Subject: Delta router / shaper problems

From: "Don" <[email-masked]>
Date: 9 Feb 1997 19:25:00 GMT

I bought the Delta router / shaper table a few months ago. I agree with
other posting regarding problems with height adjustment and the fence. I
intended for it to replace a home made router table that worked fine, but
was not very convenient to use, but now I'm not so sure.

I am having problems with the simplest of operations. I get much more
'chatter' than with my old table, which had a much smaller motor. I find
that I have to apply considerably more force to the wood to move it across
the bit. I can reduce the chatter by making many shallow passes, but I
expected to need less passes, rather than more with this machine. I believe
that my bits are sharp (they are new and carbide tipped).

One other particularly scarey problem is that while the piece is chattering
its way through the bit, it will be grabbed with enough force to move the
fence. This is a pretty violent event. I now really tighten it down, but I
don't want to break the handle, or distort the table.

One of the most common operations I do on the router table is to cut dados
(1/2" to 3/4"). An example is cutting the slots in a drawer side for side
hung drawers. I do this by setting the fence a few inches back from the
bit. I have experienced the grabbing and chatter most during this type of
operation.

I suspect that all this is caused by the fact that the bit rotates at a
much lower speed in the Delta than in my previous setup. If I recall, the
Delta spins a about 10,000 RPM, while my old router does something like
20,000. I think they use this slow speed to handle larger diameter bits.

I am misusing this machine? Any suggestions on how to eliminate the chatter
and grabbing? Or should I just use my old router table except for when
using really big bits (which I never use)?

---

From: [email-masked] (Kevin W. Tucker)
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 97 16:53:44 GMT

>that my bits are sharp (they are new and carbide tipped).

Taking 1/2" to 3/4" dados out will require at least a couple of passes if you 
want to get any depth.  I have not had any problems with mine making the same 
cuts, but I do have a couple of featherboards as holddowns which seems to 
help.  Just in case, try a couple of different bits - you might have a bent 
shank which is contributing to the chatter and vibration.

Kevin