Router Cradle - change the bit with one wrench!

I did do some looking here on LJ for other versions of this fixture, and was only able to find one example, but it is significantly different from the one I’m showing here.

This is NOT my idea! I saw it in a book once, but I can’t remember which one. So, props to the original inventor, eh?

It’s pretty simple… plywood base with “router-diameter” cutoffs to support the ends of the tool, a spacer block (also plywood) to set the shaft locking plate away from the base, and a phenolic shaft locking plate that has a notch just big enough to fit around the flat wrench notches in the shaft.

Construction is entirely pocket holes (Kreg Jig) except for the mounting of the lock plate. That is affixed to the spacer block with wood screws passing through an oversize hole in the plate to allow for a little bit of adjustment of the plate’s position on the router.

Since it’s constructed with pocket hole screws, I can easily remove the cradle box from the base plate. I ran out of time and wasn’t able to complete the dados on the bottom of the cradle box ends, but the intent here is to create a “slot” to store the collet wrench (I’ll update the post when I get back to the dado). Thus, the beauty of the pocket hole… take it apart, put it back together with no significant loss in joint strength!

Usage instructions: set router motor in cradle, shaft is locked in place, loosen collet with wrench and change your bit. This is a reversible process, meaning you can also tighten the collet and take the router motor out of the cradle (grin).

Only one construction note to mention… when you cut the notch, you really have a very small tolerance to hit… to small, shaft won’t fit (obviously), and even just a little to big, the shaft will turn enough to bind against the notch, making it difficult to remove the router motor from the cradle…

Anyway, about a half hour’s work, with 20 min spent on getting the phenolic plate cut and adjusted correctly.

Cheers!
Mark

-- -- "there are many good reasons to use old hand tools, but moral superiority is NOT one of them..."