Power Feed - advice

[Stuartgb100]

Hi, looking for advice, & whether to go diy or something like the Itech -
https://www.scosarg.com/itech-co-matic-af32-junior-power-feed-3-roller-2sp
or
https://www.scosarg.com/co-matic-af34-3-roller-power-feed-1ph-4-speed

It's for a router table measuring 1700 x 750mm.
Biggest section that I'm likely to feed would be approx 150 x 75mm.
Thoughts please.
Cheers.

 

[Sideways]

Unless your router table is made of cast iron, could you even bolt a power feeder base securely to your table ?
There's a lot of leverage from the length of arm and weight of a typical power feed head. All countered by just 4 mounting bolts at the corners of a bracket with a fairly small footprint.

 

[Stuartgb100]

Hi, thanks.
Thinking of making a mobile unit for the feeder.
Castors to move it, then adjustable feet to level it up.
Perhaps locating bolts to lock it to the router table.
Might that work ?

 

[Sideways]

The arm needs to be rigidly locked to the table top while in use.
The feeder head and the table top (or fence if positioned sideways) are acting as a not too tight vice that the stock slides through. You want as little flex between them as resonably possible so that the feed of the wood is steady.

If you're going for the bulk and sophistication of a power feeder, why not just get a spindle moulder ?
Power feeds and routers aren't commonly seen together.

 

[Cabinetman]

Must say are you sure it’s necessary? Used my Spindle Moulder for years without one.
That first one “seems” to be good value.

 

[deema]

Have you considered the following? They are full industrial power feeds. I have the 2038, which has 8 speeds. I tend to use the slowest speeds for setup and for the best possible finish on a spindle moulder.

https://rjwoodworking.co.uk/shop/power-feed-units/maggi-steff-2034-power-feed-unit/

 

[Sgian Dubh]

Hi, thanks.
Thinking of making a mobile unit for the feeder.
Castors to move it, then adjustable feet to level it up.
Perhaps locating bolts to lock it to the router table.
Might that work ?

It's a waste of money for a router table where hand feeding plus guarding is all that's really needed, plus all the stuff you describe in the quotation above is essentially pie-in-sky. Those power feeders are designed and suited to spindle moulders. Slainte.

 

[Stuartgb100]

Fair enough - project cancelled !
Thanks all.

 

[johnnyb]

I've always thought a power feed on a router table would be a good idea just to improve the finish. There's a baby comatic(and variants) available, I think rutlands sell one. It's much lighter built. It's also rather easy to overload a router....
It's something I've always wanted to chase a bit but never had time.

 

[johnnyb]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...gQFnoECCIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0Pqfr00HtB5WVXV0fjwbbD

 

[johnnyb]

Let's be honest it's one of the less crackpot ideas that already exist in router table world!