Jammed router..!

[lkazista]

OK -

So my last major project that involved my router table was making up new custom casings for my dining room plate rail project. I probaly shoved 200 BF of lumber through an edge bead bit routed in the BT3100 table. I only have a Ryobi motor down there (the one from the 3 base combo kit that was popular a few years ago).

Anyway, after pulling off all of the featherboards, I discovered a massive amount of sawdust jammed down into the motor. Really an incredible amount, kinda can not believe that the motor didn't bonk down due to it.

I did everything that I could to clean it out, but the motor seems jammed into the D handle base that is mounted into the accessory table. I can not raise or lower the motor at all.

Has anyone else had this issue before? I figure I can't be the only slob when it comes to excessive sawdust buildup.

I am really at a loss as to how to proceed. I made up some 1/4 plywood "risers" to cut the profile that I needed, not exactly a precise way to mold wood.

Thanks chaps!

Lee

[leehljp]

Lee,

I took a large smooth sided PET bottle and cut it open, giving me about a 4 or 5 inches square plastic, and cut it round. I cut a 1 inch hole in the center and placed this over the shaft of the router. It makes chips fall away from the router under the router table.

This guard sits very loose but does protect from most of the direct falling chips. It does not keep keep it totally clean but does help.

[lkazista]

Hank,

Thanks for that tip. I will definately go that route, once I manage to free up the motor from the base.

I had never placed that many featherboards on the table before, but really felt that I needed them to get the molding to turn out OK. I guess they really held in all of that dust and let it pack up. It had NEVER been an issue for me in the past.

Thanks again, BTW-you spending the holiday in Japan?

Lee

[leehljp]

Hank,

Thanks again, BTW-you spending the holiday in Japan?

Lee

Unfortunately I am. LOML and I will be here while our girls and grandkids are in the States. However, our three girls have video Skype and we get to watch them with Santa and open presents. They also get to see us on Christmas Eve there, Christmas morning here, as we open our presents.

We will be back in the States for a month in March for a grandbaby to be born. We go back once a year for vacation and will retire in 2012 back to the States.

[JimD]

If you keep removing dust little by little you should get it to free up. Take off whatever you can to get access. Compressed air may help.

Jim

[gsmittle]

I've had the base sticking issue, too. Mine had nothing to do with sawdust--it was plain and simple just about impossible to remove the motor from the base. I ended up using my front vice to hold the motor, then took a LARGE pair of ChannelLocks to turn the depth ring on the base. It took quite a bit of torque to get the motor loose.

I've since "retired" the two fixed bases and use only the plunge base. And I'm shopping for a better router....

g.

[Larryl]

I've had the base sticking issue, too. Mine had nothing to do with sawdust--it was plain and simple just about impossible to remove the motor from the base. I ended up using my front vice to hold the motor, then took a LARGE pair of ChannelLocks to turn the depth ring on the base. It took quite a bit of torque to get the motor loose.

I've since "retired" the two fixed bases and use only the plunge base. And I'm shopping for a better router....

g.

Ditto, I ruined the two fixed bases trying to remove them and now just use the plunge base. For the money I like the router; soft start, variable speed. However, the next time I have a bunch of routing to do I will try to convince SHMBO that I need the Triton.