Re: Ten woodworking tools you have to see
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýThe PantoRouter is a value-engineered (cost-reduced reinterpretation) of the MultiRouter which has been around for decades (and superior build quality in my view). ?In some sense, what they¡¯ve done is analogous to Kreg knocking of Castel in the pocket-hole routing arena. ?The one aspect PantoRouter got right over the MultiRouter is the material table with all the T-slots. ? Some thoughts about that here (which is not exactly how I would approach this today with the availability of slotted extrusions everywhere): ?A horizontal router with 3-axis articulation can be a very helpful tool for various repetitive joinery tasks like making a set of dining room chairs, and it makes a great compound-angle Domino router if you are accustomed to making CAD drawings of your complex joinery projects. ?? That said, these systems always exclaim the multitude of flexibility and complex projects they can semi-automate. ?However, these type of systems take time to master - similar in some respects to the learning/retention curve for a Leigh Dovetail Jig or the Leigh FMT or the WoodRat. ?Wrapping your head around any of these systems takes effort and patience and practice, and depending on your age, the half-life of the acquired knowledge can be quite short. ?IMO, the benefits are born out with consistent use, or when taking the time to do setups for multiple copies of a project that justify the setup times. ?For the once-a-year one-off project, the reacquaintance with the setups can be frustratingly tedious. ? With the addition of a 3-axis DRO system, my MultiRouter has become even more useful since it provides precise cutter-path control without the restrictions imposed by templates. ?? David Best https://www.instagram.com/davidpbest/
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David P. Best