Death Of A Router

[cabinetman]

No, it's not a play or a book. Some tools die just because we kill them with use and abuse. Minimizing the abuse for a router would include regular maintenance. Routers that are used in tables, or upside down have the propensity to suck in debris. Removing the router regularly and blowing it out will help to keep dust and chips out of the motor. Sticking pointed objects into the motor openings to remove debris is not recommended.

Slow death may reveal itself by erratic start up, slow running, excessive slowdown under load, with variable speedup, and inordinate noises. Before going crazy, first clean out the motor with some air, and then check the brushes for excessive wear. They are inexpensive and easy to replace.
.

[Pappy]

Good advise, C-Man. Both of my mounted routers probably need to be cleaned. I blow them out often but have never turned them over for cleaning.

[JSUPreston]

Thanks for the advice. I have one of those $50 Craftsman routers in my table I've been trying to kill for years.

[eccentrictinkerer]

I recently had two deaths in my tool family. Both my Makita hammer drillls died on the same day.

My lightweight HD started spitting sparks and the chuck started coming apart at almost the same moment. I admit that expected too much work from this youngster (only 8 years old). It's now getting a much deserved rest.

I went back to the shop to get my old Makita (25+ years) out of retirement. Vitals were good-no sparks-sounded great. But I put a 1" auger bit in the chuck, but it just couldn't cut the mustard.

I was telling my friend, Ric, at the BORG Pro Desk, about my loss(s) when he pointed out a display model Hilti TE-2 on the counter for $114. I've had tool-envy for the Hilti stuff, but never could afford it.

The Hilti only accepts SDS bits, so I transplanted the old Makita chuck to an SDS adapter. The Makita is dead, long live Makita!

[leehljp]

For routers in table tops, I cut down a 2 liter PET bottle and cut a circle of about 4 inches with a one inch hole in the middle. I put this over the arbor shaft and it just floats there. It does keep a good bit of dust and chips out without restricting air flow.

[Bruce Cohen]

Cab,

Did you have the traditional 21 bit salute?

BTW, My DeWalt 14.4 sounds like it too is on its last legs, any suggestions?

Bruce

[Mr__Bill]

For routers in table tops, I cut down a 2 liter PET bottle and cut a circle of about 4 inches with a one inch hole in the middle. I put this over the arbor shaft and it just floats there. It does keep a good bit of dust and chips out without restricting air flow.

That's a good idea, I had been thinking of doing this but had not come up with a suitable material. I'll have to give that a try.

Bill, on the sunny (for now) Oregon Coast

[jseklund]

Cabinetman, Great advice. I was thinking of posting my own thread on a similar topic for the last couple days, but haven't had a chance. I recently had my less than 18 month old Dewalt 618 die on me. I was routing a 1/4" recess into some pine for shelving (so the plywood could sit recessed in the pine instead of on top). I had my dusk mask on and didn't smell anything funny, but when I took it off I smelled an electrical/chemical type fire smell. A few seconds later, I saw some smoke coming out of the motor. The router was dead.

I figured I would take it to Dewalt and have it warranteed, this was pine after all. Around here, the closest Dewalt Service center is 1 hour away. I was considering dropping it off at a local tool center, where they charge $30-40 and send it up to the Dewalt center, or mailing it myself- but I found some spare time on my hands last week. I drove an hour up, only to have the Dewalt Service Center person tell me that it was only warranteed for 1 year. I was positive it was 3-years, but he wouldnt' take it. I seethed on the hour ride back home. The next day, I called Dewalt directly, very upset about what had happened and my wasted trip. They told me it was indeed a 3-year warranty. I was PO'd at this point and said, "Well, it's an hour each way and I already went up there once, what can we do?"

The woman told me to hold on for one minute, then comes back and asks my address, which I give her. She tells me she is going to mail me a brand new router, and when I get it to just send mine back. I went from being about to write off Dewalt altogether to being happy again in a matter of 5 minutes- just because of the way she handled it. At 8 o'clock this morning, as I was leaving the house, I saw the router on my front door steps. Can't wait to get home and unpack it. I also thought people here should know about both the bad, and subsequent good/overall experience with the Dewalt Warranty.

I will make sure to take better care of the new router now that I know to clean it, etc.