I’ve never seen a radial arm router, but I bet it would be a real time saver for dadoes in bookshelving, as well as a bunch of other stuff. Do they even make them? Anyone know where to get them?
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Ryobi ( eeecchh) made an 8.5" Radsaw with an outboard shaft that was not geared down to about 5k RPM, it was more like 18K rpm IIRC..a total POS.
There is at least one company advertising ( I think They still do) in FWW or FHB with a type of what you are thinking.
Inherently it is a BAD concept..Onsrud made an inverted pin router that was almost as stupid.
This day and age, either go cnc or a dedicated pin router, anything else is a waste of time and effort to maintain any type of consistant accuracy.
I slung a 3hp router on the carriage of a Craftsman Radsaw once, it was not a very accurate way to go...but I was working to some unrealistic tolerances at the time...trying to achieve +/- .005 was impossible.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"We adore chaos, because we love to restore order"
Mauriets Chavailier Escher
That was one my first "real" power tools (and to think I bought it from my "best friend" at the time). Tried the router setup once, and only once, when the Sears dado bit I was using shed it's carbide insert. Sounded like a .22 went off and when I realized what had happened I think I had to change my U trou.
I made a LOT of trim with one..a LOT. The tilting head and a corebox bit allowed a wide range of ideas..
The key was: Multiple passes, lock the head, move the wood. And multiple feather boards..and not carbide, but razor sharp HSS cutters.
BTDT. Blew it up. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"We adore chaos, because we love to restore order"
Mauriets Chavailier Escher
I have seen a rig on the woodworkers show that looks like an end mill for router bits he uses it all the time but I bet its a 5000$ plus. But it sure looks cool.
ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Remodeler/Punchout
Sure, there are many collets or chucks that will replicate a router, the limited RPMs is one draw back, and obviously cost is another...we had a total of 20K$ for a 2 head cnc with Carter vacuum pods table back in '92. Ran off a dos program.
A verticle mill, is not fast enough for the "router bits" that are made for 22K rpms, it can be done, but not effieciently.
Put a router bit ( 2 flute) in a drill press at highest speed, use a cross slide feed vise..either ya tear up the stock yer milling, or eat the bearings on the drill press quill.
I think the guy that founded woodworkers supply of NM made a great "joint machine"...based on an X/Y/Z router, but it fizzeled out in the late 90's. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"We adore chaos, because we love to restore order"
Mauriets Chavailier Escher
There is a tool like this - I can't recall the name, but I thought it was from Australia.
It held a router on linear rods over the top of a work surface. I tried searching and thought I found it here http://www.woodwizz.com but the link did not work for me.
Try posting this over at knots.
My Dad's Sears Craftsman radial arm saw circa 1960's has some kind of adapter for using router bits. Some 24 yrs ago I used it to make a cabinet with shelves for vinyl LPs. Routed slots for the shelves. Worked great for doing that.
Ya know I haven't thought of using it to route profiles on anything.
Here's one http://www.hersaf.com/pr1.html
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Safety Speed Cut has two different rigs also, one vertical, one horizontal.
There is another setup too......a flat table set back on an angle, and the router travels on something similar to a drafting arm.....good setup, but the name escapes me right now.
Anyway, there are a few options, and I have never heard anything but good things about them. Much better than any jury rigged setup.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
I made a large angle bracket to mount the router on my radial arm, the side of the bracket mounts on the spindle and the top over the blade guard stud ..
Why bother with the radial arm -- just program the coordinates into your NC router.
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