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Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
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Author:  Fred Tellier [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:37 am ]
Post subject:  Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
That's right, Amazon.com has this router on sale, unfortunately for myself and my fellow Canadians they won't ship to us, but for the USA guys its a great deal at 50% off.
http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-7310-4-Horsepower-Laminate-Router/dp/B0000222Z6/ref=pe_32240_14914700_as_txt_7/

They have quite a few other woodworking tools also reduced.

Fred
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
There are some good prices out there. I bought one a couple of weeks ago for $46.95. It didn't have anything with it, but I didn't need anything but the router. I have wrenches - all over the place!
Author:  John A [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
I was planning on picking up the Bosch Colt - how does this one compare ? I know the Colt has a micro adjust - does the PC have that as well ? The Colt is about 100 from the home centers with the edge guide.
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
The 7310 has an adjustment screw, but I don't know how accurate it is. I didn't find the Bosh one to be all that great either. Lots of slop. I think this one is that way too.
Author:  Howard Klepper [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
The height adjustment is not all that great, but the only one I've ever seen that was is the Porter 310. The 7310 is a nice, compact machine.
Author:  letseatpaste [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
The height adjustment is not fantastic, but it's workable. It's not really a micro-adjust. When you loosen up the base to adjust it, there's a lot of play in it. But if you turn the little adjustment dial a bit and tighten things back up you can make pretty fine adjustments. I use a 7310 for my luthiertools binding jig and it does pretty well. I picked up a 310 later on when I found a good deal on one, but the 7310 does well enough that I'm not planning on switching it out.
Author:  Dennis Leahy [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
I'll offer $0.02 and say that with the complete redesign of their 2400 laminate trimmer, the new Ridgid R2401 is now a clear contender for the best laminate trimmer for lutherie. I love most Porter Cable stuff, but the 7310 is very clunky to adjust the depth of the bit, and very difficult to assure that the base is 100% perpendicular to the bit - items that are critical for lutherie use. I left Menards and went into Home Depot to buy a Bosch Colt (thinking I might save 10%), but saw and checked out the Ridgid R2401 and walked out with one. Ignore the 2400 if you find one on sale or even a blowout sale, and spend the $99 for the R2401. If you think of Ridgid as being a "house brand" of Home Depot, well, it isn't.

I apologize if my post, denigrating the PC 7310 and lauding the R2401, is a turd in a punchbowl, but I have bought my share of poor quality to middle of the road tools, and get excited when I can share some news about a very good tool with good bang for the buck.

Dennis
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
I have a Rigid too, and it is nice, but it has it's drawbacks as well. I think mine may be the older model though, as it has no fine adjustment method.
Author:  Hesh [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
I hope that this blow-out pricing is not a prelude to dropping the model.... The PC-310 is a great laminate trimmer but not available anymore....

I have a couple of 7310's and they are fine if you dedicate them to a single task and don't mess with the adjustments after setting them correctly for the task at hand. This is the best price that I have seen on a 7310.

The colt a friend of mine purchased and his had .005 of runout which is far too much for what we do with these things. Might as well use a sloppy Dremel is .005 of runout is not a problem for you....

Good review on the Rigid Dennis. Isn't Rigid the brand with free forever replacement parts?

Good find Fred!!!
Author:  Dennis Leahy [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
WaddyThomson wrote:
I have a Rigid too, and it is nice, but it has it's drawbacks as well. I think mine may be the older model though, as it has no fine adjustment method.

Hi Waddy, yeah, next time you go to Home Depot, look the R2401 over, even if you're not in the market for buying. You'll see that a smart engineer (hey, they are not all smart beehive ), spent the time to start from scratch and redesign the unit. They should not have called it the 2401; they should have called it the 4800 or XIBL122 or something to make it obvious (by model number) that it is a completely new and different (and much better) tool than the 2400.

Dennis

p.s. Hesh: Yes, they have a "Lifetime Service Agreement."
Author:  Colin North [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
WaddyThomson wrote:
The 7310 has an adjustment screw, but I don't know how accurate it is. I didn't find the Bosh one to be all that great either. Lots of slop. I think this one is that way too.


Hi Waddy.
Just wanted to say, I think the colt is sold in UK as Bosch 600 palm router (in a binding jig) and I have no trouble setting depths to less than 0.1 millimeter. I don't open the clamp fully when adjusting, but open it just enough to to be able to adjust the setting with the other hand.
Just wondered what you were using it for?
Author:  Bob Shanklin [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 6:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
Dennis,

How is the depth adjustment as compared to the old Ridgid 2400? I found the 2400 to be poor in the adjustment category.

Bob
Author:  Dennis Leahy [ Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
bobalou95 wrote:
Dennis,

How is the depth adjustment as compared to the old Ridgid 2400? I found the 2400 to be poor in the adjustment category.

