Comments on: Grizzly’s Router Speed Control http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:25:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Benjamen Johnson http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-254056 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:28:15 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-254056 I haven't seen one. They're all pretty much the same. I think the theory is that you can temporarily run the router at full speed without losing your variable speed setting. You didn't hear it from me, but If I wanted to disable the full speed setting, I'd open up the speed controller and cut and cap the wires that attached full speed terminal of the switch. I haven’t seen one. They’re all pretty much the same. I think the theory is that you can temporarily run the router at full speed without losing your variable speed setting.

You didn’t hear it from me, but If I wanted to disable the full speed setting, I’d open up the speed controller and cut and cap the wires that attached full speed terminal of the switch.

]]> by: Randy http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-253491 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:58:21 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-253491 Is there a router (or motor) speed controller with only a variable switch and not a full/variable switch? Is there a router (or motor) speed controller with only a variable switch and not a full/variable switch?

]]> by: Toolaremia http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119780 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:48:24 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119780 Rick, Depending on the motor type, it might make it noisier by making the fan buzz. These things are basically pulse-width-modulators; they cut off the AC voltage for a variable period of each half-cycle of the AC waveform. That makes induction motors buzz. Still, wait for it to go on sale like Benjamen says, then try it for $10. Not a lot to lose. Rick,
Depending on the motor type, it might make it noisier by making the fan buzz. These things are basically pulse-width-modulators; they cut off the AC voltage for a variable period of each half-cycle of the AC waveform. That makes induction motors buzz.

Still, wait for it to go on sale like Benjamen says, then try it for $10. Not a lot to lose.

]]> by: Benjamen Johnson http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119768 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:07:17 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119768 Like all Harbor Freight merchandise, wait a few months and it will go on sale. I regularly see this speed control selling for $12.99 or even $9.99. I bought it for $9.99 about a year ago and it works just fine. I have it mounted to my router table, but I have used it on my imitation dremel. I really want to try it on my table saw to see if I can cut plastic sheets without burning, I just worry about my table saw drawing 20A and the HF model being 15A. Curiously, the fact that the Grizzly I posted is a 20A speed controller seemed to be lost in the editing department. I chose to write about this one because it was one of the few 20A models instead of 15A. Like all Harbor Freight merchandise, wait a few months and it will go on sale. I regularly see this speed control selling for $12.99 or even $9.99.

I bought it for $9.99 about a year ago and it works just fine. I have it mounted to my router table, but I have used it on my imitation dremel. I really want to try it on my table saw to see if I can cut plastic sheets without burning, I just worry about my table saw drawing 20A and the HF model being 15A. Curiously, the fact that the Grizzly I posted is a 20A speed controller seemed to be lost in the editing department. I chose to write about this one because it was one of the few 20A models instead of 15A.

]]> by: Rick http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119757 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:47:44 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119757 I have been thinking about getting one of these to slow down the speed of a fan at my desk so that it is silent, it is almost silent, just need to slow it down a bit. $19.99 from harborfreight: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43060 I have been thinking about getting one of these to slow down the speed of a fan at my desk so that it is silent, it is almost silent, just need to slow it down a bit. $19.99 from harborfreight: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43060

]]> by: Roscoe http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119720 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:22:50 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119720 Be careful- many modern consumer oriented routers are "soft-start" and won't work with a speed control. Make sure your router isn't soft-start before using with this, or you'll burn up your router motor quick. This is definitely the way to go if you have a high-end heavy duty router though. Be careful- many modern consumer oriented routers are “soft-start” and won’t work with a speed control. Make sure your router isn’t soft-start before using with this, or you’ll burn up your router motor quick. This is definitely the way to go if you have a high-end heavy duty router though.

]]> by: Brau http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119646 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:19:13 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119646 The start-up torque on my router always has me fearing I'll drop it. I may buy one of these just to avoid that. The start-up torque on my router always has me fearing I’ll drop it. I may buy one of these just to avoid that.

]]> by: PutnamEco http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119599 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 03:38:51 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119599 certainly a cheaper alternative than a variac. certainly a cheaper alternative than a variac.

]]> by: Stuart Deutsch http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119462 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:17:12 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/#comment-119462 Coincidentally, this should work great with the single-speed colt router that Amazon is offering for free with $350+ Bosch product orders. http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/17/dealmonger-free-bosch-palm-router-with-350-amazon-purchase/ Is there any reason why one shouldn't use this product for other types of motor-driven devices? Coincidentally, this should work great with the single-speed colt router that Amazon is offering for free with $350+ Bosch product orders.

http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/17/dealmonger-free-bosch-palm-router-with-350-amazon-purchase/

Is there any reason why one shouldn’t use this product for other types of motor-driven devices?

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