Oh thanks very much for posting that. I didn't watch any of them at the moment, but I will when I get a chance. There are quite a few shows like these on German TV and most of them are fascinating to watch. I saw one about the last guy making the little hair tassels on traditional Bavarian hats a couple of years ago when I was over there, and one about a guy making violins. That one especially was amazing. Anyway, thanks again. Much appreciated.

John

Slider or fixed?

If you are looking for a slider, I'm very fond of my 12" Makita that I got from Tyler Tool many moons ago:



Click on the image to bring up the Amazon page

I made a horizontal swift for a lady friend a couple of years ago but I just used a picture in a catalog for my model...You may be able to do something similar...I recommend using Boxwood {if you can find it}..It just gets better looking with age and it's extremely fine grain is a joy to work with. I would also use brass fittings.

HD around here dropped that a few years ago. They sold out the stock at $0.15 per can. I bought a few.

That router is a single-speed and not very powerful at that. I think you would be better off junking it and getting a variable-speed router that has more power and would be more versatile by being able to handle bits of greater diameters by reducing the rpms. (Does your router have only a 1/4" collet? If so, that would be a good excuse for you to get one with a 1/2".)

There are a lot of good routers. You can check past threads for ideas. To fix the one you have now might be more trouble--and expense--than it is worth.

Eric

I have no answers for you, but I am wondering what "fully kitted out" Means?

Arlin

I've had 3 Midland models that have always been really good. The current one does have a drawback: the siren (scream, alert, whatever) is ear splitting loud...I mean stick your head in a jet engine loud. Ours is in the master bedroom, and you can hear it very well anywhere in the house. They could have at least give you 2 volume settings, one regular and one "don't wake the dead". Still, it's a very good unit with lots of features. When I said we've had 3, that was over the last 30+ years, so they have a good long life.

With the Unisaw, you can build yourself a $3000.00 saw for $350.00. With the shiny cheap saw, you're getting an Asian-made contractor type saw at retail. If restoring the Unisaw is too daunting, let it go to someone that knows the value difference.

Tear out is pretty common for me when I route left to right using the router handheld. The bit cutting into the wood and tear out happens easily, especially if you are taking a pretty big bite. So I usually use a climb cut (right to left) when using the router hand held (but never on the router table). I make as many passes as required until the rabbet is at full depth, and then I make one last pass left to right. No tear out.

Also, I almost always use a 3/4" bit, or a dedicated rabbeting bit which is even larger. It's just a lot more efficient and runs cooler than a little 1/4" bit. The angle of attack is much shallower, too, so it cuts more cleanly.

John

I have the LV shooting plane and I like it a lot. I had been using a #6 and it was okay, but the LV shooting plane is MUCH better IMO. I like having the added mass. It is a lot of money, but it is a great plane.