
heading back into the cutter or the whole operation is backwards from they
way I would have done it. Inquiring minds.....

Cheers


You’ve reached the end of replies