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March 2002 |
Cordless Router
 The
world’s first cordless router is finally here. Powered
by a 19.2 V nicad battery pack and motor, the Porter-Cable 9290
spins at 23,000 rpm, is well-balanced, surprisingly lightweight
and relatively quiet at 91 dB.
Although the manufacturer’s
promotional material says it performs like a 1 1/2 hp router,
the official 600-watt rating of the 9290 corresponds more closely
to a corded router drawing 5 amps, translating roughly to 3/4
hp. At about $350, the 9290 offers suprisingly good value thanks
to industrial design features. The router uses the legendary
swivelling fixed base pioneered by Porter-Cable decades ago,
and is interchangeable with all preceding bases of this type.
The 1/4”-dia. collet that comes with the machine is removable,
too—a feature that any industrial-strength router should
have. You’ll find the diagnostic features of the one-hour
battery charger handy.
The 9290 probably won’t serve
well as a first router because of its relatively low power,
but as a second machine it’s hard to imagine a more convenient
and capable tool.
—Steve Maxwell |
 Illuminating
Idea
Makita has recently unveiled two new 7 1/4" circular saws,
the 5007FK and the 5007FAK (with electric brake). These two
new saws have many of the same features as Makita’s popular
5007NB, with the addition of a small light that illuminates
the line of cut for increased accuracy in low-light or shadow.
The light itself is built into
the saws housing so it doesn’t obstruct conventional sighting
of the line of cut in any way and it also has a switch so it
can easily be turned on or off as needed.
A new 15-amp motor delivers 5,800
rpm for good cutting performance when making crosscuts or ripping
through dimensional lumber. The saws all have ball-and-needle
bearings and a centrifugal fan for efficient cooling, which
adds to their life.
The handle features an AC/DC switch
for use with alternative power.
Both models come standard with
a thin kerf carbide-tipped blade, rip fence, wrench and tool
case.
—Douglas Thomson |
Powered Handsaw
 The
new Navigator powered handsaw by Black & Decker is a neat
and easy-to-use tool. It’s designed like a traditional
handsaw in terms of look and function, but it cuts much faster.
By attaching a specially designed
jigsaw blade, the saw also converts from handsaw to jigsaw in
just a few seconds (you can make the blade change without any
tools). As a jigsaw, it can cut shapes and rounded work pieces
that the regular blade can’t make.
While it’s not likely to
replace your circular saw anytime soon, if you’re a new
woodworker and you haven’t learned to handle a circular
saw yet, or you happen to use a conventional handsaw a lot,
this may be a good tool for you.
The saw has a compact design with contoured handle and soft
grip for added comfort. It has a 3.4-amp motor, a stroke length
3/8" and has a variable speed of 0 to 6,500 strokes per
minute.
The Navigator comes equipped with
three blades, a standard wood-cutting blade, a metal-cutting
blade, and jigsaw-style blade for cutting curves.
—Douglas Thomson, photo by Simon Cheung
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