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Has anyone seen or used the new MPower Router Base?
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Author:  Leftyprs [ Tue Jan 01, 2013 2:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Has anyone seen or used the new MPower Router Base?
I've been looking to buy a new router base jig for a few weeks now, and I was getting ready to order the Cochran Router Base when I saw the new MPower Router Base on Rockler's website for $79. It claims to fit any router, and has a very cool micro adjusting knob that would come in handy for lots of tasks including cutting rosettes. It also has an optional edge trimming kit for $29, that looks like it could possibly be used for routing binding channels with the added guide bearing running along the sides of the guitar to reference the angle of the cut along the edge. It looks like it could work very similarly to the binding cutting jig from Luthier Tools, except for the extra bearing that rides below. Here are a couple quick YouTube video overviews of it. Please let me know what you think about this being used to cut binding channels. I already went ahead and ordered mine for all of the other tasks it performs around the shop including the micro adjustable circle cutter, so if the edge trim kit accessory ends up working well for binding channels, that's just a bonus.

Thanks,

Brad

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page ... te=ROCKLER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oArUu7-t ... ata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDLUoBOn ... ata_player
Author:  bertoncini [ Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Has anyone seen or used the new MPower Router Base?
Looks like it may work well for some things, but in my opinion would not be better than either the Bishop Cochran base and the attachment makes too much contact with the guitar top and it would not allow for the top and back radius. The Luthiertool base only make contact with a small portion of the edge allowing for the radius.

I have both the Bishop Cochran base and two Luthiertool bases (one set for binding and other for purfling) and they work very well.
Author:  Leftyprs [ Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Has anyone seen or used the new MPower Router Base?
bertoncini wrote:
Looks like it may work well for some things, but in my opinion would not be better than either the Bishop Cochran base and the attachment makes too much contact with the guitar top and it would not allow for the top and back radius. The Luthiertool base only make contact with a small portion of the edge allowing for the radius.

I have both the Bishop Cochran base and two Luthiertool bases (one set for binding and other for purfling) and they work very well.


Assuming your router/trimmer already has a plunge base that will mount to the MPower unit giving you that capability, what feature/features does the Bishop Cochran base offer or do better than the MPower? I really like the Cochran base features that can give your laminate trimmer or Dremel plunge capabilities, and I especially like the micro adjustments that can be made to cut very accurate rosette channels. The only reason I hadn't bought it before I ordered the MPower, was the lack of trimmer/router options that were compatable with the bases currently offered.
Author:  bertoncini [ Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Has anyone seen or used the new MPower Router Base?
I too like the rosette capabilities and that is mostly what I use it for. Mine is the one for a Porter Cable 310 which is no longer available. Not sure what routers it is available for now. Looks like the MPower uses a full size router...I prefer the Laminate Trimmer. I may be biased as I have used mine for some time now and it is difficult to see a different way of doing the same operations. The Bishop Cochran Base is extremely well made and is just kinda cool to look at also. I don't think a dremel is a very good choice over a lam trimmer
Dave
Author:  Leftyprs [ Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Has anyone seen or used the new MPower Router Base?
The MPower is said to be compatable with all laminate trimmers and full size routers. The Cochran is a better looking jig, but to get one that mounts to a laminate trimmer on their limited list of compatable models besides a Dremel, the price is $269 + $15 for plunge springes, and another $15 for circle cutter attachment that will cut a radius small enough for guitar rosettes. The MPower does all of the same tasks + several more for about $200 less, and is compatable with infinitely more trimmer/router models.

On another subject, how do you like the Luthier Tool Binding Channel Cutter? It looks like a really nicely designed tool that gets excellent results, and I'm likely going to order one this week.
Author:  bertoncini [ Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Has anyone seen or used the new MPower Router Base?
The Luthiertool base works very well. I like the fact that you use a 1/4" downcut rather than a large bit...seems much less risky to me too. It is easily adjustable and fairly stable. I like the fact the guitar body stays put and router is moved. The only thing that can be done if you are not careful to keep bearings against body you can damage the binding or purfling slot. Little practice helps with this.

I watched the videos of the MP base and may have to order one for other kinds of projects. Let me know about it if you order one.
Dave
Author:  Barry Daniels [ Wed Jan 02, 2013 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Has anyone seen or used the new MPower Router Base?
The MPower is just a base plate. This is not a plunge base.
Author:  Leftyprs [ Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Has anyone seen or used the new MPower Router Base?
Barry Daniels wrote:
The MPower is just a base plate. This is not a plunge base.


I understand that. It's made for use with a plunge router.
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