Minimax C26/30 Router Adaptor

[WoodyOwen]

Seeking advice from Minimax users who have either:

purchased and used the Router Spindle Shaft to suit collets, or

found an alternative solution to using 1/2 inch router bits in the C26/30 spindle moulder.

Specifically is the $600+price of the Router Spindle Shaft justified and/or

what is the cost of any alternative and are there safety issues?

Thanks for your help. Owen

[markharrison]

The problem is still that the spindle only turns at the maximum speed of a spindle moulder which is way slower than used for most of the smaller router bits.

I have a CU300 and thought about it but ended up buying a Kreg bench top router table for the times I need one. That said, I already had a router to put in it so the economics are different if you have to buy a router as well.

[WoodyOwen]

Hi Mark, I appreciate the speed problem, really seeking to use large panel raising bits to take advantage of the sliding table. I have a triton router table and router which i'm happy to use for the smaller bits and tasks. Thanks Owen

[elanjacobs]

Specifically is the $600+price of the Router Spindle Shaft justified

I'd say $600 is worthwhile if you'll be using it regularly

what is the cost of any alternative and are there safety issues?

The alternative is buying raised panel moulder heads and they're just as expensive as the adaptor.

[WoodyOwen]

After some more research i have found CMT Collet Chuck, Item no 796.141.00 shown in pic 1. I seek the advice of the knowledgeable members about using this chuck in the C26 spindle moulder? I appreciate the speed issue but want to mainly use panel raising bits.

Thanks

Owen

[Chris Parks]

There has been commentary on another forum regarding using router bits in a spindle moulder and the general consensus by most was that the speed made very little or no difference at all. Some of the users were commercial operators from memory so had a lot of experience with spindle moulders.

[WoodyOwen]

Thanks Chris, i was more concerned about possible issues with it just being threaded into the top of the shaft, the one sold for the C26 appears to use the morse taper fitting.

Owen

[Austin_Turner]

Chris, could you point me to that other discussion, I’m interested in this topic (I’d consider ditching the router table for a saw/ spindle combo in the future).

[Chris Parks]

It was on Sawmill Creek but I have no idea of how you would find the thread now, perhaps posting the question might be the best bet. There is far more discussion over there on European machines if that is the way you are thinking of going but I and a lot of others have left because of their management policies though others have no problems with them. Don't let me influence what you find BTW.

[Pat]

I have the adapter to my dinky Jet Spindle Moulder. Used with the larger 1/2 bits at 10K, works well and have used dedicated SM Raised panel cutter, wasn't that an experience, I have all my fingers.

Is a SM better than a dedicated router table, well the versatility to switch between router bits and SM cutters is good, the best thing to have is a Power Feed.

[Austin_Turner]

I found that thread called “router bits on a shaper”, seems like most of the people found it ok, the ones that didn’t often didn’t go into much detail, if they did they mostly reported problems with 1/4” bits and softwood.

router bits on a shaper

[Chris Parks]

Yes, that's it.

[laza32]

Seeking advice from Minimax users who have either:

purchased and used the Router Spindle Shaft to suit collets, or

found an alternative solution to using 1/2 inch router bits in the C26/30 spindle moulder.

Specifically is the $600+price of the Router Spindle Shaft justified and/or

what is the cost of any alternative and are there safety issues?

Thanks for your help. Owen

Giving this a bump. Just wondering if anyone has used a collet adapter threaded into the end of a moulder shaft like the CMT collet chuck? Looks appealing but concerned that this could be an issue for the bearings etc.. with a moulder. (Btw aware of issues with using router bits at lower speeds so just interested in the question above).

Cheers,
Adam