OF2200 Questions

[Ken Nagrod]

8mm = 5/16", 10mm = 3/8"

 

[Rob-GB]

A machine in my shop is made in England and is powered by a router, in this case DeWalt 625. They make and sell all HSS tooling for it (no welding) and the bits are available in 1/2" and 8mm sizes.  In Imperial measurements, 8mm works out to be about 3/8". I think. 1/4" would equal 6mm. Lee Valley sells collet adapters for these.

I needed some parts and accessories and during an overseas phone call asked why the choice of 8mm for bits. It is a very popular size in Europe, I hear. The designer of the machine told me that 8mm was a suitable step down from 1/2" without much of a sacrifice in safety or durability. As any Festool owner knows, safety regulations in Europe are far more stringent than ours. They just weren't comfortable with 1/4",  [unsure]

People will argue back and forth whether this is good or excess, but there it is about bit sizes.

Gary Curtis

Are you talking about the Woodrat?
Collet inserts are available for down sizing from 1/2" to other sizes but are not great for long term use, it's a friction debate.
Collets for 8mm bits should be available, Trend used to do them I think, Elu almost certainly produced them for the Elu177E precursor to the 625.
1/4" or 6mm shank bits are in constant use in europe but they are limited as to how large the cutting surface is and plunge depth, due purely to the possibility of bending the shank if over-stressed which could cause damage or injury.
If it is the Woodrat designer you spoke to then his views on the 8mm bit stems from the depth of plunge one can use safely whilst keeping costs down.
I have owned a Woodrat since the early days, whilst initially I found lots of work for it, it has for the last 8yrs or so lain dormant.

 

[extiger]

Yes, the machine is a WoodRat. My DeWalt router has 1/2" and 1/4" collets. But Lee Valley here in North America sells collet adapters for 8mm bits. These cost only about $4.

You might be interested in some WoodRat literature I have which is not generally available. It is the tutorial from a series of classes taught for years in Surrey. If you will send me an email, I can return your letter with pdf attachments for the literature. It is gary.curtis.s60@gmail.com.  That is ...s60 and not 560.

Unless a person were an experienced vertical mill machinist, the WoodRat presents a daunting learning challenge.This book will help a lot.

Gary Curtis

 

[RONWEN]

Yes, the machine is a WoodRat. My DeWalt router has 1/2" and 1/4" collets. But Lee Valley here in North America sells collet adapters for 8mm bits. These cost only about $4.

You might be interested in some WoodRat literature I have which is not generally available. It is the tutorial from a series of classes taught for years in Surrey. If you will send me an email, I can return your letter with pdf attachments for the literature. It is gary.curtis.s60@gmail.com.  That is ...s60 and not 560.

Unless a person were an experienced vertical mill machinist, the WoodRat presents a daunting learning challenge.This book will help a lot.

Gary Curtis

The WoodRat fascinates me, I'm not sure if I would ever buy one but I'd like to read your pdf file -- I'll send you my e-mail address.  Thanks.

 

[greg mann]

Yes, the machine is a WoodRat. My DeWalt router has 1/2" and 1/4" collets. But Lee Valley here in North America sells collet adapters for 8mm bits. These cost only about $4.

You might be interested in some WoodRat literature I have which is not generally available. It is the tutorial from a series of classes taught for years in Surrey. If you will send me an email, I can return your letter with pdf attachments for the literature. It is gary.curtis.s60@gmail.com.  That is ...s60 and not 560.

Unless a person were an experienced vertical mill machinist, the WoodRat presents a daunting learning challenge.This book will help a lot.

Gary Curtis

The WoodRat fascinates me, I'm not sure if I would ever buy one but I'd like to read your pdf file -- I'll send you my e-mail address.  Thanks.

So, Ron, I guess you consider yourself an experienced vertical mill machinist.  ;D ;D ;D

 

[RONWEN]

Yes, the machine is a WoodRat. My DeWalt router has 1/2" and 1/4" collets. But Lee Valley here in North America sells collet adapters for 8mm bits. These cost only about $4.

You might be interested in some WoodRat literature I have which is not generally available. It is the tutorial from a series of classes taught for years in Surrey. If you will send me an email, I can return your letter with pdf attachments for the literature. It is gary.curtis.s60@gmail.com.  That is ...s60 and not 560.

Unless a person were an experienced vertical mill machinist, the WoodRat presents a daunting learning challenge.This book will help a lot.

Gary Curtis

The WoodRat fascinates me, I'm not sure if I would ever buy one but I'd like to read your pdf file -- I'll send you my e-mail address.  Thanks.

So, Ron, I guess you consider yourself an experienced vertical mill machinist.   ;D ;D ;D

Ahh Shucks, I watched a guy run one one time (vertical mill that is, I've never seen a real live WoodRat) -- running the vertical mill didn't look hard...  [big grin]

 

[Wonderwino]

I can't locate the picture of the router bit but Roger Savatteri designed & built a 5'x11' dining room table based on a torsion box and had a huge router bit custom made for his 2200 router to generate the profile around the lower edge of the table.  Just the picture of this huge router bit in his 2200 sent chills through me however the 2200 handled the job perfectly.

That post is right here.

Boy, what a bit!!!!  [jawdrop]

I saw that bit when I visited Roger and the cutter would literally fill a coffee mug, with the shaft sticking out the top!  He did pre cut the edge with his TS75 to relieve the cut somewhat, but still, quite a job for a router.  [eek]