What to do...What to do...

[andrew.wickes]

So, for father's day my youngen/wife got me a $150 guft cert. to Woodcraft plus I got my $460 clothing allowance from the Army with this paycheck. I was thinking of getting the OF1400 router with it. While I have a plunge router, Black and Decker, my dad decided to get me, I'd rather upgrade and get 1/2" shaft capability. Should I just blow my wad on just the one tool or perhaps split it and get maybe a couple things? I'm drawn so looking here to get some other people's views. Thanks y'all!

 

[peter halle]

What other tools do you have and what are your project plans?  If a router is the last tool you need (impossible) then the 1400 will be a huge step up from what you have.

Peter

 

[andrew.wickes]

I've got a butt load of stuff. Table saw, jointer, bandsaw, planer, spindle sander, miter saw, not the Kapex :-( , Dewalt RO sander, Festool CXS, Dewalt 18v hand tools, probably a lot more that's hard to list Lol

The only Festool I have is the CXS. I do have that Walmart special router, Black and Decker. I've used it once and it was a pain. Pretty sure it jacked up the piece I was working on. It is a small router and can only handle 1/4" shank bits. I do plan on using the router when I have it and projects.

 

[andrew.wickes]

I do work with rough stock and mill it myself. There's the option of getting a Carvex PS420 EBQ and an ETS 125EQ...See how I'm confused!

 

[sancho57]

If you have access to the base Hobby shop your in good shape.

Id go for the 1010 and get the option edge guide. Though it can only take 1/4" and 8mm bits I think you will be quite surprised at the quality of the router.

 

[andrew.wickes]

They closed the woodworking shop here at Fort Bragg unfortunately. Really sucks :-/

I looked into the 1010 but the 1/2" shank option really appeals to me.

 

[ear3]

You may also want to think about whether a router table is in your future down the road, and whether you would want to get this first before a Festool router.  The 1400 is a great all around router.  If you plan on getting more than one though, you might also think about pairing the 1010 with the 2200, if finances permit. 

 

[andrew.wickes]

I do plan on getting a router table down the road when finances permit as well as space in the garage. I'd kill for the CMS router table...Seriously, I'd kill for it > Lol

 

[andrew.wickes]

Well, I did it. Proud owner of the OF1400 Came with the 90th anniversary systainer as well. My wife wasn't to happy and had some sticker shock but she'll get over it. Now to make some saw dust! After running errands in the Raleigh mall :-( Yay marriage! Lol

 

[sancho57]

They closed the woodworking shop here at Fort Bragg unfortunately. Really sucks :-/

I looked into the 1010 but the 1/2" shank option really appeals to me.

That sucks about closing the hobby shop  [censored]
The reason I suggested the 1010 is because you can't beat a quality hand held router. Sellers like wood line sell a lot of bits that are  normally 1/2 shank in 1/4. I use my 1010 for almost everything.
I have a 2200 in my CMS router table. . It stays there until I need it to spin some heavy metal. It's well balanced and great to use as a hand held, but it's heavy.

So I know this will get some folk butt hurt but the 1400 IMO is a compromise router. Yes it can be used for 1/2 shank bits but not the big ones.

Enjoy your 1400, now ya need to get it hooked up to a dust extractor and ll be living large.

 

[andrew.wickes]

I do have dust collection already, not a CT vac but a dust collector. Definitely going to try that out.

 

[RussellS]

plus I got my $460 clothing allowance from the Army with this paycheck.

Please explain this government clothing allowance.  I'll assume Army personnel are required to wear Army uniforms while working, training, on duty, etc.  Those would be either the in the field combat clothes and boots, or the formal dress up uniforms worn at the office.  Does the Army provide these clothes to you?  Give you a certain number of pants, shirts, shoes, etc.  Or are all soldiers required to purchase the clothing they wear?  Buy your uniforms.  And if buying is required, is this buying only for officers or officers and enlisted personnel (privates, corporals, sergeants) both?

And please explain how you use an annual(?) clothing allowance on a one time tool purchase.  It seems to me this $460 would be used throughout the year to buy clothing for work/Army, as it is intended.  If you use it all now to buy a tool, not what the money is designated for, then you would be short clothing money for the rest of the year.  You would need to sacrifice other things later in the year to acquire the money to buy the clothing required.  Will you skip eating supper for the second half of the year to get enough money to buy the clothing needed?

