
My cousin (first, once removed if you're keeping score) has a knack for finding deals -closeouts, and so on. He recently found himself at Sears looking at some routers on clearance - all former displays, out of the box, never used, selling for $31 a piece. Too good a deal to pass up, he bought all four.
Of course, he didn't need all four, so calls were made to try to unload a couple before he got in trouble with the missus.
Sure. I'll take one or two at that price!
Naturally he was able to find enough interested parties, but I was able to snag one.
The first time I went to use it was to practice bullnosing for a stair job I was starting the following morning. I've only used a router once before (in class) and after a little finagling I was able to get the set up perfect. I was getting a great cut with no burning and only a little chip out on the ends.
Fortunately I knew how to address that... what I didn't no how to adress was this problem with keeping the locking lever down. Loosening or tightening it didn't help. It just wouldn't stay closed - and consequently the depth setting wouldn't remain fixed.
Now I was really regretting the great deal on this router, and I wondered if the other three were having the same problem.
Next morning I swung by the "big orange box" - I really didn't want to drop a couple hundred for a new router, even though I needed one immediately. I checked out the (similar) latching mechanisms on all the other routers and they really clamped shut securely. So this was how mine was supposed to function.
Didn't have time to see if I could get replacement parts at Sears (and really doubted I could get on off the shelf). So instead, I bipped over to the hardware aisle and snagged a long bolt and couple of nuts to clamp the adjustment thingie tightly.
Works great, though granted it takes a little doing to loosen and retighten to make adjustments. Not the ideal solution, but a workable one. This fix, and a benchtop router table (also on sale!) really helped me fly through those stair treads!
Voila! a 97 cent fix for a $31 router... if only I could find a similar deal on good bits!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Van Gogh -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

















18 comments so far
WayneC
home | projects | blog
9596 posts in 2263 days
#1 posted 2177 days ago
Great deal. You can never have too many routers.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
mot
home | projects | blog
4912 posts in 2202 days
#2 posted 2177 days ago
I agree with Wayne. I have 6 routers, though three get the heaviest duty. Nice score!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Greg3G
home | projects | blog
815 posts in 2251 days
#3 posted 2177 days ago
Great fix….I Had a simular problem with a cheapie I bought on Ebay… my solution was to give it to my brother. :)
-- Greg - Charles Town, WV
mot
home | projects | blog
4912 posts in 2202 days
#4 posted 2177 days ago
Greg, I use the “Give it to (insert any name here)” solution to questionable tool purchases, alot! Tough to find someone that will say, “no,” to a free tool…even if it’s a piece of junk.
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
TheGravedigger
home | projects | blog
963 posts in 2190 days
#5 posted 2177 days ago
I used to have a Sears router, and ran into the same problem. My solution was a nut and bolt, but you won’t need two wrenches to change depth. I wonder if this is universal to Sears units?
-- Robert - Visit my woodworking blog: http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com
scottb
home | projects | blog
3648 posts in 2492 days
#6 posted 2177 days ago
I can hold the nut furthest from the hook end in place with a wrench or screwdriver, then all I need to do is twist it to tighten/loosen. I’m surely not going to be buying another one of these as my second (and likely more oft used) router.
I know that Dick has a couple set up for one particular function. This one would work well for that. set and forget!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Van Gogh -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
woodspar
home | projects | blog
710 posts in 2265 days
#7 posted 2176 days ago
And now you can hang it on your pegboard!
-- John
WayneC
home | projects | blog
9596 posts in 2263 days
#8 posted 2176 days ago
As far as another router goes. The PC890s are showing up on the second hand market now. I picked one up for $65 a while back and put it in my router table.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Bill
home | projects | blog
2579 posts in 2327 days
#9 posted 2176 days ago
What a great bargain Scott. Is that your router table router now? It seems like it would be a good place to use it.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
Karson
home | projects | blog
34367 posts in 2566 days
#10 posted 2176 days ago
A router table where you have a router lift for depth would be ideal. Whats the HP on the router?
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
MsDebbieP
home | projects | blog
18320 posts in 2326 days
#11 posted 2175 days ago
that was my problem with the Sears—it destroyed a bit / a thingy (lol ) and a template kit. I was NOT a happy camper.
I’ll show Rick your “fix” and hopefully we can save this router from making it to the garbage. I cursed that thing for a very long time—I’m over it now.. really.. honestly… #
$)*#$-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
home | projects | blog
593 posts in 2137 days
#12 posted 2052 days ago
I know is an old post Scott but… I think I might have a quicker solution for you. Have you tried the ‘quick release nut’n’bolt from a mountain bike seat or wheel? You know, the type with the lever that you first tight and then fold 180º…
MsDebbieP
home | projects | blog
18320 posts in 2326 days
#13 posted 2052 days ago
that’s a great idea Jojo…
definitely worth a try – and I’m getting tired of seeing the Sears router sitting in the corner.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Bob #2
home | projects | blog
3808 posts in 2187 days
#14 posted 2052 days ago
My first router was a Sears.
I don’t purchase anything from Sears now.
Bpb
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
home | projects | blog
593 posts in 2137 days
#15 posted 2052 days ago
Don’t know whether it would work *Debbie but I’m pretty confiden it will. At least, if I take in account the crazy workloads mines used to take without failing… And if it doesn’t… well, they’re not expensive at all (you can even borrow one just for the sake of trying).
View all comments »
showing 1 through 15 of 18 comments
Have your say...