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The packaging contained large headed screws, flat washers and nuts. I couldn't pass it up.the router usually goes for $350 and I got the whole thing for $399. I finally got it together by having the overlapping pieces be in the same configuration around the table. It starts softly and runs well thru many different hardwoods with little if any loading up.
I really wanted the router, the fence, and the insert, so I went to work.I took the whole darned thing apart and made trip to the hardware store for the correct carriage bolts and lock nuts. The built in router lift also saved me the problem of buying an aftermarket router lift for a lot more money, and makes micro-adjustments to the bit height very easy.The table.that is another matter. Freud stated that it should be put together with the included carriage bolts, lock washers, and nuts. I recently got this router/table combo for a great price on sale. I mounted the table again, but shimmed the MDF to level out the top. No matter how I tried to align them, they were cut poorly and overlapped in several places, making it hard to level out the table.
When I got the top installed, the problem with the poor metal fit became more apparent as the top started to bow. I had over 1/8" of bow in the table on the narrow axis, and more the long way.
Now my router table works well. The router itself is a dream.
When I reassembled the table, I "scored" the metal wherever it was overlapping and ground the metal to fit on my grinder. All of them were there, but the quality of the screws was poor.
The metal was soft and the slots were easily ruined.The metal parts were not well machined. Even with all that effort, the stand was still a bit off level.
I may still take a second piece of Baltic birch or MDF and put it directly on the stand and mount the factory top to that if I develop any more bowing.or else I'll keep the parts I like and make a new table.
Unfortunately, the instructions are very poor and you are left to guess quite a bit or infer what you can from the drawings. Next, the three screws provided to mount the router to the plate were not the right length (two of them anyay). Second, the table is not flat. Lastly, maybe it's me and my unfamiliarity with a plunge router, but I am having a devil of a time figuring out how to set it under the plate so I can use the "through the base" bit changes and adjustments. I assembled/disassembled/reassembled it several times to get it right, but it never provided a flat surface for mounting the table. I bought a better stand at Rockler. I bought the table/router combo at Woodcraft for an amazing price (the router and fence alone are worth what I paid). My local Woodcraft store had the same problem with their floor model, so they gave me the screws they found that worked.
All the instructions with the router say about attaching it to the table are "See the directions that came with your table." This leads me back to the original problem: the instructions are very poor.If the router and fence weren't so good, I would give this a lower rating. They were too long and extend above the metal plate and leave the router loose. At the price I paid, and given Freud's fine customer service so far, it still rates 3 stars. This creates a problem with the router plate: no amount of fussing with the levelling screws will make the plate flush with the table top. A couple of problems I had: First, the stand was not very good. Do I plunge it all the way down and lock it in the down position.
It's not too far off, but I would rather it be spot on. Again, I have to settle for pretty close. Is there some setting I don't see. Just go in knowing you may have some frustration.
The top parts of the legs did not go together flush with the braces between them. The combo is supposed to include an aluminum mounting plate that is milled flat and pre-drilled for the Freud router which is also included. While not containing any written assembly instructions, it did include a diagram that is relatively easy to follow. The router and fence were both in seperate boxes and so I didn't want to mix bits and pieces so I set them to the side to assemble the stand. Since I work in the education field I do have the luxury of having a full 2 weeks vacation over the holidays and thought that would give me enough time to assemble, fine-tune, and actually produce a few quality projects with my new router table combo from Freud.
It looked well-built and the stand appeared to be quality 16 gauge steel. I practically had to beg to get a new palte sent to me along with scan my receipt and send to them. I was excited to say the least to get it home and assemble it and make a few practice cuts and trial runs on different kinds of wood. I understand that most of this stuff is made in China and therefore sometimes you have to adjust and modify things, but with a router table you want it to be dead straight, flush, plumb, level, square, etc.
No complaints with the fence at this point.The Table Top:I took out the table top and placed it on my workbench that is dead flat. I contacted Freud by email with my concern and they acted none-too-happy to hear from me. I followed the instructions to the tee, but the stand did not go together as it was pictured. After disassembling and reassembling the stand it was the same way. Well a week and half roll by and I finally get my missing aluminum plate.
I bought this router table combo at my local Woodcraft store. The table top itself was bowed about 3/16 in the center with the edges being higher than the center of the table. Securing the fence to the table top is a breeze. Obviously someone at the Freud factory forgot about the aluminum plate with my combo package because there was not one included. I tightened the bolts and made the stand as level as possible and moved on to the fence.The Fence:The fence was in a seperate box from the rest of the combo. We shall see how the 5300 Table combo performs but if I had it to do over agin I would not purchase this item. I was wrong.The Metal Stand:First of all, the router table combo came out of the box fine.
I would look to a Bench Dog or Jessem table and add a Millwaukee Router for about the same price that I paid for this set-up. As an avid woodworker I take pride in being able to follow written and illustrated directions on all sorts or projects, yet the assembly was still unclear. It too appeared to be well-made. I also asked if they could expedite the shipping so that I could enjoy using my new router table combo over my holiday break. My advice is to stay away from Freud as I plan on doing in the future.
You have to remove the shield to make the adjustments. I had read so many great things about Freud that I had high expectations. Is this easier than stooping over and adjusting from under the table or are you just supposed to leave the shield off until you have made your test cuts and everything is set right.Last are the surplus parts. The insert plate is sturdy and the fence was well calibrated.
However, after reading the book, I realized that my planned work would require a large plunge router for mortising and at $349 for the router alone, the table was only $150 more. Excellent book - it encourages the user to make his own router table - as he points out, what decent woodworker wouldn't want to. I retraced the steps of the delivery man and gathered all the fallen bits. I called Freud Customer Service and they were helpful.
Customer Service checked with Technical Support and gave me the green light but suggested that I omit the glue in case I needed to return the top. Small problems started on the front porch where washers fell out of the box, which had been previously opened. To my surprise nothing was missing. As I laid out the parts, I was surprised that what were called carriage bolts in the directions were not actually carriage bolts and lock washers were not actually lock washers. Long time user of Amazon, first time reviewer.I was a little ashamed to get the table/router combination after reading Bill Hylton's revised & updated, "Woodworking with the Router".
Since the bow appeared to be in excess of 1/8", they agreed to exchange it but there would be a 2-week delay as they were out of tops and the new top may also bow (but hopefully less than 1/8"). I suggested gluing/screwing a piece of cut-out ¾" plywood on the bottom. After this fix, the top was level.Instructions for the fence were incomplete. Basically, assemble as per drawing. Nonetheless, it all went together and I carefully drilled and mounted the table top. I would have had to shell out more than that for materials and a decent fence - and the router does have a lot of attractive features, including above the table adjustment, which the table should support. It is kind of hard to set-up because it locks into one of three basic settings - so if the setting you choose first does not turn out to work well, you have to remove the fence and reset it.One aspect made me wonder if this is a beta version.
The metal base was sturdy but crude and did not have good fit. A quick check with a level showed it bowed in the center (this is bad). While there is a nice set-up in the insert plate for making above the table depth adjustments, the wing nuts that hold the Plexiglas shield are in the way. It is always disconcerting to assemble something and then find unused bits and pieces - like a Plexiglas shield that I still can't figure a use for.Anyway, like I said, I expected Outstanding from Freud but got Good instead.
Exactly what I wanted at a very good price. I would definitly buy this product agin.
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