Official Luthiers Forum!

On Sale for only $19.99. I seem to remember someone commenting about this tool. Is it any good? If it is, you could buy several at this price, and leave them set up for various jobs.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I have three I use them in many process. No they are not a high end trimer and will wear out the bearings quickly but for the nasty jobs like bowl forming it allows me to keep my PC setup for bindings. I use them for a while on everything and they did ok but the bearings and brushes wear quick. but for 20 bucks what do you expect?

Thanks Michael!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

If it's the orange one then my opinion is that it's a POS. I had a real problem with one that couldn't hold the bit in the collett. The only problem was that I didn't find out about the defect until it was up to speed moving around the top when it decided to spit the bit! It only took a month for me to find the splinters and glue them back in place <G>!

...and I thought I was over the trauma until you just posted this...thanks Dave! <G>

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Dave it is the Chicago brand. I have a few of them and use them now in my binding rig and flush cut the top/back to sides. Work ok and really no problem. That said, going to spend the money on the PC310. I will keep the others. for $20 can let them wear out and replace cheap. Come with extra bushing if wear out. Have done 12 guitars on them and not wore out bushing yet. Think that is what John Hall has on his binding rig when sales it. Just like any of them, need to make sure things tight. The base and holder for adjustment up and down on rig is not very good plastic. I just make time to inspect before using and will do that with PC or any make though.

YIKES! I have a story sticking in my head about someone (improperly) using some type or cutter rated for drill press in a high speed (router type) application, and the cutter flew apart, one piece going through the operator.

Glad you didn't get hurt...I'm concerned even when operating safely and properly, that a product spinning at 30k rpm may fly apart. Not paranoid, just aware. Keeps me on my guard...

If you get one, check the acrylic base and make sure there are no little chunks of acrylic near the counter sunk screw holes on the bottom. I left a pretty nasty scratch on a cedar top that way once. Just file or chisel the chunk off. Other than that it seems to work fine.

i have one of the grey chicago trimmers. it has a three piece collet. holds bits well but makes changing bits a pain. i only use it in a dedicated, but lightly used general woodworking flush trimming jig where bit changing is not an issue. it performs adequately, but from the sound of it in operation would not be long lived in regular or heavy use. at the price one could consider it a disposable tool and replace as needed.

thanks everyone!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I have the orange one and hate the thing. The collet is off center and beat the heck out of the side of my guitar when routing for the binding, leaving a big groove where the bearing bashed against the side. Others have reported the same problem. I'm trashing the thing and moving on to a real tool.

David, I have both of the HF models. The orange ones are easier to adjust but the grey ones are built more solid. Having said that, I've been upgrading all of my laminate trimmers to the PC 7310 and 310. I now have 2 of each and am sure they will outlast me. This is another example of where I bought too many supplies too quickly at low cost and should have paced the purchases and bought better equipment. Hopefully by admiting this some of you other new builders won't make the same mistake. You live and learn.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA