Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 1 1/2 HP Plunge Router Review
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- Harbor Freight has several routers, but this one is unique in that its made for 1/4 inch router bits only
Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 1 1/2 HP Plunge Router Review
Thanks got me started really quick and simple.
Glad you found the video useful
I just bought this router today and can say that it performs very well. The dust collection attachment seems like it could break easily but I hooked it up to my shop vac and it worked extremely well.
thanks for the feedback on the dust collector, I has the same impression on the dust collector, looks fragile, but it works ok - thanks for subscribing!
Great video! Helped me learn how to set up the router, the plastic on both sides threw me off. Thanks.
Thanks for the positive comment - glad it helped you
Nice review. Bought this router from a friend who was downsizing. I like it a lot, BUT the plunge lock set screw was stripped -- this can happen easily if you are over aggressive on setting that lock lever. I fished my stash of bolts and found a good replacement. It was a bear to get the router back together after the repair, but I succeeded and am looking forward to many future routing projects.
worth the effort, this is my favorite router out of all the ones HF sells - thanks for subscribing!
I found one of these at a pawn shop for ~$40. Best intro to routing! Useful to see all the accessories that mine is missing in this video, glad to know that the only semi-important one is the dust collection. Thanks for the review!
its the best all around router HF sells, Thanks for subscribing!
Just picked this up over July 4th weekend. Had a 20% off coupon....ended up costing about $52.00, but i opted for the 1 year extended warranty.
a good price, and a good router - thanks for subscribing!
The depth rod has a turntable yellow cap that turns a screw for fine micro adjustments.
thanks for subscribing!
Being a novice to a router. I read and reread the instructions and still could not figure it out. You made it easy. I will soon be doing my first project. What was the setting depth and the speed you used? Thank you.
Glad you found the video helpful - when in doubt, use the highest speed, and for straight bits never set the depth of the cut to be more than 1/2 the depth of the router bit, make several passed instead, for round over bits the depth of cut will be dictated by the round over profile you want
@@snapwholeharborfreightreviews thank you.
Thank you for your guidance. I gave up on the directions. 😊
Glad you found the video helpful - thanks for subscribing!
Very detailed and easy to understand
Glad it was liked it - thanks for subscribing!
Didnt you have a channel under a different name at one point? I swore I was subscribed to you already, but the name seems different.
Glad I found you again and am now subscribed, possibly again. 👍👍
Thanks for Subscribing!
Great review! I purchased mine several months ago and intend to use it this week to route t-track grooves in the top of my 4x8 work table. Question: My router yellow button for locking the colic for bit change indicates that push in to left to lock and right to unlock. Does it actually do that. I have limited use of my left hand fingers and that would be very helpful. My old craftsman router works that way.
thanks for Subscribing!
What if I decide to keep the insert on?
not a huge difference, it will work either way, it controls the dust a little better, less likely to come up in your face it its on, not having it would probably make the dust collection work a little better, a just insert would allow limiting the movement of the router on items like dovetails - thanks for subscribing!
Great video. Can this router be mounted in a router table? Thanks
Yes it can, you will need to develop a mount to hold it, should not be difficult to make - thanks for subscribing!
Excellent review!! I've been thinking about this router and seen your review of the three HB routers. By chance would this be KW?
yes!
I use the 2 HP fixed base in a router lift, and I use this one for just about everything, overall this is my favorite route, I recommend it
I just purchased the 1 1/2 HP one today lol
What exactly is the insert for?
it is meant to slide along a guide, like a dovetail jig, with only one size it might not be the size you need, you can also reverse it, and use it as a zero clearance insert, but only for small bits, although I'm sure it was meant for use with a jig, you can find a pack of these at HF with about 6 different sizes - thanks for subscribing!
also can it be used in the locked position or is plunge better?
I normally us it locked, because I going for a fixed depth, but its nice to have the plunge feature if you don't want to start a cut on the edge of the wood - nice for things like slots in box, you want to cut the length of the side of box, but don't want the cut to show on the ends of the box, so you start and end your cut a little before from the ends of the box - for small projects, I use the router table, but sometimes its awkward to get a large board on the table - thanks for subscribing!
what is the need for the insert?
Think of it as zero clearance insert with the possibility of swapping for different size holes - Thanks for Subscribing!
What router table works with this?
it should work with any of the universal router tables, I use the HF router table, and it comes with a router - a plunge router is very difficult to use with a router table, it is hard to set a precise depth - I recommend the 2 HP drill master ( copy of a porter-cable) with a router lift - much better combination - if you want this one, I still recommend a router lift, much better control - mathius wandel(has a utube channel and woodgears.ca) has great plans if you want to build your own - ibuildit also has good plans utube channel and ibuildit.ca - thanks for subscribing!