Woodrat

easterngray · Post by **easterngray** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:43 pm

Has anyone seen the Woodrat routing system? In that it is wall mounted it's another appropriate tool for the fellow with a small shop. I only recently came across this tool and it sure is different! There is a long video demonstrating it's capabilities at http://www.woodrat.com. I'm curious to see what you fellow Shopsmithers think. I haven't entirely made up my mind yet.. but I think I like it! Alec

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:07 pm

Looks like a nice setup:) , a little high on price:eek:

When you hit buy it takes you to http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx ... 52709&ap=1 You were right on the long video demonstrating it, but it was interesting to watch. It would be nice to have one, It will go no the "dream" list. Thanks for the post.

easterngray · Post by **easterngray** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:39 am

It IS expensive, but the Lee Valley price is in Canadian dollars, so the US price would be a bit less. Alec

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:44 am

This is a very interesting product and would have a lot of uses. It also seems it could be very dangerous for those operations done freehand under the table. Seems like your hands are getting very close to the bit and no way to use push blocks. You also don't see where your hands are in relation to the bit. For those operations where you can clamp the stock it looks like a dream machine.

calver · Post by **calver** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:35 am

Here is a link to a tool called the Router Boss. It is similiar to the Wood Rat. It comes up in Wood Rat discussions.

http://www.thecraftsmangallery.com/zencart/

Dave C.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:52 am

I wonder how these manufactures come up with these prices. I know there are R&D costs, preproduction costs and production costs but frankly for a few pieces of aluminum and some plastic $700+ seems outrageous.

I often wonder if they don't out smart themselves, figureing their machine replaces a router table, dove tail jig, tennoning jig, etc so they came up with a summary cost.

I wonder if any of these manufactures priced their equipment at actual material/production cost plus a tidy profit and spread R&D over a bigger number of units if they wouldn't sell more than then can produce.

I like the idea, I like the concept and I would buy one in a New York minute if I could justify the cost to what I figure is the cost of the actual material/production cost.

At the price they are now, there is simply no way I could justify to myself the purchase of one even if it built and finished my projects as I watched.

paul heller · Post by **paul heller** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:28 pm

I agree with Ed.

Paul

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:55 am

That was a fun video demonstration. Sort of reminded me of the SS demo's at fair, or the Hawk demo's where the guy cut the perfect little cats freehand. It all seems so easy when you use the tool often. I bet using it occasionally, set up will take most of the day, and then I'd probably reverse the joint and have to cut it again. Really it seems like a great idea, by fixing the workpiece, all attention can be given to the cutting tool.
As for the price, it is sort of like the little girl selling lemonade for $10 a glass. She only has to sell one glass to cover the overhead.
If I did allot of joinery, I might dwell on the woodrat's usefulness.
So I guess I will pass on this one, stick with the bandsaw and a sharp chisel.
But again, the video was fun to watch, thanks for the thread.