Bit the bullet!!

[Lynn Sonier]

Are any of you using a Porter Cable 693 router, in a plunge base, in a router table?? That was my set-up today when the bottom dropped out. The router, spinning at max rpm and spinning a rabbet bit, fell out of the table, bounced about knee high, and grabbed onto my pants leg.
It twisted my pants leg into a ball, doing minor damage to my left leg, and then the motor started to spin around. By that time, my shock wore off and I was able to unplug it. I was really afraid to look at my leg but I had a half inch cut above the knee and a bruise below the knee. Completely destroyed the rabbeting bit and the base. I was using the rig in a home-made table between the rails of my tablesaw.
I assume the screw that holds it into the base became loose over time and allowed the base to slide out. The router motor has very seldom been removed from the base. You can bet I will not be using THAT router in the table again.

[Steve Jenkins]

Lynn,
I'm sure glad that it didn't do any more damage. the router may have ruined your pants but chances are they were ruined anyway but slightly higher up.:>) Man o man. definately shows a need for a seperate on off switch that is easily reached. Steve

[Terry Hatfield]

Lynn,

WOW!!! Scary :eek:

First of all, glad you are realitively unharmed.

Now, let me make a suggestion. I have used a foot operated switch for my router table since the beginning. I got it a Sears for about $20. The router just plugs into the switch and the switch plugs into the outlet. All you have to do to shut off the router is step off the switch. I like it alot and it is WAY safer for sure.

I mounted it on a piece of mdf with a hole in it so I could hang it on the side of the router table.

Terry

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[Lynn Sonier]

Great suggestion, Terry. Will start looking for one tomorrow.
Lynn

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

That could have been a disaster...you're lucky. Although I've not heard of this happening before, as far as I'm concerned it's a perfectly good reason to stay away from fixed/plunge base kits. I know a whoooole lot of folks have bought into the idea and have no problems, but the whole concept seems 'gimmicky' to me...essentially something designed to serve two functions and doing both acceptably (most of the time!!), but maybe not doing either as well as a dedicated unit would.

KC

[Mark Hysell]

This is a link to a woodworking accident database

http://www.woodworking2.org/AccidentSurvey/

(Sorry if this has already been posted or is well known to the members here)

As a newbie, I made a point to read through every report on this site in hopes of minimizing any potential damage to my body parts, which I have grown fond of. I don't recall any similar router-related incidents.

Glad you're ok.

[Mark Hysell]

Sorry, this is the link

http://www.woodworking2.org/AccidentSurvey/search.htm

[Chris Padilla]

I have 3 switches to control the on/off of my router table motor (1 4-way and 2 3-ways) placed around the top of the table (well, just below the table on the stand) so no matter where I am routing, I can turn off the motor pretty easily.

[Walt Pater]

Lynn, It's really good to know that you are okay. The more I use a router, the more I fear them. Two years ago, I had my router (a plunge/ laminate trimmer combo base) come apart in my hands- I was holding the housing assembly in one hand, and the base in the other-and the bit, spinning at a cool 16.5k rpm, had not cleared the opening in the base. I slowly backed the housing away from the base and shut the machine off. No injury, but scary nonetheless. Now I do what my shop teacher suggested to me back in the eighties- check over any machine before you use it. Why I became so dim in my 30's and stopped following this advice is a mystery to me. Again- glad you're okay- your description of the accident really gives me the creeps. Walt

[Bruce Page]

Yikes!


Your injury could have been sooooo much worse, I shudder to think! I have a dedicated plunge in my table, but if I had a 690 or similar, your accident would be enough incentive to yank it out…immediately!

Heal quickly

[Mark Singer]

Terry,
What do you do if you have a long piece and your moving it through the router table....how do you keep it on?

[Terry Hatfield]

Terry,
What do you do if you have a long piece and your moving it through the router table....how do you keep it on?

Mark,

Hmmm.... I have routed stock about 4' or so with no trouble. I usually remain pretty much stationary and feed the stock hand over hand.

t

[Pat Salter]

ok, glad to hear you didn't get much damage to yourself from that incident. Now tell us what you suffered when you told your wife about it! Just kidding.

I have a second hand, home made table saw using an old Craftsman router. The guy that put it together must have had something similar happen because he had put a couple of strings, one on each side, to catch the motor in case it comes loose. I've been thinking of just cutting them off. Now I'm thinking of replaceing them!

Thanks for the safety wakeup call.

[Daniel Rabinovitz]

Lynn
Sorry to hear about the accident.
Now what to do with a router under a table saw?
How about a box (4 sides) with some hardware cloth for the bottom to let the sawdust fall out.
Lets see, maybe with "L" shaped brackets to hold the box to the underside of the saw table.
No! that won't work - can't get to the router to change bits.
How about one side with a lexan door on hinges.
That should contain the beast if it drops out again - well maybe.
Daniel :rolleyes:
ps Don't forget locktite on the router mounting screws or epoxy

[Rick Haigh]

Lynn,
I forgot to tighten down the base on my 7518 and it worked its way out of the base. It destroyed the base and the bit on the way out. I had a short length of cord on it so when it fell out of the router table, it came un-plugged. I have never been so scared of any tool in my life.

Since then I have been very meticulous about keeping the router unplugged until it has been secured in the base. Only after securing the router in the base, do I plug it in and then turn it on. I have the destroyed base hanging on my wall to help remind myself that these tools are very dangerous if not carefully handled.

Please be safe!
Rick