I have always thought that money spent on tools is never money wasted. However money spent on cheap tools is definitely money wasted so I like to buy the best that I can afford. Although I have amassed a vast array of hand tools during my career I do like power and machine tools for the speed and accuracy that they offer making the mundane into, dare I say it, fun. I well remember using an electric router for the first time when still in high school. I was building a boat, what else, and needed to round off the edges of the gunwales. Mr Penfound the wood work teacher produced what I later found out to be a router and after showing me how to use the new fangled machine I rounded over the corners of the gunwales in just a few moments. It was some years later before I had a enough cash with which to buy my own router but since that time I have had several and presently have four machines of differing sizes.
Bosch router from Mark Corke on Vimeo.
Small routers are often called trim routers and have small less powerful motors. Frankly although I have used these smaller machines in the past I have never actually owned one of my own thinking them something of a toy but I was wrong. Recently I purchased the Bosch PR10E Colt. This machine features a1 hp motor and accepts cutters with a quarter inch shank so almost any cutter with a diameter of up to about three quarters in diameter will be fine. Features include a spindle lock, step-less variable speed control from 16000 to 35000 rpm, depth micro adjuster and a fence for straight cuts. That last feature will most likely stay in the box and is something that I shall probably never use for if I have a job that requires the use of a router with a fence for cutting dadoes for instance then I shall most likely reach for one of my other routers. No, where small routers like the PR10E shine is for light weight cutting, chamfering and molding and if is for this very task that I purchased this machine. I am currently working on a new boat building project and many of the wooden components require a small round over. Although a larger machine would work they are big, heavy and cumbersome for this work and a small body grip trim router such as this one shown are ideal and actually safer. With so many parts to round over the machine can almost be permanently set up and quickly grasped and the cut made without a second thought. Big machines make a lot more noise and the heavy weight require two hand for safe work. As you can see from the pictures and the short video I shot this is s very handy little machine. Bought for $60 from an online retailer this is my new go to tool.
A spindle lock makes bit changing a breeze
Although there you can set the speed anywhere from 16000 to 35000 most of the time I run it at the top end.
The on off switch is a little small but conveniently placed on the side of the ruberized motor housing.
There is a fine micrometer adjustment for precise depth settings. Large changes or to remove the lower section of the machine entirely is accomplished with a small cam lever.
The PR10E is ideally suited for bearing guided cutters such as this round over bit.
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