Opinions of this little Delta power feeder?

[router-jim]

Rockler has this little gem on an in-store only sale starting tomorrow 01/03. $99.99. I'm thinking it would be a nice addition to the ultimate router table. Opinions?



http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...&filter=feeder

[boboreilly]

I saw that yesterday and wondered the same thing. I've never seen a power feeder for even close to that cheap.

[EZ WOOD]

All I know is what I have read and from what I understand it isn't worth $99. It is slow and the wheel grip isn't very good so, it ends up slipping on the work piece. HTH

[router-jim]

You must have seen the same flyer as I did. I believe it said something about Rockler buying the entire inventory. That leads me to believe that either Delta had a model change or they're discontinuing that model.

[boboreilly]

I'd give you a link to a 3 page thread on it on another WW forum, but it is 3 pages of bickering about if the deal exists, why it exists, nuances of which store might offer it... you get the idea.

[router-jim]

Originally Posted by EZ WOOD

All I know is what I have read and from what I understand it isn't worth $99. It is slow and the wheel grip isn't very good so, it ends up slipping on the work piece. HTH

You could be right, but I have a hard time believing that it couldn't handle stock on a router table.

[JoeSpackle]

I see them on router tables and even on shapers every once in a while.

I think Steve has a Comatic on his shaper these are all clones made in one place. I suspect if you can control the bit diameter or the cut depth that it would be OK.

I am not one to promote this particular unit but only because it can be underpowered. That makes operators try to lighten the down pressure which is what makes them slip. If you control the depth of cut, use a high HP router and keep the wheels clean and the router table waxed I would think it would be fine on a RT. In reference to the comment about it being too slow, 10-48 FPM is actually a darn good range for a unit this size. My 1 HP runs from 12-66 FPM and I rarely use much faster than the 24FPM setting , with 12 FPM the one used most

Joe

[router-jim]

Thanks Joe. Everything you stated makes sense.

I may have my son pick one up for me in Minneapolis tomorrow. At $99 I can always sell it at our annual Woodworkers auction if it doesn't work out for me.

[stwoodie]

I've got a clone to it on that shaper I picked up a month or so back.

I really like the variable speed.

After I replaced the wheels this little bugger works good for what I am running. I run 2 1/2 S&R material with it.

Feeder and shaper were bought new in 1997 and never used.
The tread material just rotted off the wheels.
I threw 2 treads after about 300 ft. of material.

[Roger Ronas]

http://www.westernroller.com/evoluti...er-system.html

I believe this place offers 2 durometers (hardness) of wheels for this machine. I will find out as I picked up one of these machines last week, but yet to install.

Roger