Router Table dilemma

[weekend_woodworker]

Earlier this year I built a router table as an extension to my table saw and have been very pleased with it. I picked up a virtually new Rutlands motor and lift on EBay. I also have a trend spiral bit which was doing a fantastic job of cutting some very clean tenons. Then it made some funny noises and started smelling #-o.

I dismantled the motor and it seems the cooling fan at the top has smashed and damaged the rest of the motor as it went through! After getting very cross that the Rutlands router packed up after only 10 months use at weekends, the question is what do I replace it with? Rutlands are selling replacements for £180, but I had remoted out the speed control so I didn't need to grovel under the table. Woodworkers Workshop do what looks like the same thing but with the speed control remoted to the switch for £345. It seem a lot extra for a bit of wire and an NVR switch when it looks like the motors came out of the same factory in China.

Alternatively is there something else I could do that would avoid needing to grovel under the table but cost less than £345?

Your thoughts would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Mark

 

[sunnybob]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAKITA-RP180 ... :rk:4f:0

I've had mine 4 years now in my table. It has done a LOT ( no I mean A LOT!!!) of work and never once faltered.
And because it was going into a table from the beginning, I sold the case and guides back on ebay to make the thing even cheaper.

 

[weekend_woodworker]

Thanks Sunnybob. I like Makita kit and it seems reliable, I am not sure that it will fit the router lift I have which is designed for a 4 1/4” round body. I guess it would also require some reworking to remote out the speed control.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Yours is not the first I have heard of where the fan has lunched itself.

Peter Sefton's routers are superficially similar to the Rutlands ones, but definitely not identical. I suggest you PM him for more detail, as he's very helpful.

 

[weekend_woodworker]

Thanks Eric. I sent Woodworkers workshop an email today asking about the differences amongst other things.

 

[user22161]

Can't you reinstall the speed control and claim under warranty at only 10 months?

 

[sunnybob]

The link is for one that does not have a speed control/ Mine doesnt, and I've used cutters up to 1 1/2" diameter without issues.
Router lifts come in all shapes and sizes. You can spend as much or as little as you want. My home made one is from scraps of wood and cost me about a quid all in.

 

[MikeJhn]

I wonder if the NVR/speed control is available as a spare part: https://woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/produ ... d-nvr-230v