Someone up above asked for history. I have one I inherited in 1989. I think Dad probably bought it around 1980.
When I got it, it was purely an overhead router with a wooden sliding table. At that time, I had two router tables, one under and one over. Somewhere in the 90's, I switched to the SS table so I could mount two router (one under and one over) on the same table. Mine now looks very much like the pictures provided above except it on a homemade stand.
I agree with Nick that the overarm set up is great for mortises. Of course, it's real value is pattern work.
The only disadvantage I ever had with the two router system is that the space for the overarm column limits the ability to mount a fence system like Incra or a horizonal router to the table.
New Overarm Pin Router
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Greenvilleguy
- Gold Member
- Posts: 240
- Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:55 pm
- Location: Greenville, SC
Hi,
Thanks for the comments!
When I got my overarm router table it had the wooden table as well. There is a metal insert that allows for the mounting of the pins...... the bad news so to speak is that they are no longer around. I spent quite sometime looking for a source then made a set myself out of nylon. I then got the new table which was offered as an upgrade to the original router arm....
The new table allows for a router to be mounted below the table just like any standard router table. By putting in an adapter you then have a place to screw in the pins. Maybe sometime I will post some pictures of this and a few of the modifications I made to allow for standard pc style bushings and the less standard 1-1/2" bushings.
As far as mounting fences such as the Incra it is really not an issue unless you feel it has to be mounted "square" to the table. You simply off set it at an angle either to the right or left. Again the upgraded table had the holes already in it for the original Incra jig... at the angle. (If someone needs pictures let me know.)
On any router table the fence need not be square to the table unless you are trying to use a miter slot and the fence at the same time... most of us have gone to using sleds so it is never an issue.
The same is true for over head routers and drill presses.... any tool like that. For some reason some people have trouble with this concept... I had a relative who was complaining how long it took him to get his fence set up... he would move the right side then the left then the right etc. etc. so it was just perfect to the table top. Every time he had to move the fence he did this over and over... he was about to spend some big $$$ to get this fence so he could save some time. I went over and set one side of the fence, then tapped the other in to position... bang done. He had the funny look on his face and could not believe this would work.... I took the fence off and used a board at about a 15-20 deg angle to the table and the light came on.
BTW the new router arm will not mount a router below... at least I don't see how it would.
Ed
Thanks for the comments!
When I got my overarm router table it had the wooden table as well. There is a metal insert that allows for the mounting of the pins...... the bad news so to speak is that they are no longer around. I spent quite sometime looking for a source then made a set myself out of nylon. I then got the new table which was offered as an upgrade to the original router arm....
The new table allows for a router to be mounted below the table just like any standard router table. By putting in an adapter you then have a place to screw in the pins. Maybe sometime I will post some pictures of this and a few of the modifications I made to allow for standard pc style bushings and the less standard 1-1/2" bushings.
As far as mounting fences such as the Incra it is really not an issue unless you feel it has to be mounted "square" to the table. You simply off set it at an angle either to the right or left. Again the upgraded table had the holes already in it for the original Incra jig... at the angle. (If someone needs pictures let me know.)
On any router table the fence need not be square to the table unless you are trying to use a miter slot and the fence at the same time... most of us have gone to using sleds so it is never an issue.
The same is true for over head routers and drill presses.... any tool like that. For some reason some people have trouble with this concept... I had a relative who was complaining how long it took him to get his fence set up... he would move the right side then the left then the right etc. etc. so it was just perfect to the table top. Every time he had to move the fence he did this over and over... he was about to spend some big $$$ to get this fence so he could save some time. I went over and set one side of the fence, then tapped the other in to position... bang done. He had the funny look on his face and could not believe this would work.... I took the fence off and used a board at about a 15-20 deg angle to the table and the light came on.
BTW the new router arm will not mount a router below... at least I don't see how it would.
