It was definitely a weekend revolving around the new tool (understandably), from the pickup/delivery organising on Friday, the assembly (and getting it into the shed) Saturday, and commissioning it with some real tasks on Sunday.
If you were wondering how I was going to fit a 2.5m x 1m tool in my workshop, well, you were not the only one! With a large pry bar! Archimedes once remarked (paraphrasing) that with a firm place to stand he could move the Earth (with a long-enough lever that is).
Makin' a Hole
Clearing space was a combination of moving the jointer to where the router table was, removing the corner bench and in future the sanders will (potentially) be on roll-outs from under the Torque, and the router table met an untimely end, with the top being amalgamated with the TWC. A hole was born.
The Torque arrives in its new home
I did try the TWC along the back wall, but lost too much access around the unit. The MDF top has yet to be added – will do so some time this week.
That 1300mm arm is huge – I’m going to fit the 600mm (or 900mm) arms for the majority of the jobs, and the 1300 will get used only when I need that much extension. For some workshops it probably would remain, but that is the one compromise on space I will have to make. Sure looks nice here (by the end of the weekend it sure ended up rather dusty!)
Adding the Router Table
Here I have added the router table (with Incra Positioner/Fence) to the end where there is some dead space (because of the way the tools are carried on the left side of the arm), so this really utilises that area. I’ve moved the bandsaw further back so I have adequate access to the router table, and it isn’t hard to swing the entire unit out from the wall if I need more in-feed area. Since this photo, I have also replaced the first module of the top with a plain cast-iron wing – it won’t be a two-router table now (well it is, but one is overhead), and I’ve shortened the cast iron top to 3 wings from the original 5. The MDF of the rest of the bed will be at the same height, so there is no shortage of area for the positioner now! At 2.5m long, this may be the largest router table in the world!
The clamp roof
The clamp wall was a problem, both getting access to the clamps, and also having them interfere with the X axis of the TWC, so they have been moved to the roof. If the clamps are any good, then it won’t be a problem where they are! Added benefit – partway through a clamp-up, if I need another I just reach up!
Temporary Triton Mount
One minor glitch I had (and it will be rectified by the end of the week), is the router mount had support posts for a Makita (I think), and not the Triton – the Triton needs both a larger diameter and a longer post. Converting the Triton to fit the table took a few seconds, as did reverting it back to standard operation. I was surprised just how easy it was – a single circlip. So that I could make use of the router before the parts arrive, I added the old Triton quick-release plate from the original Triton router table. The setup is rather flimsy like this, but it got the job done.
Oven Doors
First job was the oven doors for the kid’s kitchen – setting the stops for the size of the opening, then routing it out. I also used the same method for cutting hinge mortises.
Oven Shelf
The second job was creating the shelf in the oven. Rather than just a plain shelf, I didn’t want the inside of the oven to look like a cupboard, so I cut parallel slots through using a 1/2″ straight router bit, and moved the whole setup 30mm for each pass. Again, something that could have been done other ways, but this was a very simple (and accurate) method. It’s like using a machine with a built-in, adjustable jig.
So that was all I had time for in the end, but already it has been demonstrating for me just how functional the concept is.
Filed under: Manufactures and Suppliers, Tools, Wooden Toys Tagged: | Clamps, Hole, Oven, Quick Release, Router, Routing, Shelf, Torque, Triton, TWC
Stu I really like the look of this thing. It seems to be quite revolutionary. Can you explain the process of cutting the slots for the oven shelf a bit more. How does it moved exactly 30mm each time? do you have to measure if or is there a way to set it to move exactly that amount each time?
Thanks, love the blog.
Sure, no problem Tom!
First, the shelf is mounted securely to the TWC top (this will be much easier when I have a full MDF top, and even better if I get the Walko clamps). I then mounted the required router bit – a 2 flute straight cutter in this case. I did try a spiral bit, but it had huge amounts of tearout in MDF. They work so well in timber, not so well in MDF! A down-spiral would have been better.
Next, by lining up with the edge of the work, I set the maximum plunge with the plunge stop so the router bit just broke through the project, into the sacrificial base.
Then, the X axis stops were set, so the X axis is limited to the length of the slots.
I then chose the location of the first slot, locked the Y axis, and ran the bit the length of the slot, plunged deeper, cut again, plunged full depth and did the final pass (took seconds each pass).
I then used a 30mm block as a spacer, and set the Y axis stop 30mm from the carriage. With that stop locked, I then moved the carriage up against that stop, and again locked the Y axis. Cut the second slot. Rinse and repeat until all slots were cut.
The entire top took perhaps 5 minutes? And at no stage did I feel any degree of concern over safety. A lot better than dropping each one on top of a rotating router bit which on a router table would have been how this was done, then pushing the work through against the fence and over the bit.
Using the combination of carriage lock, x axis lock and the x, y and z axis stops provides so much control, and accurate positioning. The Y axis stops also have adjustable bolts for micro-adjusting the stop position. It has an added benefit that it is dimensionless woodworking – I didn’t have to measure an actual distance – using a spacer provides absolute accuracy, and repeatability.
Hi Stu,
We don’t have anything quite like this available in the UK so, I’ll be following your posts on this with interest!
It looks like a safer way of doing all those jobs on the router table which would require you to ‘drop on’ at the start of a cut! I bet it’s more accurate than using a jig some times as well.
What’s the dust extraction like? I assume you still have to use the port on your router?
Olly.
Only point to correct you on Olly – you do have this available to you – the guys at Torque will ship these units world-wide. It costs about $300 or so (have to check the invoice) to ship it across Australia, $500 to the USA (door to door, although hopefully they don’t expect you to have a forklift in your backyard!!). Not sure what it is to the UK, but it’d be worth asking if someone was keen.
Contact http://www.lazylarrywoodworks.com.au/ – he can get all the pricing etc you need, and is also the first owner of a TWC in Australia (liked it so much he became a distributor). While there, check out his latest, round trivet, with a thin ring of feature purpleheart. I saw/photographed it partway through, and it looks even better finished!
The dust extraction is pretty good (even better with the Triton) – there is an optional dust extraction connection that I will feature in the next week or so, which collects from directly around the router bit. Sure it will be the feature of a video or so – dust extracting from the Torque.
As far as having to “drop” your work on top of a bit at the start of a cut – well that is the last time I’ll have to do that again! (never say never) – the TWC is ideal for that sort of stopped dado, such as a mortise.
Thanks for the interest – it is always fun exploring the capabilities of a new tool, and that rockets exponentially when it is one with limitless potential.
Fantastic to see you have the TWC in action Stu, had hoped to see Larry and the TWC at the Bundy wood show but alas he went to Brisbane instead, couple of good reasons too, next time maybe. Please keep up the posts on the TWC it looks a fantastic piece of kit and apary from seeing what Larry does with his I am interested to see what you turn out, and so far looking great.
regards
Bill
Sorry Bill, It was a toss up… Bundy or the younger brothers 50th birthday.. had a good time there but I think Bundy may have been a good run too. I will definitely be there next year… keep looking and watch what Stu gets up to..
Thanks for that Stu. It was the spacer block bit that I couldn’t visualise. Fantastic piece of kit. Would also be interested in UK shipping prices. Tho this really would not fit into my workshop
There are other options – such as the 1.5m table, or even the Router Master, which can be upgraded to a Torque Workcentre at a later date (as many current owners of Router Masters are now doing). You loose the X Axis motion, but everything else is common to both machines.