Alternatives to routers? - Page 2

Alternatives to routers? · 08-05-2009, 01:45 PM

Is there a moderately priced alternative in the Neanderthal world to a power router? Right now, I have the need to cut grooves in wood. I guess I could chisel it out by hand, but then again, I could also buy a router and do the same thing much easier.

The Veritas Plow Plane is over $200, something I can't justify to myself (and forget about telling the missus about that). Even their router plane is $75, and it seems pretty free-form to me, with no guides except for depth.

I see Roy Underhill with his antique planes and drool in jealousy, but I don't see myself being able to afford one any time soon. Or am I missing something?

I just purchased a Rabbet plane for around $30 from Hartville Tool; I haven't received it in the mail yet, so we'll see how well it works. But there seems to be such a bigger leap in cost when we're talking about making a dado or a groove in wood.

I'm not a hand tool purist, but does anyone here bother with hand tools when it comes to making a groove?

merrill77 · 09-04-2009, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by CarvedTones

The router is one of the scarier tools in the shop, especially if you don't have a full sized router table.

I'm not sure how you define full-sized, but my little shop-built table and fence is very stable when mounted on a workmate. It is small enough to fit under my workbench when not in use. It was built in an afternoon and has worked great for everything I've thrown at it. I'm extra-cautious when working free-hand (and rarely work without bearing-guided bits0, but working at the table give me confidence.

Originally Posted by CarvedTones

It is also one of the loudest, limiting when it can be used if you have a shop in the garage and a family that likes to hear the TV a few rooms away.

Hard to argue with that

Originally Posted by CarvedTones

I would love to have a good alternative for the most common uses.

I'm guessing a shaper (with an induction motor) would be much quieter...but it comes it's own collection of downsides.

C

Tarhead · 09-04-2009, 10:57 PM

If the grooves you need aren't too deep you can get excellent results with a scratch stock. Old hacksaw blade, utility knife blade, etc embedded in a piece of scrap and ground to the shape you need with a stop.
For dados sans router (electric or Stanley manual versions) zipping a sharp chisel crossgrain between two parallel saw kerfs in clear Poplar is a satisfying thing akin to popping bubble wrap. Cleaning up the bottom is where you have to hold your mouth right. I suggest making a DIY Old Woman's Tooth and then attending the next Antique Tool Collectors meeting in Bethania on November 7 where there will probably be a few nice old manual Stanley routers on the Swap and Sell tables for a reasonable price.

JimReed2160 · 09-20-2009, 03:23 PM

Sorry that I came late to this party. The OP asked about grooves and alternatives to routers. Here is my vote: Stanley #45 plane with a 1/8" cutter. This plane will out groove anything out there, unless you are in a production shop. Set the fence and the tiny little 1/8" groove almost plows itself. I keep a spare #45 body in my #45 toolbox loaded with a 1/8" cutter. It is the handiest tool in my shop. Just about every project in my shop needs a 1/8" groove somewhere. Need a 1/4 groove for a drawer bottom? Just make two 1/8" grooves side by side. I even use it for rabbets. Just cut the groove for the corner and then worry out the waste with some other plane. It is just too easy. When I had hair, I did not like all the router debris that got caught up there. Router for a groove--waaaay too noisy for me. Stanley #45 all the way.

bob vaughan · 09-20-2009, 04:27 PM

If its a rabbet plane you want and you have a hand chisel, then make one. Laminate three pieces together. The middle piece will be cut to accomodate the chisel and wedge, and needs to be the width of the chisel.

FWW #22, page 19

McRabbet · 09-20-2009, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by bob vaughan

If its a rabbet plane you want and you have a hand chisel, then make one. Laminate three pieces together. The middle piece will be cut to accomodate the chisel and wedge, and needs to be the width of the chisel.

FWW #22, page 19

Bob,

A very nifty solution for making a rabbet plane. I went to my full collection of FWW and pulled out Issue 22 and read your excellent tip -- it might have been nearly 30 years ago, but it is still an excellent idea even today. I particularly like the little bullnose you've produced at the front right. Thanks for posting!

Since I fear many of our members won't see this post, may I suggest you post a new thread in the Who We Are Forum and introduce yourself -- let me be the first to welcome you to our virtual sawdust (or should it be shavings?) pile!!

nelsone · 09-20-2009, 08:10 PM

I missed this post earlier and Jim beat me to the answer. Stanley 45 is the way to go. It's a lot quicker than setting up a router for cutting grooves/dados! You'll eventually want a router too, but you can find a 45 pretty easily and there are sources to get replacement parts and cutters.

willarda · 09-25-2009, 03:04 PM

What kind of groove?
Dados: a dado grove is easily cut with a router plane. These tools are perfectly designed to do this job, and to give you a flat bottom with no tearout--something a tablesaw dado blade or a power router can not always do!. The secret is to cut both shoulders first with a crosscut backsaw. Clamp wooden guide fences to get a straight cut. Then define the two end edges of the dado with some chisel cuts. The router plane will incrementally clean this out in short order. If the dado is a bit thin--trim it with a side rabbet plane. If is is too wide---measure better next time!

You can also use a dedicated dado plane. The wooden ones can be found in almost any width for under $50.

Rabbets: rabbet planes are just about the most common plane available. You can get those for under $25 easy. With and without nickers. Moving fillesters (rabbets with nickers and a moveable fence and a depth stop) in the wooden form can be gotten for $50 or so.

The Harbor Freight plane will probably be a piece of trash. I have seen these. Much better to go onto Ebay and get a Stanley 78 for not quite as cheap, but still an excellent deal. The Stanleys have a lever depth adjustment of the blade. The Record 778 (if you can find it) has a screw adjust. These metal rabbets (or metal moving fillesters) do a tremendous job of cutting rabbets with and across the grain.

So it is clear that there are a multitude of great options for cutting grooves (did I say nothing about tongue and groove or plough planes??!!). And the great advantage is that you can learn a new skill (one that practically no one else has), plus hear yourself think!