Ed
I'd like to be able to try it out
or at least see more than a little picture before I buy. There aren't any live demos scheduled for my area.
Is there maybe a video available?
Is there maybe a video available?
You have a good question here.... I have not seen a video for the new version but they did have a short one on the old one like I have. Seeing how they work is better then reading about them for most of us.mindpilot wrote:or at least see more than a little picture before I buy. There aren't any live demos scheduled for my area.
Is there maybe a video available?
Now another question is are these part of the demo's that are given at the fairs and Lowes stores? I know I was at a Lowes last year and they had a shopsmith demo coming up later in the day so I wondered back by where they were setup to see if they had the lift on one of the machines so I could have a first hand look...... no such luck. It looked like it was a demo of the 5 basic tools just like the old days.
Ed
I have posted a short write up on a modification I did to the older free standing router table shopsmith sold, which happened to be the same table that came with the overarm router or could be purchased as an upgrade for the overarm router. In this case the modifications help both for the undertable router mounting and for the pin routeing operations.
It is at:
http://www.ssug.org/forums//viewtopic.php?t=1430
if you want to see the pictures go to:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/elv60504@sb ... .net/album
and look for "router table mods"
Questions are always welcome,
Ed
It is at:
http://www.ssug.org/forums//viewtopic.php?t=1430
if you want to see the pictures go to:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/elv60504@sb ... .net/album
and look for "router table mods"
Questions are always welcome,
Ed
Finally had time to review this thread. (see post #8 on this thread) Funny thing about retirement - there is never enough time to do all the things you want to do.
After reading the whole thread, and being in a situation to buy myself a "gift" courtesy of my wife. Yesterday I ordered an Overhead Pin Router You see - I bought my wife a new embroidery machine and she said "Now you have to get something of a similar cost". At first I winced, big time! Then when she said we would consider the "gifts" to be for our 50th Wedding anniversary - I jumped!!
Your (our) thread has really got me convinced that this can be the best thing since sliced bread! (maybe, second to the SS) Since I always liked routing and shaping from above and with the horizontal routing possibilities - this was a no brainer.
Anyway I don't want to take my wife up on the money deal, but knowing I'm several hundred bucks away from the cost of her machine, it would please her if I shelled out for a few accessories for the OPR. Any suggestions?
Anyway, I have to first finish making the china corner cabinet started in December and clean up the scrap. But, since the only parts left are the bottom doors, I might use the OPR to make them.
Thanks again Fellas, for the thread and you posts!!!
After reading the whole thread, and being in a situation to buy myself a "gift" courtesy of my wife. Yesterday I ordered an Overhead Pin Router You see - I bought my wife a new embroidery machine and she said "Now you have to get something of a similar cost". At first I winced, big time! Then when she said we would consider the "gifts" to be for our 50th Wedding anniversary - I jumped!!
Your (our) thread has really got me convinced that this can be the best thing since sliced bread! (maybe, second to the SS) Since I always liked routing and shaping from above and with the horizontal routing possibilities - this was a no brainer.
Anyway I don't want to take my wife up on the money deal, but knowing I'm several hundred bucks away from the cost of her machine, it would please her if I shelled out for a few accessories for the OPR. Any suggestions?
Anyway, I have to first finish making the china corner cabinet started in December and clean up the scrap. But, since the only parts left are the bottom doors, I might use the OPR to make them.
Thanks again Fellas, for the thread and you posts!!!
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Congrats on the 50th anniversary.-
paul heller
- Gold Member
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:41 pm
- Location: Arvada, CO
I just watched the sawdust session. I was thinking about ordering the Shopsmith router table (the nice one that fits on the tubes), but now I'm thinking why? The overarm router seems the better way to go.
Why would somone what/need both? I certianly know now that there are things the overarm router can do that a router table cannot. Are there any jobs that the overarm router cannot do?
Paul
Why would somone what/need both? I certianly know now that there are things the overarm router can do that a router table cannot. Are there any jobs that the overarm router cannot do?
