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My homemade overarm router.
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=35667		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  peters instruments [ Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:14 pm ]
Post subject:  My homemade overarm router.
I have been wanting an overarm/pin router for quite a while now but there is no way I could afford the 2500 dollar variety grizzly carries. I was able to build this one almost entirely from scrap I had around the shop. The only thing I had to buy were the sprocket and chain for a grand total of 40 dollars invested in this outfit. I thought that others who have been contemplating such a build might find this useful.
This one is not particularly pretty, but it is totally solid and functional which is all I am really worried about.


here is the backbone of the whole thing, just some threaded rod with two nuts fixed to angle iron
Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr

this is the fixture for the threaded rod, and this whole outfit is what controls my depth. still need to get a lever for the top though.
Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr

Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr

this collar is what keeps everything in its respective place. otherwise the threaded rod would simply ride up.
Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr

their is one of these on each side. there is a half inch rod the rides in a half in channel and this serves to stabilize the router horizontally.
Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr

here is my little fixture to hold the router in place. just some sugar maple with a coupld of lag bolts clamping down.
Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr

grandpa stopped by and promptly began helping me "do it right"
[im[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/petersinstruments/6814621430/]Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickrg]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7040/6814619038_60bb24cdb8.jpg[/img][/url]
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr

here is the router mounted.
Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr

I used to salvaged drawer slides to operate the plunging function. they are pulled up or down by a chain and sprocket.
Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr


here is the formentioned sprocket
Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr

and a side shot for good measure.
Image
my overarm/pin router by Peters Instruments, on Flickr

I am stilll working out a few little kinks, but I used it as is today and it performed quite well. I'll be happy to answer questions, or take suggestions. thanks!
Author:  StevenWheeler [ Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My homemade overarm router.
Well Shad your right, that isn't pretty. If it works as well as your dupli-carver then your in business. What router is that? Looks old.

I've been considering the Shop Fox bench top unit for $650. Pneumatic control with a foot pedal, 5 1/2" stroke and an 18" throat depth.http://www.grizzly.com/products/Bench-Top-Overarm-Router/G0587
Author:  peters instruments [ Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My homemade overarm router.
StevenWheeler wrote:
Well Shad your right, that isn't pretty. If it works as well as your dupli-carver then your in business. What router is that? Looks old.

I've been considering the Shop Fox bench top unit for $650. Pneumatic control with a foot pedal, 5 1/2" stroke and an 18" throat depth.http://www.grizzly.com/products/Bench-Top-Overarm-Router/G0587


Yeah I have see that one before but its still pretty well out of my reach price wise. I have just never had the patience for making pretty tools. I grew up on a farm and we built things to get the job done, somehow that hasn't translated over to guitars, I dont mind spending hours on the little details with something like that. I wanted to share this not to show off my craftsmanship in anyway (cause we can all agree it is lacking a little here) but just so that others can see the basic premise for doing one of these. it can be relatively cheap and easy if you put a little time into it, and its definately a tool worth having. I have already done some binding channels with it and it works like a dream.
Author:  Robbie_McD [ Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My homemade overarm router.
Cool!
Author:  Mustang_jt [ Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My homemade overarm router.
That's pretty cool.
I have the shop fox and love it, worth every penny imo. I have pretty much quite using a router table.
Author:  Orion Thomas [ Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My homemade overarm router.
That's really sharp. I have been trying to decide on a design for myself but got really lucky and was given this one just the other week. Needs minimal work and will be good after I finish it's minimal restoration.
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I agree with your tool and jig philosophy though. Why worry about making a tool pretty.
Author:  Orion Thomas [ Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My homemade overarm router.
You might consider some notches in the portion holding the router. It would probably be ok if used for short periods but those motors get really hot and wood completely around the motor casing will help insulate the heat from escaping. Even Units with aluminium brackets to hold router motors often have spaces to allow air flow.
Author:  peters instruments [ Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My homemade overarm router.
Orion Thomas wrote:
You might consider some notches in the portion holding the router. It would probably be ok if used for short periods but those motors get really hot and wood completely around the motor casing will help insulate the heat from escaping. Even Units with aluminium brackets to hold router motors often have spaces to allow air flow.


Thanks for the suggestion, I had not even thought about that, but I bet it would be a really beneficial to put some vents around that thing to keep it from over heating.

thats a pretty sweet score to get an overarm router like that, even if it requires some work it will be totally worth it. If I could have found something along those lines I would not have bothered with all of this. I would much rather have just forked out the cash for the shop fox but that really just isnt an option for me financially at the moment.

I am hoping to put a more modern router with a half inch collet on here though. The old porter cable on there now is probably from the 60's or 70's. It works alright, but I am limited to bits with a quarter inch shaft which wont allow me to do a lot of the things that I want to use it for
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