After making a run to Lowe’s today and dropping $200 on pipe clamps and router bits, I get home flat broke (luckily, I had gotten the rest of my Christmas shopping knocked out earlier today) and decide it’s time to play with my router. I like to mess around a bit with the instructions close at hand and get a feel for the tool for a bit before firing it up. The 690LR was no different, and I’m pretty glad I did. I learned two important things:
1. The 1/4” collet won’t actually accept the bit I bought that actually is supposed to use the 1/4” collet. Obviously, this is not good.
2. The sub base I bought doesn’t actually work with the rabbet bit I purchased (though it at least fits in the collet…so that’s something).
So, now I need to buy a new sub base and I need to figure out how to fix my situation. The 1/4” bit doesn’t fit in the 1/2” collet either (I checked because I just had to be the problem, not the tool…no such luck). Any suggestions would be welcomed.
As for clamps, I picked up six 3/4” pipe clamps and six 48” pipes to use with them. Pipe clamps might not be ideal, but they’re inexpensive and versatile. Just change the pipe length and POOF! New clamp. That’s just hard to beat when you’re starting out.
Of course, this hiccup could be a let-down, but I’ve decided not to let it be. Instead, this delays me until after Christmas, so that gives me a change to prepare more and be better prepared. I bought a used Porter Cable 555 biscuit joiner over on Sawmill Creek, so I can practice with that a bit (I have a couple of pieces on the bookcase I’d like to use biscuits on). I have a Dewalt jig saw I purchased used en route to me as well. I have time to get the issue resolved with the 1/4” collet and sub base. I have time to get used to the router a bit. I have time to test out my guide I bought for my circular saw a while back.
In woodworking, as in life, there will be setbacks. They’re inevitable. My philosophy is, when I can, to make the best of it. If things happen for a reason, then seize the moment and make the best as it was intended for you to make. If they don’t…well, do it anyways and make the best of the situation. Either way, you just come out ahead ;)
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!
6 comments so far
Zuki
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1234 posts in 977 days
posted 351 days ago
It appears that you are starting your tool collection.
Any progress pics?
What DeWalt JS did you get?
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
Tomcat1066
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776 posts in 696 days
posted 350 days ago
Zuki,
That it does. Between all the hand tools I already had acquired, and all the power tools I’m picking up, I should be in pretty good shape to build most things. Still need that bandsaw, but that’s a “down the road” purchase since I have no place to store it right now ;)
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!
clieb91
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682 posts in 835 days
posted 350 days ago
Tomcat, Sounds like a good way to look at the slight hicup. Time to play around and experiment is good. Have to tell us how you like the new/used tools when you get them.
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
Tomcat1066
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776 posts in 696 days
posted 350 days ago
I’ll definitely do that.
I’ve got the biscuit joiner and a Makita 1/4 sheet sander already that I need to spend some “quality time” with, and I suspect that the jig saw should be here shortly.
I have to call Porter Cable about the collet issue later today. I’ve gotten a lot of advice on fixing it, but since it’s starting to boil down to “use a bit and beat it into submission”, I’m a little concerned. I don’t have tons of bits here, so the potential to run one of the few I’ve got just isn’t appealing to me ;)
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!
Beginningwoodworker
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4241 posts in 573 days
posted 349 days ago
Sounds great, you got any pictures?
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
Tomcat1066
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776 posts in 696 days
posted 349 days ago
Not yet CJ, mostly because it’s nothing but a pile of wood from Lowe’s. I’ll snap some pics once I get going though ;)
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!