Idle (off-piste) thought on Die Grinding...

[GRW]

Maybe not such a grand idea overall then is the majority view..... but that's why I asked

 

[Onoff]

I have the small Trend router (T3?) too with a reasonable collection of carbide burrs. I used it a few times now for opening up holes in panels for meters, big connectors etc. A bit interesting if the burr decides to rattle round the hole, no limbs lost, yet! All in all I find it a very useful bit of kit.

P.S. I woiuldn’t want to try the same stunt with the 1/2 Trend router though!!

We used to use a small Bosch 230V, 1/4" router as a die grinder on site. Ditched the base, used hand held.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I was using a meaty Makita leccy Die Grinder (works, not mine) for the first time y-day. What a tool with 6mm shank Carbide Burr in it!

I was needing to open out some holes to accept a larger item, and keep the shape etc..... and it occurred to me that it'd be a lot easier with the grinder held fast, and able to hold the workpiece.

I suddenly thought about my high speed wood Router, mounted in a Router Table - and it dawned on me that the collet size is the same on both, while a Router has the speed and plenty of power.

Is it a mental (or lethal) idea to think of using a carbide burr in the Router for freehand shaping bits of metal? (I can see the potential pitfalls of kicking etc)?

For opening up holes step drills work well.

Or hole saws if it's a lot.

No real difference between a die grinder and a router. But I'd be concerned about freehanding a metal sheet around a router table.

 

[Agroshield]

Does a wood router have the dust protection that a die grinder would?

You could fabricobble a margarine tub with a 6mm hole cut in it as a shield/umbrella. Somewhat similar to the shield you can buy to collect the water dust when holesawing for downlights.