[Woodcarver] Question about plunge routers

[Donna Menke]

Alex-
You have gotten a lot of advice here about going bigger, so I'll go the other way. If you think you will want to do some regular woodworking with the router, and maybe put it into a router table, then by all means get a big boy. If you are buying it strictly for waste removal on relief carvings a couple of times a year, and that is all, then a smaller router would do fine, like the Porter Cable 690 series. They cost about the same, so that is not an issue. They will all remove the 1/4" of basswood/butternut at a time that you will need. The smaller router will be easier to handle because it weighs less. They all have about the same visibility. Best thing is to run a hose off the chip chute to a shop vac to keep the area clean. I'm not an expert on this subject- but that is my 2-cents. Donna Menke
http://www.woodworks-by-donna.com 
Author: The Ultimate Band Saw Box Book

----- Original Message ----
From: Alex Bisso <albisso at bresnan.net>
To: Woodcarver <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 4, 2007 11:22:04 PM
Subject: [Woodcarver] Question about plunge routers


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It looks like it is getting to be time for me to bite the 
bullet and get a plunge router to help get a good start on thick relief carving 
panels.  I have been shopping and have some ideas but would like some input 
from carvers who have experience with them.  One of my questions relates to 
HP or amp rating needed.  I am pretty sure that I would need at least a 
2.25 HP, 12 amp but perhaps a 3.5 HP unit would be better.  I am not 
expecting to do a whole lot of carving - maybe 2-3 per year so maybe the 3.5 HP 
would be more than needed.  What do you think???

Also, what make/models have you found most to your 
liking?

Visibility while cutting seems important to me - which are the 
best in this regard?

Any input would be appreciated.

Alex Bisso

 

PS:  Thanks for the leads on finding white birch 
stateside.  The Hardwood Connection will be sending me some as compensation 
for cleaning out my bank account!