New SS Decisions. 520 Pro-Fence or Jointech

[fjimp]

Ed as I said yesterday I have both The new version of the OPR and this week am inbetween tables for a stand router. I have done nothing with my OPR as it is packed for moving. Now that I know the move is being postponed indefinately I will be used. fjimp

[hb2]

I dont mind the router discussion. I have three different setups (OPR, Speed Increaser, Jointech Router Lift) and need to decide which one to keep. After this discussion,I am actually thinking of selling the shopsmith as a bare-bones setup with a couple floating tables and not much else. This will let me keep the two talbe setups and the three router sets and just use them. Problem is the shop is not heated and its getting cold so most of the work might have to wait till spring and line up some projects to use each with.

I use my SS stuff as a hobby and never am rushed or mind switching setups. It will force me to get more familiar with the Jointech stuff. (as well as the shopsmith router sets.)

I have a couple other mystery pics if anyone is still interested in helping identify?

I had/have this exact setup but I reconfigured my SS back to a 520 for two reasons.
1. The jointech sustem is a poor system to use where the Mark is already weak - bevel rips. There is just too much mass that extends too far over the table.
2. Drill press mode - you can't use the fence in this mode. Jointech tells you to use the feather board for these operations - servicable maybe as a drill press fence but completely unacceptable as a rip fence.

For regular table saw work the fence was great as long as you were not changing depth of cut too often. The $1000 price for the Jointech system is what I paid, so it took much thought before I removed it. I like the 520 setup better.
Picture 4 is the 32" extension tubes to allow a floating table to be positioned between the main table and the router table. It works similar to 5' connecting tubes of the SS system.

[charlese]

Actually, Tim, I did not get an answer. That was my opinion. I happen to believe that there are OPR user's out there that probably do not agree that you can do everything on a table router that can be done with an OPR.

That was the jest of my question. What do you typically use the router for and what projects would you plan on the OPR that can not be done with a standard router table.

Nothing is my answer - does everyone agree?????

If they do, I just might quit lusting over the OPR.

Dusty - I really think you meant to say that was the gist of my question." Typos and spell checks do that to us once and a while.

To answer your question - What can the OPR do that the table router can't. I'd like to add safely and easily to that question. Of course a person could make tenons and mortises on the ends of boards having a length to them. However they would have to be stood on end and braced with a jig of some type. However these configurations can be milled using the OPR while the board is laying flat on a face. This is a lot safer and easier. Maybe I should have said easier and safer. Of course there is pin routing to add to that equation.

[reible]

Hi, My guess here is that you have too have the older Jointech system, am I right? I can't speak as to how that version works.

The new Jointech system 520 uses the shopsmith rails so you pop it on in seconds or off again. I don't store it or the orginal rip fence on the machine but pick the one I want to use depending on what I'm doing.

The new system works for the bevel cuts as well, as long as you don't have a problem with length as you will loose some of that because of how the system works.... sorry I've never measured the actual distance.

In drill press mode the fence can either be taken off or the extension tubes and table are required to mount the system on.

I would guess that the incra system has the same issues as the newer jointech???

I'm really glad someone with what I am guess is the older system spoke up as this is an education for me.

Ed

I had/have this exact setup but I reconfigured my SS back to a 520 for two reasons.
1. The jointech sustem is a poor system to use where the Mark is already weak - bevel rips. There is just too much mass that extends too far over the table.
2. Drill press mode - you can't use the fence in this mode. Jointech tells you to use the feather board for these operations - servicable maybe as a drill press fence but completely unacceptable as a rip fence.

For regular table saw work the fence was great as long as you were not changing depth of cut too often. The $1000 price for the Jointech system is what I paid, so it took much thought before I removed it. I like the 520 setup better.
Picture 4 is the 32" extension tubes to allow a floating table to be positioned between the main table and the router table. It works similar to 5' connecting tubes of the SS system.

[hb2]

My system is the old Jointech system. I think the new system is much better as you can choose what fence to use and eliminates the problems I found with the system. The Jointech fence is great and was a joy to use for rips as it was just point and shoot to get accurate rip cuts.

It would be great to see a closeup of how the new system attaches to the 520 rails. Jointech quoted me a price of $80 to change mine over. Additionally I would have to buy 520 rails for the router table and it all starts adding up to real money. Right now I have the Jointech router table mounted on a Rockler steel leg set and just use the fence system as a router fence. The long saw train clincher is overkill most of the time as a router fence.

Another problem is the the router table is not long enough to position the fence for more than about 10" travel. When it was mounted on the shopsmith and I had the sawtrain rails on the shopsmith instead of the 520 rails you just would install a floating table to the router table to add fence travel. I can no longer do this as you can not hook up a 520 railed floating table to the Jointech sawtrain rails.

[reible]

It sounds like the upgrade for the jointech still might be a good option at the $80 price given the fact you have a $1000 system that is only half functional. You can also do this in steps, get the upgrade kit then sometime when the parts for the router table are on sale at shopsmith pick them up... or maybe off ebay???.

I checked my flickr photos but it looks like I don't have a shot of the 520 mounting system. It is a "V" at the back that fits the rails and a simple clamp arrangement in the front that you tighten a knob to take it on and off. The fence itself has the same but shorter version of the same clamp. Sometime if I remember I'll shoot some pictures, but think simple on and off operation.

Ed

[matpoh]

OK, I always assumed I had the OPR, but after further reivew, this doesn't have the same mount as what I was expecting. It surely wont mount to the SS tubes as there is only one mount bracket and it is about 4" in diameter. Take a look at the picture and let me know what this mounts to and what is missing to get it operational.....

[Ed in Tampa]

I think that is the router mount for the old standalone OPR system. That system has it's own legs, table and vertical post that this assembly mounted to.
I sort of looked like a Radial arm saw but instead of RAS arm and motor assembly it had your pictured assembly mounted to the vertical column. There are pictures of a old OPR on the forum but I didn't find them.
Ed

[reible]

Hi,

Old OPR looks like this:

[ATTACH]2326[/ATTACH]

More pictures at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12199425@N ... 718316398/

Ed

[edmo51]

I like the looks and funtionality of your RT. Is this your own design or did you modify some other? Would appreciate if you could post more info on the dimemsions/details.

Thanks in advance