Tool Gloat? Router Crafter

[spf45]

I was taking a walk with my wife this morning when I passed one of the millions of garage sales taking place. I found a Craftsman Router Crafter, which I always see on ebay. I've always wondered about these things, they look interesting, but I haven't been willing to pay the price I've seen on the auctions just to mess around and experiment.

Anyway, I asked how much they wanted for it at the garage sale, and was told $3.00. $3.00! I carried the thing home--about a mile and a half. It is pretty light unless you have to carry it through town. The only problem is it has no manual. At the same time, I don't think I can beat the price.

My wife is sick of me talking about my great find, so I thought I'd mention it here.

[lcm1947]

Heck even if it doesn't run for $3.00 it's a heck of a deal. I'm not familiar with that one is it supposed to be pretty good?

[spf45]

Heck even if it doesn't run for $3.00 it's a heck of a deal. I'm not familiar with that one is it supposed to be pretty good?

I don't think it's a high precision tool, but it should be good enough for me. It is essentially four chrome "closet rods", a router base that slides on one of the rods, and a lathe-like mechanism. It has a cable that allows a person to cut spirals: as you turn the crank that turns the wood, the cable moves the router base along the length. This feature can be disabled.

I think I may have invented the "need" after I saw the tool, but I have been wondering how to cut a rounded surface on only part of a piece of wood. in other words, how can I cut a rounded surface on 180-270 degrees vs. the whole 360? I think this will do it easily.

I've seen examples in books showing how to build something like this or how to place a router over a lathe. Trying this will be much easier. I tried to attach a picture; hopefully, I was successful.

[25]

A website dedicated to this device:
http://twistedtimber.net/

Seems it can make some interesting cuts.

[bigsteel15]

A website dedicated to this device:
http://twistedtimber.net/

Seems it can make some interesting cuts.

Very cool!!
Have to keep me eyes open for one of those.

[spf45]

Very cool!!
Have to keep me eyes open for one of those.

You are from Edmonton? I've been through Edmonton a few times on my way to fishing destinations. I love it up there. It didn't seem to ever get very dark, but I guess that evens out in the winter.

I noticed that a place called House of Tools has something called a "Canwood Universal Router Lathe" that is a similar idea. It's just over $100 new. I don't know anything about Canwood tools or what a person gets for $100, but it might be something worth looking at, just to see how it works if nothing else. It is also on the House of Tools web page.