I hope your lead up to the holidays is going smoothly, or at least smooth enough!
I hope someone can help us with this issue with my router. About 3 weeks ago, the router was “clicking” and sparking. My husband changed the brushes and all was good.
And in just 3 weeks, it started happening again. My husband opened the router again and the brushes were destroyed. I’ve never had to change them out so soon.
Well, when it was turned on, the sparking was still happening. I have a video, but I don’t know how to upload it.
I wasn’t working on anything other than what I usually do. Nothing aggressive.
Can anyone offer any insight on what could be the problem? Or do I need a new router? This one is approximately 2 years old and I use it pretty frequently.
Are you cutting any materials now that you didn’t do much before? Anything that might create particularly abrasive dust?
Does you dust collection setup seem effective?
Thank you for answering. It’s the same pine we’ve been doing for years. He also cleaned the router with compressed air where the brushes go and where the vent is. We only contour the wood.
We have the same setup we’ve had for the last 4 years. I have started cutting sheets of PVC lately, but it’s here and there. Could that be it? I’ve been doing the PVC for about 6 months now.
We only use it at the “3” speed, but when Tom turned it up to 4 just to see, it started to vibrate. Again, this is the first time this has ever happened.
We’ve replaced the router once…about 2 years in. Two years ago.
It could also be a worn, damaged or dirty commutator. This is the surface the brushes ride on. If it’s in rough shape you will burn through brushes very fast.
You can get a replacement kit for the insides of the router pretty cheaply. It includes the armature, bearings and everything you need. Search online for the replacement kit for the equivalent makita router.
Hi Jeff - thanks so much! That sounds right to me, actually. Especially, that it is about exactly 2 years we replaced the original 2 years before that.
Again, we use it A LOT. It makes sense that it kind of just was done.
I very much appreciate you taking the time to let us know. Have a wonderful holiday!
FWIW, C3D is selling their ER-11 version of the router for $120, with both ¼" and ⅛" collets included. The ER-11 collets are vastly superior to even the Makita precision collets in my experience (which I admit is limited).
The C3D router is a clone of the Makita 701 router. Both of these models have issues with the lower bearings failing and the brushes wear out very fast, not as fast as you had. If you are running production maybe it is time to upgrade to a spindle. You might get a Makita for a temporary replacement but long term you should invest in a spindle.
Ho Ho Ho Christmas is almost here just 12 more days so I better get cracking.
I think that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Get the Makita today and eventually go to a spindle. I’ve been eyeing spindles for a while, but I need something that can get this up and running today.
That does look like a good deal, but I need something literally today. I’m already backed up on orders. This is pretty much the worst time for this to be happening! Of course!
Note that Amazon delivery dates are contingent on geography — in this case, if you live near an Amazon Warehouse which has that item in stock, and if it is not overly busy, and if the next few vans scheduled to leave that warehouse and deliver in your neighbourhood are not full, then same-day will probably be offered.
For me, the first would not be delivered until the 17th, while the second could be delivered tomorrow morning.
Yeah, it’s hard this time of year to ensure quick delivery, although if you do a search (like “65mm diameter trim routers”) you can then filter on delivery day.
While living in NorCal is great for Amazon deliveries, it positively sucks for garage sales and Craigslist things like buying an old DeWalt radial arm saw, or whatever “they don’t make 'em like they used to” cast iron tools.
Amazon has let me down a few times. I was cutting some puzzles and broke a .125" bit that was a downcut. I only had an upcut .125" bit and that left a rough edge on top. I ordered a couple of down and up cut bits from Amazon on Monday. Amazon promised Tuesday deliver. I started to wait till I got the downcut bit and forged ahead. Then Amazon sent an email saying they were delayed and promised Thursday. Then Thursday they emailed again saying Saturday. Now it is Sunday and no bits. Luckily I got my projects cut even with the rough top layer and after a lot of extra sanding it was good. Later today I will just request a refund from Amazon. This is not the first time Amazon promised next day only to deliver days later. I have a distribution center in Shreveport LA but Amazon seems to lie a lot about delivery. Lately it is an Amazon delivery and I no longer get them from UPS or USPS from Amazon.
I once got a router from harbor freight, fits in nicely. And lasted also few weeks of hard work until the spindle arrived and was set up. That day there was no fitting one available at Ace, HomeDepot or Lowes.
