Panel Raising Bit and PC 691 router
Cheatah
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
Hello All:
I have a PC 691 router and would like to use a large panel raising bit in my router table. The router does not have a variable speed feature. Can I still use this big bit with my PC 691?
I really want to use my router for the raised panel. I like thie shape alot. But I do not want to engage in an unsafe practice that could injure me or the work-piece.
If I take very light passes will this help?
Any guidance would be most helpful.
Thank you,
Thank you,
Cheatah
Replies
Take light passes and you'll be fine. If you find yourself doing the same thing over and over, it's time to rethink your tools. But for the meantime, go slow and all will be well.
DR
You will need a variable speed router to do this safely. Your 691 is too fast for a large diameter bit.
You're under powered for such a cutter, moreover that router hasn't the flywheel to keep that cutter moving. You'll need many depth changes to proceed, expect a lot more cutter wear.
Me worry? Never, that cut is done all the time with all sorts of routers, equipment, and speeds. Would I do it? No.
Routers
Dear Cheatah,
At the expense of my reputation as a risk taker, I will vote no on this one. I'm not sure how large a bit we are talking, but I would caution you to see what the maximum rpm's of the bit is. Larger bits need to be slowed down due to centrifugal force. I recently used a 3 1/2" bit that was rated for 12,000 RPMs. I don't know if the bit would shatter at 20,000 RPMs, but it would be very ugly if it did. I would be very reluctant to do the operation that you are describing, if it involved over spinning the router bit. Beyond that, you almost certainly will be over working your router, but if you burn it out, at least you (probably ) won't get hurt. Check out the max. RPMs that the bit is rated for and proceed from there, would be my advice. Perhaps this is the excuse for a new router? :-)
Best,
John
John,
Me thinks thou dost show signs of mellowing in thy advanced age.Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. Frank Lloyd Wright
Thank you...........I think!Best,John
There are relatively inexpensive ($30) aftermarket switches that you can use to turn your fixed RPM router into a variable speed router. Sort of like dimmer switches for lighting.
As mentioned above, you can get a variable speed "box" to plug your router into. There is some indication, or at the very least speculation, that extensive use of such a box might harm the router motor. I would guess that this would be most likely to happen when the router is pushed pretty hard at lower RPMs which is exactly what you might be doing with the panel-raising bit.
If you have the $$ for a new router, that'd be the best way to go, for sure.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Thank you to everyone that gave your feed back and so quickly.
Well......I do not like the concensous that I should not use this big bit in my PC691. I figured that I probably should not do it. I geuss I was hoping that I would get responses that supported me to go ahead.
Anyway---Looks like I will be getting a new Triton router and my wife will have to wait a little longer for the entertainment center to get done.
Thank you again---your feed back has been helpful.
Later------ Thank you,
Cheatah
Reassure your wife that having 2 routers is not a waste of money. The only thing that's harder to have too many of is clamps (pardon my grammar). It's such a time-saver sometimes to be able to set up 2 or 3 routers for different parts of a repetitive project.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Personally, I wouldn't put a large panel raiser in a 1.5 hp single speed router. First and foremost it's not safe, the router spins too fast for that size bit. 23,000 RPM is fast but on a 1 inch bit the surface feet per second isn't all that bad, but on a 3 or 3.5 inch panel raiser that outside edge is really moving. Even with the previously mentioned speed reducer you will have issues. Second, the router doesn't have enough umph to handle that size bit. I have a PC 690 and for the router table a PC 7518 3.25 hp monster with 5 speeds. If you have to use the 691 then you should look into a vertical panel bit. These are smaller in diameter and can be spun at standard router speeds. Im my opinion these are best used in a vertical table where the bit is horizontal.
One thing for sure, you don't want that panel bit to explode and chunk off a piece of shape carbide at router speeds.
I'm not sure how long you can work wood and not have an injury, but I'd like it to be a lifetime. ;)
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled