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After searching the archives I noted that the PC 310 and a newer less expensive Bosch model seemed to well liked for binding channel routing with guide bushings.

I had had decided to pick up the PC 310 at the local Woodcraft but I had never seen one.

For some reason I was not able to find a PC 310 listed anywhere on the Woodcraft web site to make finding one in the store easier.

After picking up a few other things I found a PC 7310 which I thought was the 310 and bought it.

Some what coincidentally found an extensive review of 10 or so lam trimmers in a stack of Woodcraft magazines and I discovered they were two different models.....

So as one with no experience with lam trimmers or routing something as delicate, precise and "risky" as binding channels does or has anyone used the PC 7310 rather than the PC 310?

From the review the 7310 has a little less power, is a little taller and narrower and has a plastic housing above the plate rather than aluminium compared to the 310.

The 7310 did rate higher in one area with easy to use macro and micro adjustments in both verticle (depth) and horizontal planes.

Nothing has been opened yet so I can still return it but Woodcraft does not seem to carry the 310 for some reason.

Scooter, PC 7310 is what i have used for the last binding channels, it went really smooth, you have nothing to worry about, excellent tool for this application.

I have a 7310 and it feels like a quality tool. It was the same deal, at the same time I figured it was the 310 everyone talked about it, and it was on clearance at HD for $75.

Yesterday, I ordered a 310 to use with my new luthiertool binding jig which is on the way. (I'll post another thread sometime soon about my binding jig decision, after I made a stink about the luthiertool design in this thread.) I found it for $130 from Savannah Tool House which was the best price I could find on it. Amazon has it listed for $181.

I wanted to have a dedicated trimmer for the binding jig, and I'd read that the 7310 wasn't great for precise depth adjustments, and the 310 was supposed to be good for that.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Any high quality laminate trimmer will do the job just fine. After You reach a certain point it comes down to which details do you like. Just avoid the "bargain brands".

Al

I have both trimmers. I really like the 7310, so there should be no remorse in that purchase. However, the PC310 is a much better machine. It is rock solid, the adjustment is very fine and it is just built like a tank.

A couple of things that I like about the 7310 in certain situations are the square base. I like to slide this along a fence better than the 310's round footprint, and the base is a little smaller giving you a little more flexibility when your base will bump into something.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

i consider the 310 is a markedly superior machine. that being said, both will do the job.

310's are sometimes available nib on ebay for $125. i just bought another one, which was nos, last week with the now unavailable offset base for 122.50. the 7310 generally goes for about $75 nib on ebay.

and depite what a few others have said above, the 310 is not more powerful than the 7310. it is almost 30% less powerful being only a 4 amp motor as opposed to the 5.6 amps of the 7310.

I agree with what everyone alse has already said in this thread. I have both and probably use the 7310 more that I do the 310.

If you still want to get a 310, I found mine locally at one of the Steve's Warehouse stores. If you haven't been there yet you need to check them out.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I use the 7310 and it has worked fine. Much better than the routers I used to use. When I was looking I needed something fast as I had burned out my last router and the 310 couldn't be found locally (for me locally means with in a 4 hour drive ) and it would take a couple of weeks to get one in, So I got a 7310 and love it.

[QUOTE=Dave Rector] I agree with what everyone alse has already said in this thread. I have both and probably use the 7310 more that I do the 310.

If you still want to get a 310, I found mine locally at one of the Steve's Warehouse stores. If you haven't been there yet you need to check them out.[/QUOTE]

Thanks everyone sounds like the 7310 will be fine for me.

I have seen the local advertisements for Steves Wholesale Tools but none of them are on my usual beaten path and Woodcraft is. I have stopped by the one on 39th once.

Steves has had some good prices and specials advertised so I'm sure they will be worth going off the beaten path for some things.

I have both, also, and while the 310 is by far my favorite, I have the 7310 bolted permanently in the binding machine. I hate the height adjustment on the 7310(tons of slop and backlash...), but it gets by. The reason it gets used here is because of the smaller base, and that in fact, it has -more- power than the 310(which still has plenty).

Where the 310 shines is in absolute accuracy; lovely bearings, and a rock solid base that allows minute adjustment without slop.

The 310 reminds me of a Star Wars droid, therefore, it must be the better one.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I forgot to mention that my 7310 has been permanently attached to my Fleishman/Williams binding jig for a while now. Like Mario, my reason is the size seems just right for the binding machine.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

7310 is Great for hand held routing too, how about the weight difference guys, how both of them compare, which one is lighter?

[QUOTE=Don Williams] The 310 reminds me of a Star Wars droid, therefore, it must be the better one.[/QUOTE]

This is always an important consideration for me. I call my shop-vac "R2D2".

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/