Cordless Router
Contents
Options
- Bauer cordless angle grinder [1]
- Ryobi cordless router [2]
- DeWalt cordless router [3]
- Milwaukee is best according to this review [4]
- Reviews of top 5 [5]
- Bauer is decent [6]
Accessories
- Plunge router base 65 mm [7]
- milwaukee, dewalt, makita - plunge router bases for 65 mm body - [8]. You could get geared offset bases for getting into corners - [9]
Body Diameter
- Many diameters for router bodies [10]
Plunging
- If you know what you are doing, you can plunge without a plunge base - [11]
Window Cutting
The pros use "Spiral Flush Trim Upcut" - 1/4" [12], see vid [13]- Flush trimming bit - can also plunge - [14]
Pros Using Templates
- For bottom template: Use a bushing on a spiral upcut bit. 1/2" router is implied to be faster than a 1/4" router. [15]
- Use a bushing attached to the base of the router.
- Bushing sourcing [16]
- For top template: use a bushing, or use a Top Bearing Downcut Flush Trim Router Bit 1" H X 1/4" D 1/4" Shank. Unfortunately these do not exist because the bearing shank (about 1/8") would be too thin and bit would break. The only way this is doable is if shank is 1/4" and bit is 1/2" or even 3/8". Thus, the only way to do this is without a bearing on the top side, letting the smooth shank of the bit ride the template. Template should be 1/2" for easy alignement of bit.
- Holes of any size using a router -Here is an example of using a router to then drill any size hole, using a template with the guide bushings. [17]
Bit Types
- If this existed in upcut, we'd be set. Closest fixed-base plunging pierce bit - spiral and 1/4" so it's fast, but not up-cut for easier pierce. [18]
- Is it just me or everyone loves to take 2x the time by predrilling a pilot hole for bottom bearing spiral upcut flush trim cutout bits? Why not put the bearing on the top?
- But - is a pilot bit actually better at plunging than a regular spiral upcut, which is good for plunging? They’re also really good for plunging, since they pull the woodchips straight out of the cut like a drill bit. - from [19]. In practice, is the solution a plunge base + spiral upcut with no bearings? This would address top template work with handheld operation. For bottom template, a pilot upcut bit, where pilot tip also serves as a bearing - would be the universal solution for top AND bottom template work. However, if you are ok with predrill of a hole, then a spiral upcut flush trim bit with bottom bearing works for bottom template, and for top template if the smooth shank on top is used as bearing.
- Up-spiral. 1/2" shank, 3/8" cut [20]. Up and down- spiral refers to which way material is moved out. [21]
- Up-cut (works like a drill bit) pulling chips up, so you can plunge effectively. [22]
- Compression bit has both upcut and downcut sections [23]
- Need: Upcut - Flush Trim Bit - 1/4" Spiral 1/4" Shank - top bearing - Or bearingless with smooth shaft though this will get hotter but acceptable for electrical boxes, like [24]
Practical Operation
Ideally, a single bit does window and door cutouts in beadboard (backside template) and electrical boxes (front template). Because in beadboard installation, these are both relevant as we install walls. In-place routing of windows and doors is relevant everywhere - doable without measuring. Door and window frames serve as the bottom templates in place. Separate templates, cut on benchtop, serve for the electrical boxes.
Possible solutions:
- Spiral upcut flush-trim with predrill, doesn't need plunge base - good for top and bottom templates. Example - [29]. The only way this is usable with a top template is by using the smooth upper shank as the bearing. Note up and down bearing version does not exist in 1/4" bit size -
- Pilot down spiral with plunge base - does the pilot hole with plunge base, the smooth part of the pilot serves as bearing for the bottom template. Smooth upper shank serves as top bearing for front (top) template work. Pilot straight-spiral 1 flute - [30], pilot spiral true spiral [31]
- Spiral upcut - good with plunge base, top template only. Ex. - [32]
It is faster to predrill than to switch a bit. Thus, predrill operation is acceptable.
Faster way is to have 2 routers - one with spiral upcut flush trim specialized for bottom templates - unless it turns out that pilot down spiral with plunge base cuts just as well without heating up.
If you predrilled a hole, upcut or downcut should not affect speed.
See upcut, downcut, straight - [33]
When plunging, you want to have upcut.
For top templates, you can use a bushing. Or bearing of larger size than 1/4", with corresponding template modification. Or no bushing and just the smooth shank. If the smooth shank heats up, you can add a bearing onto the bit, and modify the template accordingly. For example, 1/8" offset bearing for 1/4" shaft - [34] or 1/16" offset [35]
