Acrylic tank building ROUTER advice please.

[BrokeColoReefer]

Whats the best router bit combo for making tanks? 3.25 horse to much router? Whats the best bit to make flush cuts, brand wise and diameter of bit? I will be buying a router table too, i suppose that a good fence is the most important thing, thank you for your help.

 

[BumpinTJ24]

Porter Cable 3 1/4 Model 7519 single speed. You would want to use 1/2" bits. Spiral upcut flush trim bits are what would give you the best finish. HTH

Ram

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

ok, thanks alot!!
I work at a place where we sell this stuff. I have a CMT carbite #191.506.11 upcut spiral bit 1/2"
It looks like that bit will be perfect for the table.
Now, what bit should i get for trimming the edges on the built tank?
We sell the Porter cable 7518 which i think is the same as the 19 but with varible speed. We also sell the plunger model for the same money, i dont think i need the plunging feature but if it costs the same should i consider it?
Thanks again.

 

[Acrylics]

Standard flush trim bit. I prefer the Whiteside solid carbide spiral flush cutters but they're spendy. If you plan to do some wood work with this router then the plunge model will be nice but strictly for acrylic - nope


HTH,
James

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

Thanks, i wanted the most versitilty i could get. I got the plung with a optional hight adjustment knob. I got the bits you guys recommend and a large router table, so now i should be in business. $1000 bucks later... OUCH!!

 

[Norboo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8507627#post8507627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Acrylics
Standard flush trim bit. I prefer the Whiteside solid carbide spiral flush cutters but they're spendy. If you plan to do some wood work with this router then the plunge model will be nice but strictly for acrylic - nope


HTH,
James

Where can I get Whiteside solid carbide spiral flush cutter online?

 

[Norboo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8508858#post8508858 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrokeColoReefer
Thanks, i wanted the most versitilty i could get. I got the plung with a optional hight adjustment knob. I got the bits you guys recommend and a large router table, so now i should be in business. $1000 bucks later... OUCH!!

What kind of router table did you get?

 

[hahnmeister]

I am interested in a router table as well for use with acrylic... I have a few routers already, but have yet to find a decent router table...

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

I bought this table: http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=6537 and whats even better, it came with the delux fence upgrade for the same price of the base unit ($350). Working at a hardware store is awesome when it comes to reef tanks

i ended up with the Porter cable 7518, i asked for the plunge model, but they gave me that one instead, and its good, because i like it better. I dont really need the plunger feature, and this model seems sturdier.

 

[Acrylics]

Where can I get Whiteside solid carbide spiral flush cutter online?

Can't answer that as I buy mine locally, try a Google search - I'm sure you'll find them around somewhere.

James

 

[hahnmeister]

I want a large table though... something that I can use to do edges on 4x4 sheets of acrylic if needed... or to use a 36" diameter circle cutting jig...

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

I was planning on building outfeed tables for it, i like the fact that i can pack that table up, its a little to heavy to realy haul around. Its not the best table out there, but for the money its nice.

 

[Acrylics]

IMHO the best router tables are ones you build yourself to your own specs. I've yet to see a commercially available table that fits what I need and every shop I know of builds there own as well. When I get around to it, my next one will be 60 x 120" with two 3 1/4hp PC routers inlayed into it. Have all materials on hand - just gotta find a few days to spare to get it done.
Try building one yourself - not hard to do at all

James

 

[badpacket]

There is a show called The Router Workshop on PBS, good show.
http://www.routerworkshop.com/

Also, if you want to make a decent table check your local kitchen cabinet/counter-top shops. You can usually get some decent sized 'scrap' piece of laminate/formica to make a table from.
Or check your local office furniture place for scrap. My first table was made from a newer, discarded office table just like this, just put 2x4 legs on it.
http://www.bush-furniture-online.com/xmodels/bush/WC75771h.jpg

As for a fence?
This works for some people, and its cheap for us beginners. Glad I had some extra starboard.

http://www.routerworkshop.com/Tipb4.html

 

[Acrylics]

As for a fence?.... and its cheap for us beginners.

Funny, I still use spare pieces of 1/2" & 3/4" acrylic as fences. Yrs later - still work. Great (and cheap) for us "non-beginners" too

James

 

[woz9683]

Hahn, I agree with Acrylics. Just build your own table. Since you've already got routers you'll be able to custom fit it to the exact router you want to use. Building your own also makes it so much easier for big custom apps like those 4x4 or larger sheets of acrylic you're talking about. Consider that most standard router tables aren't nearly big enough and in/outfeed tables are a great way to extend them, but they're never going to be perfectly level. You could pretty easily make your own custom table out of a 4x8 sheet of whatever material you choose, and for a 4x4 sheet of acrylic you're done, no extra outfeed necessary.

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

I can tell you this, no matter what equipment you buy doenst guarentee a good result. I spent the better part of the day yesterday praticing to get good edges on arcrylic with my new setup. I had dips all over my material. I finally figured out how to push it through the fence and the correct speed. Late yesterday afternoon i was getting silky smooth edges with no marring what so ever. I found that taking a hair width at a time was much better then a 32nd or even a 64th, but i can get decent edges with those widths, but nothing like the micro shaving will do.