Official Luthiers Forum!

Like others, I use a Dewalt 611 trimmer for routing bridge slots. It's dark in there! It's got some nicely positioned L.E.D. lights but they only come on when the motor is turning. That's a little late to see where your cutting! It's kind of annoying, I still have to use a little flashlight to see what's going on.

I'm a little Chicken to tear into it. I've got primitive electronics skills but I'm curious if anyone else has thought about it, tried it, want's to try it, or thinks it might be doable?

This seems a very reasonable request. My recent purchase of two makita drills come with LEDs that come on before motor spins. And stays on for a bit after. Lots of time you need the light before the work. Seems you'd need a different kind of switch.

Duct tape flashlight to router?
Frees up a hand...

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Keep us posted David because this would be an excellent enhancement to the Collins Saddle Mill too. The laser can be turned on and off independent of the router but the router lights being independent of the router's motor would be a very useful upgrade.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

Thanks guys.
Think I'll go for the combo. Tape on the flashlight and the mining helmet for protection if it rattles into the cutter.

Good job you have a sense of humour!
I would imagine if you can just wire the light circuitry direct to the supply, not through the "on" switch, that would work.
I have seen tiny flexible torches (stand alone) like this but even smaller which can be just pushed in to a suitable hole.
This is about circa 20 cm minimum length but have not been able to source them in UK, can't quite remember where.
Wanted one for my wells carol circle jig.
It was tool related, something like a precision router?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Found it -Microfence http://microfence.com/micro-plunge-c-73.html
But can't source that small gooseneck light.
Closest I've seen is this. - 1 AAA battery, but again can't source here.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Thanks for the effort Colin. The Ace hardware is the very one I've been holding in my mouth!
It's kind of embarrassing.
After realizing the built in lights actually didn't highlight my pencil line very well, it hit me. My Rigid trimmer had a base that was open on both sides. The Dewalt base casting is solid on the back, blocking the light. I pulled out my cordless and drilled a couple of angled holes in the base and BAM! instant spotlight. Next time I have the jigsaw out I'll probably just cut out a big oval. I did find the leads to the light's though for the more ambitious. They get 7.4v and 9.2mA when the motor is on. The switch is the first thing in the stream. It would require a batterie, resister, switch, blah,blah........ just hack a hole in the base!

Ace David!
And I have, thanks to your post, got something on the way for mine.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

The mini key chain LED flashlights that are sold for $8 a dozen on Amazon might be an easy tape on fix for the problem.

I agree with OP. Dewalt should add a feature that triggers LED, and LED stays on after. Makes sense