Or is the Army clothing allowance similar to car mileage for work.  I believe many companies reimburse people who drive their personal cars for work by the number of miles driven times a fixed rate.  Something like 30 cents per mile.  So if you drive your personal car 200 miles for work, the company reimburses you $60.  The 30 cents per mile covers gas, oil, maintenance, depreciation, etc.  Supposedly.  Its a very wild estimate that may be accurate for one person in a million.  The Army gives you $460 for clothing based on who knows what.  And everyone just considers it an annual bonus.

 

[McNally Family]

plus I got my $460 clothing allowance from the Army with this paycheck.

Please explain this government clothing allowance.  I'll assume Army personnel are required to wear Army uniforms while working, training, on duty, etc.  Those would be either the in the field combat clothes and boots, or the formal dress up uniforms worn at the office.  Does the Army provide these clothes to you?  Give you a certain number of pants, shirts, shoes, etc.  Or are all soldiers required to purchase the clothing they wear?  Buy your uniforms.  And if buying is required, is this buying only for officers or officers and enlisted personnel (privates, corporals, sergeants) both?

And please explain how you use an annual(?) clothing allowance on a one time tool purchase.  It seems to me this $460 would be used throughout the year to buy clothing for work/Army, as it is intended.  If you use it all now to buy a tool, not what the money is designated for, then you would be short clothing money for the rest of the year.  You would need to sacrifice other things later in the year to acquire the money to buy the clothing required.  Will you skip eating supper for the second half of the year to get enough money to buy the clothing needed?

Or is the Army clothing allowance similar to car mileage for work.  I believe many companies reimburse people who drive their personal cars for work by the number of miles driven times a fixed rate.  Something like 30 cents per mile.  So if you drive your personal car 200 miles for work, the company reimburses you $60.  The 30 cents per mile covers gas, oil, maintenance, depreciation, etc.  Supposedly.  Its a very wild estimate that may be accurate for one person in a million.  The Army gives you $460 for clothing based on who knows what.  And everyone just considers it an annual bonus.

I'm not sure it really matters if he spends it now on a tool, or not.  It is an annual allowance the army provides, and if he spends it now on a tool, why does that matter?

I suspect it is just a cash flow issue, where between that check and another source, it enables him to make a rather expensive tool purchase.  Of course, later in the year when he needs something army related, it will need to come out of his regular check.  I suspect he will be able to handle that just fine.

It certainly is not an annual bonus, as he is entitled to it each year, as part of his overall compensation package.  The army just calls it a clothing allowance when they pay it out.

 

[thudchkr]

Enlisted personnel in the US armed forces revive an annual clothing allowance for replacement and maintenance of their clothing items. Whenever I needed new uniform items I would purchase them, not wait till I received my clothing allowance. We generally viewed it like Andrew, as kind of a bonus check, that was not already budgeted out. I'm glad the clothing allowance enabled him to purchase a higher ticket item that may have been out of his budget otherwise.

I spent over 20 years in the Air Force and suffered having the woodworking hobby shop closed, more than once.

And, as others have stated earlier, Thank You for your service in our Armed Forces.

Clint

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Congrats on the 1400.  Excellent choice that will last a long time.

Do connect it to your shop vac.  Both you and the router will last longer that way. [big grin]

 

[andrew.wickes]

I rarely use my actual Shop Vac. I have an actual dust collector from Grizzly that I bought the Rockler hose adapters for. I can hook up to my sander and pretty much all small tools.

Yes, the clothing allowance is provided yearly to all enlisted personnel. It's supposed to be for uniforms and boots and what not. I always bought stuff when I needed it instead of waiting. Most people do that anyway.

I always blow it on whatever every year. $450+ can buy some nice stuff Lol

 

[monstrol]

Just my 2 cents, you will love the 1400. I would get the Rotex 150 next.

 

[RussellS]

Yes, the clothing allowance is provided yearly to all enlisted personnel. It's supposed to be for uniforms and boots and what not./quote]

By enlisted you mean the privates and such?  All the uniforms and boots/shoes are purchased by each person individually.  Does the Army at least give you free your first set when you go to boot camp?  Next time I see my Dad I will ask him how they did it back in the 1950s.  I'm guessing the conscripts back then were just thrown a uniform out of the pile and told to wear it.

 

[andrew.wickes]

When I went through basic, 2004, I got like 4 sets of BDUs issued, 2 prs boots, PTs, etc...After basic though,  it's all on you to buy new stuff. Really sucks now a days. I'm on uniform pattern 4. BDU, UCP digital, Multicam/OCP, and now Scorpion. Yay :-/