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Useful jigs for your shop #1: A cradle for changing router bits

Blog entry by Bob #2 posted 330 days ago 933 reads 1 time favorited 17 comments Add to Favorites Watch
no previous part Part 1 of Useful jigs for your shop series Part 2: A landing apron for your miter jig. »

I got tired of chasing my big router around the bench when changing bits or setting depth of cut so today I grabbed a piece of 1×4” and a chunk of 1/4” mdf and made a cradle.
I traced around the router and cut the MDF out in a rough pattern on the bandsaw then tuned it a bit with the spindle sander.

From wood stuff 2009

Next I put a brace inside to support the router top and covered it with a bit of foam to prevent scratching.

Heres the finished cradle held on the bench with a couple of clamps.

From wood stuff 2009

I can reef on the change wrench without having to embrace the tool each time I change the bit.

From wood stuff 2009

Could have been fancier but it works.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner


17 comments so far

View lew's profile

lew

4466 posts in 647 days


posted 330 days ago

Now, That’s Cool!

View Karson's profile

Karson

25787 posts in 1292 days


posted 330 days ago

Neat router holding jig. Great job Bob

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4015 posts in 854 days


posted 330 days ago

It’s a dandy, Bob.

-- Thos. Angle

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

3455 posts in 579 days


posted 330 days ago

Nice jig but I have to wonder why you need to “reef” on your wrench(s) Doesn’t the collet hold properly without over tightening the nut ? Does that model have a spindle lock or two wrenches ?

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

View DocK16's profile

DocK16

710 posts in 978 days


posted 330 days ago

very ingenius

-- DocK, WV

View Bob #2's profile

Bob #2

3031 posts in 913 days


posted 330 days ago

Dusty,
After scoring a few bits ( particularly the 1/4” and 8mm sizes I take tightening very seriously.
The collet uses a spindle lock on this models which mean I have to use the router body as the other wrench.
I was chasing it around the bench on occasion when there was not enough room.
This gets me back to getting ample torque without the arm wrestle.
p.s. I do keep the collet slots aligned.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

3455 posts in 579 days


posted 330 days ago

I have two routers with spindle locks and honestly I’d rather use two wrenches . I always wonder if the collet is tight enough or if I’m going to break the lock first…..It’s like walking a tightrope ! LOL….I use my Porter Cable routers the most (2 wrenches) I have 3 of those ,1 in a router table and 1 set up for special operations , the 3rd one does everything else . 1 little old Sears R2D2 model 5/8HP, 1 VS Bosch in a router table and the 1hp Bosch Colt EVS and also my son bought me a Dremel tool with all of the attachments and bits. So far I haven’t broken anything or had any bits loosen up on me… just lucky I guess . Is that a homemade wrench in the picture ? I had to “customize” some wrenches back in the day when I used to be a mechanic . Have a great weekend .

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

View Bob #2's profile

Bob #2

3031 posts in 913 days


posted 329 days ago

Dusty the wrench was born when I had trouble getting to the collet nut on my Hitachi M12V when mounted in a Lee Valley steel top.

From wood stuff 2009

I can just push the collet detent in with on hand and tighten with the wrench through the top.
It fits under the wings on the 12MV and saved me cutting them off for the table mount.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

View Todd A. Clippinger's profile

Todd A. Clippinger

5632 posts in 991 days


posted 329 days ago

This is a great idea!

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

View Bob #2's profile

Bob #2

3031 posts in 913 days


posted 329 days ago

Help yourself Todd.

Cheers
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

3455 posts in 579 days


posted 329 days ago

Great job , Bob ! I knew it looked familiar ! LOL I just might try to find some of my “creations” but it might be tough as I did them back in the 1980’s : ) Like they say , Necessity is the Mother of Invention !

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

View Tony's profile

Tony

812 posts in 921 days


posted 329 days ago

Simple and effictive solution to a problem that most of us have

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14157 posts in 1052 days


posted 326 days ago

well isn’t that smart.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View pokieone's profile

pokieone

92 posts in 510 days


posted 326 days ago

Excellent work, Bob!

-- I will not preach, nor will I be silent.

View pommy's profile (online now)

pommy

944 posts in 582 days


posted 326 days ago

Hi mate love it
andy

-- cut it saw it scrap it

View Kent Shepherd's profile

Kent Shepherd

805 posts in 177 days


posted 131 days ago

Another great idea.

-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!

View patron's profile

patron

2365 posts in 232 days


posted 131 days ago

keep ‘em coming !
we’ll all be up to speed soon ,
anything to make the work easyer and safer is good !
thanks .

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

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