Trend T5 router base has only two holes!

[PerranOak]

So, if I mount my T5 in a table, is it fixed by the two large screwholes in the base?:

As there are only two holes, doesn't it fall away a little under its own weight, pivotting on the axis between the holes?

There should really be three holes!! :?

 

[fossil]

you can only fix it with the two holes in the outer plate

but more fool you for buying such a crap router

i would'nt wee on a Trend router if it was on fire ( even if it was't unpluged )

 

[p111dom]

you can only fix it with the two holes in the outer plate

but more fool you for buying such a crap router

i would'nt wee on a Trend router if it was on fire ( even if it was't unpluged )

Well thats loads of help. Where would the forum be without your contribution. I ll check out my T5 tomorrow.

 

[fossil]

you can only fix it with the two holes in the outer plate

but more fool you for buying such a crap router

i would'nt wee on a Trend router if it was on fire ( even if it was't unpluged )

Well thats loads of help. Where would the forum be without your contribution.

My answer was in the first line

and my opinion was in the lines that followed

 

[mailee]

Yes it does just have the two holes for mounting. I think you may find the T5 a little underpowered for table use though. If you are going to use this machine take lighter cuts and feed a little slower or it may overload it. HTH. :wink:

 

[Shrubby]

The two holes should be M6 at 115mm centres - this is fine for a small router. As Mailee has said small passes work best. The baseplate copies the popular Elu standard so any jigs will fit a variety of makers machines.
Matt

 

[Setch]

The T5 is far from crap.

It's a smallish router, and will do OK mounted by 2 holes, since it's not very heavy. If you use any large/long cutters you may find the load on the cutter can try and tip the router, but you shouldn't really be using any large/long cutters under heavy load on a router that size. Like others have said, you'd be better off with a heavier router for table use.

 

[Martingchapman]

I agree with Setch, the T5 is a fine little router, I use it a lot for any light weight hand held routing, cutting out hinge recesses, trimming a few mm of the edge of boards etc.
But I don't think it is suitable for use in a table, I have the big Triton for that.

Martin.

 

[PerranOak]

Hmm. Tricky isn't it!?

I do want a table and am now enthused to make one.

I got the T5 as a "try-out" to see if I could get on with what seemed to be a monstrous machine that chews wood like that thing in Thunderbirds!

In future, I thought I've use the T5 freehand and maybe have a chunkier one in a table. However, given the cash situation, I will have to put the T5 in the table, for now. I don't do anything heavy-duty so it sould be ok.

Now, the $64k question:
If I make a nice table for the T5 then in the future want to put a meatier on in the table, is;
a. this possible?
b. there anything to remember before I make it?

Oh yes, should the meatier one be a 1/2" collet? There seem to be fewer bits for these?

 

[Martingchapman]

Sounds like a workable plan, here a few things to consider;

A large router suitable for table use will normally come with both half inch and quarter inch collets, and for most you can get an 8mm collet as well. These are the most common sizes for router cutter shafts and there are plenty of cutters available in all three sizes.

A large router will weigh in excess of 6Kg so your table needs to be able to support that sort of weight without sagging (if the top sags in the middle it will make it almost impossible to carry out any accurate work).
One option would be to use a commercial router insert plate set into an offcut of kitchen work top (I suggest at least 19mm thick). This gives a strong stable work surface which, due to the laminate, is also fairly slippery making it easy to use.
Trend sell a router insert plate which would suite your T5 and, later on, any other large router. You just drill suitable mounting holes into the insert using the router base plate as a guide.
See this link for details - http://www.trend-uk.com/en/UK/product/RTI_PLATE/6/insert plate/router_table_insert_plate_.html
One possible problem with this plate is that it is nearly 10mm thick so you would loose 10mm from the depth of cut, not a problem with a large router that has a generous plunge capacity (typically 80mm) but something to consider for the T5 which has 50mm plunge capacity.

Another thing to consider is the height of the router underneath the table, which, for a large router may be in excess of 400mm, so when you design your table make sure you leave enough clearance underneath the top for the largest router you may later use.

When using a router in a table you will need a fine height adjuster (it is very difficult to set the height of the cutter accurately without one) so you will have to factor the cost of this into your budget.

Finally think about a No Volt Release (NVR) switch. This is a switch that you put between the router and the mains supply. You leave the router switched on permanently (depending on the router you may need some form of lock for the router switch to keep it in the on position) and turn it off and on via the NVR switch. The NVR will cut out if the mains fails so the router wont start up again of its own accord when the mains comes back. Not essential but a useful safety feature. Available from Trend, Axminster, Rutlands etc.

Hope this helps - Martin.

 

[chippy1970]

I had my old Elu96e in a router table for years with no problems and they have the same two fixing points.

 

[TheTiddles]

Same here, been using an old Elu and a Trend T5 for years with those screws, hopefully buying a bigger router (T11) soon.

