Hello from a new member from OZ

[Jumi]

Hi Guys, Or should that read G'day mates? My name is Mike and during the last few months have developed a real interest in woodworking. Over the tears I have completed numerous repairs and modifications around the house and although I'm not all that competent have by sheer determination finished up with reasonable and functional end results. My trade qualifications are actually electrical/electronics and I also have keen interests in guitars and motor vehicles as well as travel. Fortunately I have been retired for nearly four years, enjoy reasonable health and have a very understanding wife who allocates me copious funds to pursue my hobbies. Her main hobby is the grand-children.
In a few months I'm going to have a 30 foot x 25 foot erected and woodworking will be its main use.
Although I already own a number of electric hand tools such as grinders, sanders, saws, drills etc, I'm wanting to purchase a good router. I'm thinking that I mainly want to mount it upside down in a suitable cabinet, but whenever I read any articles I become thoroughly confused. Is a plunge router suitable for bench mounting or are there specific routers for this purpose? Should I consider buying two routers, one for each purpose and what is the deal with the adjustable "insert plate". Can these be bought to suit a particular brand of router or do these always have to be home made to suit the cabinet/bench to which the router will be fitted? I look forward to any clarification any member can provide. Mike (Jumi)

[shedman]

Welcome to the Forum you will find it very very useful - I do. As far as advice is concerned there are more experienced members who will give better advice than I but if you can afford it 2 routers is a great idea. I have three 2 big ones and a small with one othe big ones mounted semi-permanently in the table. I hate taking tools out of fittings and then having to put them back.

I have used a plunge router in the table but it is really an unnecessary expense if that is a dedicated unit.

If you are ever coming in Brisbane direction I am at Dayboro so give me a message and we can share a coffee or something else.

[munruben]

Hi Mike, welcome to the forum. Nice to have you aboard.

[crowie]

G'Day Mike & welcome to a top forum,
You'll find a stack of helpful blokes & ladies.
It sounds like you've got yourself a top lady,
plus a good size shed on the way.
What fun to be fitting it out; at least you won't need a sparky to put in extra GPO's.
Personally I have 4 routers;
a big old Makita [secondhand from my father-in-law],
an older Bosch green plunge router [a gift from a supplier],
a Makita trimmer router [got very cheap from BBC Hardware sell out]
and a big Hitachi I specifically purchased to connected to the Triton table.
Have a look in garage sales, newspaper, clearance sales, auctions or the internet and you'll be able to score a couple of different routers plus all sorts of extras.
Sorry but that's not much help as I have an affliction;
I love good tools as it helps cover up for my woodwork skills.
Enjoy your woodwork.
Cheers, Crowie

[Christos]

Welcome to the forum.

Might get a far more varied responce if you post that question on the other sub section. I only have one router and that lives under the bench, a Triton.