Which do you think is better for a wood/plastic router? edit: If you could please leave your reason for choosing one or the other, i'd appreciate it. Thanks in advanece!

hate to double post, but still no votes?

You'd probably be better off with a laminate trimmer. I've never seen a Proxxon, but dremels don't have a lot of power, and they have a lot of runout. A good laminate trimmer like the Porter Cable 7310 is about $100.

I vote for laminate trimmer , or a roto-zip ( it comes with 1/8 and 1/4 collets)

Anybody try the "Ridgid" brand laminate trimmer ?
It has a variable speed control,also cost about $100 at home depot.

I started with a dremel . I found that I was using it at less than half speed most of the time and it just didnt have the torq .
Even slower for engraving plastics ( even less torq).

Both Home Depot and Lowes were out of stock on laminate trimmers . :bs:
So I'm trying a roto zip /HF speed control setup ,for now.

( the fastest I can cut is 20 ipm)

Sorry for the sideways skew on your topic/poll , just my opinion. ;)

Dave

thanks!! if any mod wants to, please edit my poll to include rotozip and rigid laminate trimmers. (I couldn't figure out how to edit the poll myself)

Ah, neither. If you can't support a 3.5" router look for a laminate trimmer with a cast or metal lower section supporting the bearing. This allows you to firmly mount the spindle to your Z axis. It also means you can reliably swap out the bearings if needed, for more accurate bearings too if you wish. A lot of the trimmers have plastic lower sections between the bearing and mount point which will flex to some degree when cutting which we don't want.

A Dewalt DW670 or the PC 7310 are both good bits of kit and are around $100. Both have 1/4" collets and 1/8" collets or adapters are availabe too so you're not limited by bit sizes.

Andrew

i think my router may not be able to take a laminate trimmer, its phoenix one of cranky's (kleinbauer's) designs

http://www.crankorgan.com/phoenix.JPG

Nope, 7/8 hp is way too much for that, design isn't stiff enough and it's axis movement wouldn't be fast enought for the cutter speed.

so a dremel would be best?

for those who said proxxon, have you used both? If so, are they better? It seems like they're harder to find.

Yes. I have used some Dremels and Proxxon IB/E. Proxxon runs more quetly and vibration free. It also has better speed control that holds RPM better under load.

However, I wouldn't recommend either one as CNC router spindle. More stiffness is necessary.

what would you reccomend for my small cnc router xerxes?

i'm using a roto zip copy i got from sear(craftsman) works so much better then a dremal and has 1/4 and 1/8 and the price was right like $40

what would you reccomend for my small cnc router xerxes?
Maybe some wood router would do. I have one like this:

http://www.yty.net/cnc/img_3138.jpg

Only problems are limited speed range (11000-27000 rpm) and noise.

I'm planning to use the proxxon BFW 40/E. It's a 250 Watt, 300 - 6k rpm motor. It comes with a speed controller and 6 collets and it's very quit.

I am using a GMC rotary tool. The great thing about it is, it's like a Dremmel, cost me AUS$40.00 and has a 2 year waranty. My first unit had a dicky speed regulator, the guys at the store swaped it out and I was off again the next night.

/M