One in curious what is a less crappy router... do please let us know, I'm sure we're all on tenterhooks

Aidan

 

[p111dom]

Basically yes you can upgrade to a larger router later with the same insert plate. As said before you just need to build the table with a larger machine in mind but you may be left with the old holes from the T5. Again as said by others the T5's forte is as a hand held router. Its probably one of the most versitlie with the most add-ons, guide bush inserts and jigs. Its also quick and easy to repair with parts readily available. Yes its a little underpowered but if used appropriately its a good little machine, certainly not crap. I've had mine for 6 years and have had none of the problems some people have had with theirs. Some people say the plunge has a tendence to stick and can develop play with use but again mines fine. The biggest problem you'll have is the small plunge depth means there's very little room under neath to change the cutter when its in a table. Trend sell (or did sell) an angled spanner to help undo the collet from above but even with this, its still a fiddle. A half inch router in a table is the way to go and you'll fins you only use a handfull of bits so avoid buying sets and buy a few decent bits from Wealden.

 

[PerranOak]

Great, thank you all.

Yes, my plunge is a bit sticky at times but I put that down to my bad maintenance routine!

I'm beinging to wonder whether table mounting it is "convenient".

 

[gidon]

Yes, my plunge is a bit sticky at times but I put that down to my bad maintenance routine!

A bit of PTFE spray on the pillars will sort that out. I applied to my T5 when I bought it and it solved that issue.

Cheers

Gidon

 

[Routermonster]

Like chippy1970, I used my old Elu 96E in a home-made router table for a few years until I replaced it with a Trend T9. As has been noted, it was somewhat underpowered for table use, and the plunge depth was limited, and I found it best to take light passes - but I managed! The T9, despite its limitations, is in a different league altogether.

Although I rarely use it nowadays, the Elu is still going strong. In the last 20 years it's only needed to have the top bearings and collet replaced.

HTH

Les

 

[chippy1970]

Basically yes you can upgrade to a larger router later with the same insert plate. As said before you just need to build the table with a larger machine in mind but you may be left with the old holes from the T5. Again as said by others the T5's forte is as a hand held router. Its probably one of the most versitlie with the most add-ons, guide bush inserts and jigs. Its also quick and easy to repair with parts readily available. Yes its a little underpowered but if used appropriately its a good little machine, certainly not crap. I've had mine for 6 years and have had none of the problems some people have had with theirs. Some people say the plunge has a tendence to stick and can develop play with use but again mines fine. The biggest problem you'll have is the small plunge depth means there's very little room under neath to change the cutter when its in a table. Trend sell (or did sell) an angled spanner to help undo the collet from above but even with this, its still a fiddle. A half inch router in a table is the way to go and you'll fins you only use a handfull of bits so avoid buying sets and buy a few decent bits from Wealden.

Sorry Dom but you must be one of the lucky ones I myself had two T5's 110 volt full kit ones, the first was rubbish and was replaced by Trend and then the second one I sold when that started to fall apart. I only ever used them for routing out hinges etc never anything heavy as I have a huge Dewalt 626 for that.

Theres been quite a few posts on here saying how crap they are and I suppose quiet a few saying they like them but in my view the ones I had were very poorly made and not good enough for professional use.

 

[p111dom]

What do you do to a router to make it fall apart? Its certaily not the best on the market granted but I see little point in buying another brand with say 10mm more plunge depth only to add a 10mm thick Trend uni base so all the T5 attachments fit. The only problem I have with mine is that it stalls repeatedly when taking cuts of 5mm plus. It can be annoying but I guess mine has had a charmed life. It only gets used on the dovetail jig and as a laminate trimmer. Oddly I've never had it stall on the jig and the cut is about 12mm deep on that, even in hardwood. Machines baffle me sometimes. A friend has a little blue Bosch and that's a great router but the speen controller broke and it took 2 weeks for a new part to arrive. Festool have a collection system for their tools which is free but by the time you've reported it, got it picked up, fixed and sent back its about a week. I'd hate to think I was a pro relying on these brands for a living.
Thats why the Dewalts win for me. I don't like some of the designs and they can be a little over priced. Dust extraction can be a weak point etc but when they break they are fixed in a few days by a local dealer, limiting the hassle of a faulty tool. The T11/10 is mechanically identical to the 625 so is equally as easy to fix. Its the main reason I decided against the Triton and went for the big Trend in the table. I've had a few parts break on the T5 like the dust extraction shroud which was ordered at about 10am and arrived at the dealer the next morning. The tools was bust for less than 24 hours so I still think that if you use it within realistic limitations its fine.

 

[chippy1970]

I used it thats all I did Dom and in fact it wasnt used for a while just sitting in its case and the formica base covering plate just fell off on its own, where as on the Elu 96's these were screwed on instead of glued on.

 

[PerranOak]

A bit of PTFE spray on the pillars will sort that out. I applied to my T5 when I bought it and it solved that issue.

... not WD40?