Overarm Pin Router Table

[recurve1usa]

I have a small wood shop with a Shopsmith and several other tools. I have a router but never had a router table. I have seen an overarm pin router for sale with router for $300. I am considering buying it but would be interested in the forum members input. It is the table mounted unit with the power switch on the side of the stand. It looks to be in very good shape from the photos. Thank you all for your help and knowledge on these tools.
Sincerely
John

[charlese]

Sorry, just don't know! Reible has one of these and hopefully he will have some comments for you.

[Gene Howe]

$300 is a decent price but I'd still negotiate.
I have the stand alone version with the ability to use it as a router table or an over arm machine.
You'll want all the little guides, the piece the guides screw into and any fence that may be available.
I only use mine in the over arm configuration. In that configuration it is very versatile.

[masonsailor2]

I think for general shaping and routing a router table works best for me. There are a few operations where I have needed an overhead bit but for the most part the router table is more versatile. Having the piece under the bit has some serious limitations and can be scary for general routing. With the bit below if you need a second pass to clean up a cut it is no problem. Not possible with the bit on top. Do you have a 510 or 520 ? In that case building a router table is not too difficult and pretty inexpensive since you already have the router motor. You can generally build a better one than you can buy.
Paul

[reible]

I do indeed have one of these. It is a favorite of mine so I have mostly good things to say about it. Now the price seems high, it might well be worth it but we would need to know a lot more about it.

They made several versions of these. The early version had a plywood top and came designed to hold the router above. Later versions and updates were designed to mount a router below and above. This gave you a conventional router table, an overhead router, and then the pin router configuration.

The somewhat good news is that they have a current product that has some of the same parts used in it as the old one thus giving you the option of getting parts. The bad news is that there are a lot of parts that you can not get. In some cases you might be able to find something else that would work or make a replacement or get really lucky and find one in better condition...... so the watch word is what is damage or missing makes or brakes the deal.

Here is a place where I have posted a few (ok a bunch) of pictures of mine:

http://s589.photobucket.com/user/reible ... t=4&page=1

There are two pages so take a look at what it can look like and then ask any questions that you need to.

You can also use the search link and find a nice selection of posts on this and the newer version.

The router can be a bonus if it has speed control and both 1/4" and 1/2" chucks and is good condition. I personally like to keep a router in both locations so I don't have to mess with moving them top to bottom or bottom to top.

Ed

[recurve1usa]

Thanks everyone for the reply's. They will make for a better informed decision on what setup I will choose. This is a great forum with lots of like minded people willing to help out a fellow woodworker. I have gotten much needed advice and ideas from you all here and it is a privilege to be a member.
Sincerely
John

[recurve1usa]

Hi Reible;
Thanks for the link to your photos. The unit I am watching looks the same as yours. I just have to find out if the party has the inserts and pins, but other than that it is in good shape and comes with the two aluminum fences and a power switch on the leg. The router is the same one I have now. Porter cable. The table is just like the one you have too.
John

[BuckeyeDennis]

Hi Reible;
Thanks for the link to your photos. The unit I am watching looks the same as yours. I just have to find out if the party has the inserts and pins, but other than that it is in good shape and comes with the two aluminum fences and a power switch on the leg. The router is the same one I have now. Porter cable. The table is just like the one you have too.
John

I ordered a complete set of pins and inserts for my Craigslist stand-alone OPR in January 2014, and Shopsmith was able to provide everything. I thought the prices very reasonable -- about $30 for everything (not counting spares).

[shopsmithpaul]

I have had an overarm for 25 years. My thought was it does not take up any more space than a router table so why not. I have used it for all sorts of operations. One project is the Family Traditions Pony Rocking horse that Shopsmith sales. I have pattern jigs and cut out all the profiles with it. The great thing is there is little sanding to do unlike the bandsaw.