Bob

Bob, take a look at one, if there's a Home Depot nearby. It's completely different. There's now a thumb wheel - not perfect, but better than the other brands - up near the top of the sleeve. There's a quick-release clamp for the sleeve, which does not alter the depth or pitch of the base. That's key. With the quick release open, turn the thumb wheel to ride up and down the surface of a long screw. The follower piece that touches the adjustment screw threads is a tapped hemi-cylinder, and is spring loaded to keep it in contact as you use the thumb wheel. But when you want a gross adjustment, or just want to quickly move the base & sleeve to a position for bit changes, you can lift the spring-loaded follower and then the base/sleve moves easily. I think that part is pretty well engineered, and the only minor gripe I have is that the thumb wheel could have either been a bit larger, or could have had deeper furrows for knurling, to allow a better grip by the thumb or finger.

Further observations:

There is also an integrated LED light that shines down on the work near the cutter. Not bright enough to be terribly useful, but in that area where any tidbit of extra light is appreciated, it doesn't hurt.

They made the top of the unit flat, so you can stand it on its head (for bit changes or whatnot.) The body near the head is also squarish, so the whole unit does not roll when you're doing bit changes with it laying down.

Wrenches work well and work easily.

The collet sleeve is too small. That's the other deficiency, in my estimation. I had no bit slippage, but would prefer as much of the collet sleeve grabbing the bit as possible.

Soft start is nice. It also has variable speed, but I think for what most anyone does with laminate trimmers, full speed makes the most sense. Slower speeds make sense to me only on bigger routers, when using wide bits (like panel raising bits.) But maybe cutting through some specific materials, like plastics, slower speeds might make sense in a laminate trimmer.

The cord is nice and long, high quality rubber, and terminates in a plug with its own power LED - I guess a reminder that the router is "live" when you go to change bits, it might help you to remember to unplug it. Oh, I guess it would also quickly tell you if the circuit is hot or not.

Base plates (square and round included) are clear polycarbonate, and seem well made.

I haven't tried the edge guide, but it looks well made.

Comes in a "cute", zippered, canvas, lunch box kinda thing. Once you unpack it, it is difficult but not impossible to get the whole thing back in the case.

If you click on the image in this mini-review, you'll see a larger image to see the details well:
RIDGID’s New Palm Router...

Dennis
Author:  John A [ Tue Apr 13, 2010 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
Dennis Leahy wrote:
WaddyThomson wrote:
I have a Rigid too, and it is nice, but it has it's drawbacks as well. I think mine may be the older model though, as it has no fine adjustment method.

Hi Waddy, yeah, next time you go to Home Depot, look the R2401 over, even if you're not in the market for buying. You'll see that a smart engineer (hey, they are not all smart beehive ), spent the time to start from scratch and redesign the unit. They should not have called it the 2401; they should have called it the 4800 or XIBL122 or something to make it obvious (by model number) that it is a completely new and different (and much better) tool than the 2400.

Dennis

p.s. Hesh: Yes, they have a "Lifetime Service Agreement."




Dennis -

I purchased a Colt last night at Lowes - and this morning I walked into Home Depot to get some other stuff and I saw the Rigid - in my opinion - Much better than the Colt - I promptly returned the Colt and I have Rigid 2401 now. So I agree with your review.
Furthermore - there are threaded post holes in the body, to take thier straight edge guide. Well it looks liek it was made for the Wells Carol jig !! I am building my Wells Carol now and will be using the post holes in the body as part of it - will post pics when done.
Now I have to practice routing stuff as I have never used a router before. Argh...

OK - I will prob post pics of this in a separate thread - but here is my router circle jig in progress. As mentioned the Rigid makes this easier as it has threaded holes in the body and the rods are from the same Rigid straight edge guide.
I will post a write up - this is only about 85% complete -
Author:  John A [ Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
I need to put some thumb screws on it and some plexiglass as a base.
Author:  Dennis Leahy [ Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
Thanks, John. Your recognition of the superb adaptability of this laminate trimmer to a Wells-Karol type circle cutter rounds out the review for luthiers perfectly.

Dennis
Author:  double-a [ Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
Dennis
It seems H.Depot does not stock the 2401 in canada yet. Plenty of the 2400 tho. Maybe we could strike a deal?
Regards
Allen
Author:  Robert Renick [ Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
I just came across this laminate trimmer type tool, seems pretty appropriate for lutherie, plunge base included for $90 bucks. Mlcs is a good company but this seems too good to be true at the price. Any one have any experience with it?
Rob


http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite ... outer.html
Author:  John A [ Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
looks great as well as their other products ! please let us know how it works out -
Author:  Mike R [ Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
Fred,
Thanks for the "heads up" on this sale. I bought one. I have another, a Bosch Colt, but it is in a binding cutter jig. I need to have one to freehand when I need it.
Mike R.
Author:  rono [ Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
I went to check out the 2401 and came home with one. I also plan to make a circle jig for it. As stated earlier in the thread, this machine has some fantastic design points.
Author:  John A [ Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
rono wrote:
I went to check out the 2401 and came home with one. I also plan to make a circle jig for it. As stated earlier in the thread, this machine has some fantastic design points.



Let me know if you have questions on the jig.
Author:  PeterDeWitt [ Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
Another vote for the Rigid 2401.

Really nice new features.

Peter
Author:  Mike OMelia [ Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Porter-Cable 7310 Laminate Router 50% off
It always pays to check camelcamelcamel: http://www.camelcamelcamel.com/product/B0000222Z6

Looks like its been priced that way for a while. Also, no speed control. Me personally? I would rather pay a little more for the Colt and get speed control.

Mike
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