Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi

I am setting up a workshop for guitar building. Can I use a laminate cutter for all cutting and routing jobs. I am thinking specifically binding - truss rod channel and neck joint?

Can you recommend a good Laminate Cutter?

Regards

John

If you can find one, a Porter CAble 310 is a favorite here. They are discontinued but a few are still around. They are simple and truly heavy duty. For acoustics, it will handle anything. One thing I discovered when I entered the electric world is that many more big power tools, especially routers, are essential to the inventory of tools. MT

Tools-Plus.Com still has some PC 310's as of today. I've bought two from them, love them. They are the only vendor online that I've be able to find that still has them in stock.

Rene

Thanks - I am checking if the 310 will work in the UK 220/240 Volt

John

Do you know if the 310 is compatible with the True Channel Binding rig from stew-mac ?

John

Look like the 310 is not a viable option when I add the postage and teh cost of a 500w 250 - 110 converter.

Is there anything else out there how about Makita or De Walt ?

John

I've got a Dewalt, it's good for laminate trimming and some other chores, but I found the depth adjustment a bit rough and sloppy especially for routing binding channels.
The Bosch Colt seems to popular around here, someone might give you some info on these.

Rene

Does anyone know how the Bosch Colt compares to the PC 310? Pros Cons?

I have both the Colt and the 310, as well a Hitachi trimmer and assorted routers. They trimmers are all nice tools, the 310 is probably the sturdiest of the lot and I prefer its height adjustment over the others.

If are in the UK you can probably get a second hand 230 / 110 V "site transformer" inexpensively. I have a 3.3 KW I think, bought from the UK for next to nothing. Shipping to Norway was another matter of course, for you that might not apply. With the transformer you can use many tools otherwise only available in the US, and they often have much better prices than us Europeans (and you can exploit the current weak $ exchange rate ).

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

This is the absolute Gospel... Ask 10 guys what their favorite trimmer/router is and you are going to get 10 answers. I love the Bosch Colt, others hate it. I loved my small Black and Decker router but they quit making it. One night Bill O'riley is giving someone a free pass, the next night he's killing them. Know what I mean. Do a little research and buy what you like. Every review is subjective and opinionated.

Dave

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God, Family, Carreer

I have both. I do electrics and a full size router is need for that job.

Bosch Colt!

I say both. Mount the router in a router table and use flush trim bits for making moulds and such from a pattern of the plantilla you make by hand. If you make an accurate pattern of the inside and outside shape of the guitar you are all set to make exact reproductions for bending forms and what ever.

I have a Rigid laminate trimmer and the only thing I do not like is the top is not flat so you cannot place it up side down on the bench. I also had to cut and file the base to make it work for rosette cutting. I think the little Bosch one needs no modification.

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