Paul
Hi,
Maybe I'm not the one to answer this but I do a lot of work with routers and I don't know how anyone can live with out several router tables. At one point I had 9 of them setup... I'm now down to just 8 but I have two table tops waiting to have them mounted. I also have 10 routers so go figure.....
I know it sounds like the overhead router is the best thing ever, but it does have a few down sides or potential issues. I do find that I like my old overhead system and I'm sure that if I had the money I spring for this new system........ AND if you can afford it please get it and get started using it, it has a lot good qualities. Besides no mater which way you choose to go there will be trade-offs.
If you happen to own or have used a shaper or do a lot routing you will find that using jigs becomes an every day part of the project. A lot of those jig designs make there way into books or videos. For the most part they are going to show you router table stuff. So if you want to learn routing that way or from most instuctors you will not get much information on overhead routers. They have never been a main stream item for home shops.
One issue and the only one I feel like getting into is "reference surface". On a router table the cutter comes from below and the table is below so the face side is down. In contrast the overhead system has it surface below the wood and the face side is up where the cutting is done.... When you put the project together you want the face surface perfect and the back could be off a little the so it is better to start off using the face surface.
OK I will mention one other thing, When using the system in the horizontal I think you will need to make some changes to the shopsmith table or build your own table... or maybe shopsmith will add a new design in a couple of years. As is I can see only limited uses.
I've only had mine a couple of years now (the old one they use to sell). But I've been actively using mine and have a good number of hours of use now. I even try to find ways of using it when I know I have already developed a method on one of my table system. I still have a bunch of things I want to try and this winter I sill be addressing some needed jigs. A sled will be amoung the first followed by an improved fence. The other thing I've found is the dust collector seems to miss a lot, I think that needs some thinking about.
Ed
Maybe I'm not the one to answer this but I do a lot of work with routers and I don't know how anyone can live with out several router tables. At one point I had 9 of them setup... I'm now down to just 8 but I have two table tops waiting to have them mounted. I also have 10 routers so go figure.....
I know it sounds like the overhead router is the best thing ever, but it does have a few down sides or potential issues. I do find that I like my old overhead system and I'm sure that if I had the money I spring for this new system........ AND if you can afford it please get it and get started using it, it has a lot good qualities. Besides no mater which way you choose to go there will be trade-offs.
If you happen to own or have used a shaper or do a lot routing you will find that using jigs becomes an every day part of the project. A lot of those jig designs make there way into books or videos. For the most part they are going to show you router table stuff. So if you want to learn routing that way or from most instuctors you will not get much information on overhead routers. They have never been a main stream item for home shops.
One issue and the only one I feel like getting into is "reference surface". On a router table the cutter comes from below and the table is below so the face side is down. In contrast the overhead system has it surface below the wood and the face side is up where the cutting is done.... When you put the project together you want the face surface perfect and the back could be off a little the so it is better to start off using the face surface.
OK I will mention one other thing, When using the system in the horizontal I think you will need to make some changes to the shopsmith table or build your own table... or maybe shopsmith will add a new design in a couple of years. As is I can see only limited uses.
I've only had mine a couple of years now (the old one they use to sell). But I've been actively using mine and have a good number of hours of use now. I even try to find ways of using it when I know I have already developed a method on one of my table system. I still have a bunch of things I want to try and this winter I sill be addressing some needed jigs. A sled will be amoung the first followed by an improved fence. The other thing I've found is the dust collector seems to miss a lot, I think that needs some thinking about.
Ed
{Knight of the Shopsmith} [Hero's don't wear capes, they wear dog tags]
Re: New Overarm Pin Router
Just came across this thread concerning the mounted OPR. How would you use it as a horizontal router? Are there any photos of the set up? I checked the manual listed on the website and it does not mention a horizontal set up. Just curious here.
Thank you!
Thank you!