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- 30 Mar 2004
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Hello, I'm afraid my first post here consists of me asking for a load of advice. 
My carpentry skills are woefully basic. I can make plain skirting and do basic boxwork, but I'd like to be able to make detailed skirting, dado, coving, shelves etcetra, so I'm going to get into routing.
So then, I've got a number of questions, and if anyone reading this is able to answer one or more of them I'd greatly appreciate it.
1. How much of a hassle is routing without a table?
2. I've got two bog-standard workbenches - could they be used instead of a router table if I put a board across them? Is a flat elevated surface enough to constitute a basic router table?
3. Given the stuff I'd mainly be doing (skirting, dado, coving), which router bits would I: a) need b) find useful but not essential ?
4. When I buy a power tool I nearly always choose either Makita or DeWalt, as it makes sense in the long run to get the best. I've noticed though that there is a company called Trend which seems to specialize in router technology. Would anyone recommend them over the other two brands?
5. I've been thinking about getting a cheap Ferm 1/4 collet router (£30) before investing in a top brand, so that I can try it out and see if routing is for me. Has anyone used a dirt cheap router before, and if so did you find any major disadvantages to such?
Many thanks in advance.
My carpentry skills are woefully basic. I can make plain skirting and do basic boxwork, but I'd like to be able to make detailed skirting, dado, coving, shelves etcetra, so I'm going to get into routing.
So then, I've got a number of questions, and if anyone reading this is able to answer one or more of them I'd greatly appreciate it.
1. How much of a hassle is routing without a table?
2. I've got two bog-standard workbenches - could they be used instead of a router table if I put a board across them? Is a flat elevated surface enough to constitute a basic router table?
3. Given the stuff I'd mainly be doing (skirting, dado, coving), which router bits would I: a) need b) find useful but not essential ?
4. When I buy a power tool I nearly always choose either Makita or DeWalt, as it makes sense in the long run to get the best. I've noticed though that there is a company called Trend which seems to specialize in router technology. Would anyone recommend them over the other two brands?
5. I've been thinking about getting a cheap Ferm 1/4 collet router (£30) before investing in a top brand, so that I can try it out and see if routing is for me. Has anyone used a dirt cheap router before, and if so did you find any major disadvantages to such?
Many thanks in advance.