Need advice

[MNBenny]

My dads router is a Stihl (I think it's spelt)

[Chris In Milwaukee]

It's the best I can do. I just am working with very limited stuff this the best I can do unless I start pulling from my flight training money, and I certainly don't want to do that.

Nope, definitely don't want to do that. . Absolutely, you should work with what you have. Just make smart choices so you don't have to rework things very often.

[MNBenny]

If this doesn't work not sure what to do next.

[Deftone]

Just keep at it, whats the worst that can happen? I had a router incident that damaged my router and some wing ribs and that put me off building for a few months, but now Im back at it and kicking myself for the wasted time.

[Chris In Milwaukee]

Same here. You'll invariably goof up a few parts. But with that comes experience.

[MNBenny]

I have another question has anyone tried a,rotary tool to cut their wing ribs and did it work? Just wondering. I'm not so sure the apparatus that my dads router is sitting in will work, but time will tell.

[Deftone]

Wouldn't that be quite time consuming? I would assume you could only do one at a time when a router can do several. What is your current setup? If you can't adapt what you have then a cheap harbor freight router table will get the job done.

[MNBenny]

I'll have to take a picture tonight of the router table that dad has. It's really not table if you ask me.

[parish]

Helpful hints with the router bit, be sure to lubricate the bearing. I did not know to do this until i blew the first one out. Jared Yates suggested that I lubricate and have only blown one other out (I did not lubricate it either). The temp generated from the friction is super high.

[Chris In Milwaukee]

I have another question has anyone tried a,rotary tool to cut their wing ribs and did it work? Just wondering. I'm not so sure the apparatus that my dads router is sitting in will work, but time will tell.

Might work pretty well with stability attachments in place, like a router base. The problem with rotary tools is they have no mass, and are therefore pretty unstable. I don't think you'd get quality cuts with one, especially given the typical bits used with them. Routers have really good mass, and that makes them good tools for this kind of job.

if you have one, take a piece of scrap aluminum, draw a circle on it, and then cut out the circle with your rotary tool. If you're pleased with the quality of the part, then you're good to go.

[MNBenny]

I guess what dad got a was 1/4" shank....oh well. The router is a skill. 1 1/12 hp

[Chris In Milwaukee]

1/4" shank is fine. You'll just use a smaller bit and cut fewer pieces at once. Make sure the router table is secured well to whatever it's sitting on. You'll likely need to remove the fence.

That should be just dandy.

[Deftone]

My router table is only a little bigger so that should work fine. Like Chris mentioned, remove the fence. I also marked big arrows on the table to remind me which way to feed the material to try and prevent it from grabbing. Im probably the only one but I feel it helps me work a little safer.

I also rigged up my shop-vac to my table to try and catch material as possible. You will soon see why!

[MNBenny]

That is one thing dad and I will have to talk about. So now that I have the shank.....do I need a bit now? How much material can I run do you think?

[Chris In Milwaukee]

Bosch (and others) have similar bits with 1/4" shank. Probably not bigger than 1" cutting surface, though. With a 1.5hp router, you'll probably want to keep it to five sheets or less.

[MNBenny]

Yep I can see now already this just won't do. I will have to go buy the 1/2inch bit and shank when I get paid.

[MNBenny]

Wonder with this size router and a half inch bit how much I can do?

[Chris In Milwaukee]

You don't need a bigger router. What you have is fine.