decision to make

[sunnybob]

I've been using a 1/4" router on a sled to flatten my small pieces of wood for box making. That worked pretty well, but the router has just died.
It was a cheapo, and given to me, so its stands me in nothing and did a good job for that price.

Now, what to replace it with?
Another router? or a table top planer thicknesser. Didnt want to spend any more money for a while but this has pre empted that plan. I looked at used routers on ebay, but gave up when I found an ELU router listed that i considered for a while, but when I checked, that model had been discontinued in the 80's. Not buying a 40 year old router, thats for sure.
So, if a good new router is going to cost me the best part of £200, and its only going to be used for planing small sheets and planks, would it be better to bite the bullet and buy a table top planer thicknesser?

If so, do you have any "this is better than that" suggestions?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Can you not get box sized pieces flat with your bandsaw?

 

[monkeybiter]

Router is more versatile, and you won't have any wastage due to snipe, which you would with a P/T, particularly with smaller pieces IMHO

 

[Jacob]

Table top thicknesser would be vastly more productive.

 

[mseries]

you don't need to spend £200 on a 1/4" router for planing/thicknessing. My cheap B&D would do the job. It has some short comings none of which would show up for what you want to do. I paid £15 for it on eBay

 

[AJB Temple]

Am I missing something here? Does this not just need a hand plane?

 

[sunnybob]

AJB = arthritic hands means I cant use a plane successfully, it has to be powered.

PhilP = My new bandsaw is a vast improvement over the last rubbish one I had, but sometimes I want a piece that is just beyond the bandsaws capacity if I'm making a big box. the router sled could do 30cm in each direction.

Monkey biter = good points and noted.

Jacob = production isnt top of my needs, although sometimes that router sled took a while.

Mseries = I fight shy of used power tools unless they are give away prices, plus i dont know how old they are (witness that almost 40 year old elu I very nearly bid on). I havent found a bargain yet on this mission.

Majority seem to think i should stick with the router. Maybe I should think about how often the bandsaw wont do the job, its not really very many times so far.

Thanks all, back to surfing for a cheapie router.

 

[chippy1970]

I looked at used routers on ebay, but gave up when I found an ELU router listed that i considered for a while, but when I checked, that model had been discontinued in the 80's. Not buying a 40 year old router, thats for sure.

Don't worry about that ELU were the best power tools ever made. Built to last a lifetime so I wouldn't worry when they stopped making them.



Sent from my ALE-L21 using Tapatalk

 

[AJB Temple]

Elu. Yep. The Swiss made them as heirloom pieces. Quite remarkably tough. The Festool of their day.

 

[Rhossydd]

I found an ELU router listed that i considered for a while, but when I checked, that model had been discontinued in the 80's. Not buying a 40 year old router, thats for sure.

If the price is right, go for it. As others have said Elu kit is superbly made. If you're lucky enough to get a lightly used and well cared for one, it'll last you another 40 years.
Parts are easy to get and fit too.
I happily bought another 96E the year before last when I could have bought a similar spec router from a retail shed for a quarter of the cost.

The downside is that only the later models came with dust extraction as standard, but it's still possible to get the extraction hoods for many of the older models.

 

[Jacob]

Black & Decker had their brand on a small ELU some years back. Can't remember the B&D number - I vaguely recall (something) 100. It was a good one. I had one for many years and gave it away so it's probably still working somewhere. Worth watching out for.

 

[Mark A]

As others have said, don't be put off by the age of the tool. I have some stuff from the 40s and the quality is exceptional; certainly superior to all but the very best available today.

 

[acewoodturner]

My oldest router is something like over 40 years old. It is German made and I bought it from a local joiners shop as they no longer used it. Theres no plastic in it, only a small bit of bakelite and the rest is metal. I only use it now in my router sled for flattening large slabs of timber. Its built like a tank and will go on for years yet. The older kit is far superior to the new stuff. My original router is an Elu mof96e and is waiting on the bearings being replaced which I will get around to one day.

 

[harry the b]

i have an elu mof96.
its 40 years old and i have had it from new.
regards,harry..

 

[acewoodturner]

Just remembered the name of the old German router I got, Haffner. Checked them out and they only make cnc routers these days.