Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Long time user of Amazon, first time reviewer.
I was a little ashamed to get the table/router combination after reading Bill Hylton's revised & updated, "Woodworking with the Router". Excellent book - it encourages the user to make his own router table - as he points out, what decent woodworker wouldn't want to. However, after reading the book, I realized that my planned work would require a large plunge router for mortising and at $349 for the router alone, the table was only $150 more. I would have had to shell out more than that for materials and a decent fence - and the router does have a lot of attractive features, including above the table adjustment, which the table should support.
I had read so many great things about Freud that I had high expectations. Small problems started on the front porch where washers fell out of the box, which had been previously opened. I retraced the steps of the delivery man and gathered all the fallen bits. To my surprise nothing was missing. As I laid out the parts, I was surprised that what were called carriage bolts in the directions were not actually carriage bolts and lock washers were not actually lock washers. The metal base was sturdy but crude and did not have good fit. Nonetheless, it all went together and I carefully drilled and mounted the table top. A quick check with a level showed it bowed in the center (this is bad). I called Freud Customer Service and they were helpful. Since the bow appeared to be in excess of 1/8", they agreed to exchange it but there would be a 2-week delay as they were out of tops and the new top may also bow (but hopefully less than 1/8"). I suggested gluing/screwing a piece of cut-out ¾" plywood on the bottom. Customer Service checked with Technical Support and gave me the green light but suggested that I omit the glue in case I needed to return the top. After this fix, the top was level.
Instructions for the fence were incomplete. Basically, assemble as per drawing. The insert plate is sturdy and the fence was well calibrated. It is kind of hard to set-up because it locks into one of three basic settings - so if the setting you choose first does not turn out to work well, you have to remove the fence and reset it.
One aspect made me wonder if this is a beta version. While there is a nice set-up in the insert plate for making above the table depth adjustments, the wing nuts that hold the Plexiglas shield are in the way. You have to remove the shield to make the adjustments. Is this easier than stooping over and adjusting from under the table or are you just supposed to leave the shield off until you have made your test cuts and everything is set right?
Last are the surplus parts. It is always disconcerting to assemble something and then find unused bits and pieces - like a Plexiglas shield that I still can't figure a use for.
Anyway, like I said, I expected Outstanding from Freud but got Good instead.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Freud RTS5300 Router/Table Combo Package with FT3000VCE Router, SH-5 Micro-Adjustable Fence, Aluminum Insert Plate and 16-Gauge Steel Stand
The RTS5300 includes Freuds state of the art FT3000VCE 3.25 HP VS Router and RT50000 Precision Router Table. Freuds New RTS5220 Router Table and Fence Combo package makes it easy to set up a professional router table system. For one price you receive the Freud FT3000VCE Router, SH-5 router table fence, sturdy leg system, table top, and aluminum router insert plate. The included, award winning FT3000VCE 3-1/4 HP Variable Speed Plunge router features easy, precise height adjustment and plenty of power for the most demanding jobs. The 31-1/2" x 23-1/2" x 1" table top, constructed of high pressure laminate with MDF core, provides stability for large projects and its 3/4" aluminum T-track accepts standard miter gauge and accessories.The large 9" x 12" Router Insert Plate has snap-in reduction rings and a starter pin.Also included is the new SH-5 Premium Router Table Fence System with micro-adjustability for precise positioning of the in-feed and out-feed fences and built-in dust collection port. 3 and 1/4 horse power FT3000VCE - 31/4 HP VS Router.Motor: 3-1/4 HP, 15 amp, 120V, 1,900 W.Speed Range: 8,000-21,000 RPM.Electronic Soft Start.Collet Diameter of1/4 inch, to 1/2 inch.Plunge Capacity: 2 - 9/16 inch.Base Diameter 7- 1/2 inch.Weight: 13 lbs. RT50000 - Precision Router Table had a table height of 32 - 38 inches.Top Dimensions are 31-1/2 x 23-1/2 x 1 inch.Fence has dual micro-adjustable sides.
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