Craftsman Router Crafter

[doug kawallski]

I recently bought a Craftsman Router Crafter at a yard sale. This particular one is the 720.25250. I downloaded the instructions for it online but they turned out to be for a 720.25251. I believe they are virtually identical to each other. However, I know from mine and others like mine on ebay the 25250 comes with a steel rod about 3/16 diameter and 6 to 8 inches long. This item does not show up in the 25251 manual and I have been unable to find the actual 25250 manual on line. It is probably nothing to significant but now it has become one of those thing that I just need to know. Can anybody with the 25250 manual tell me what this is? Thanks.

[Lee Schierer]

I have a Craftsman Router Crafter, if you post a photo of the part maybe I can tell you what it does.

[John Nesmith]

That certainly would simplify things.

[Jeff Folkert]

Doug,

I have the same model and the instructions say it is to prevent the electrical connection to the router from being damaged. Basically it is a stop to prevent the sliding mechanism from tilting too far and squashing the cord where it enters the router.

[doug kawallski]

Jeff, I knew it couldn't be anything to high tech but I just couldn't figure it out. Do you know if it is intended to mount on the router itself or somewhere on the crafter?
Thank you for your assistance.

Doug

[Jeff Folkert]

Doug,

It attaches someplace on the plastic piece the router is mounted onto.

Has anyone ever made anything with this tool that would care to share some pictures or experience? I bought it from EBay because it looked interesting but have never tried to make anything.

[Lee Schierer]

Has anyone ever made anything with this tool that would care to share some pictures or experience? I bought it from EBay because it looked interesting but have never tried to make anything.

I made several lamps, some handles for candle lighters at our church and a few other things. The candle lighters had a neat spiral pattern that could be done with the crafter. What I found was that your selection of contours was limited to your assortment of bits and many bits could not be used at all. There is a template guide on mine that is supposed to let you make more complex curves, but the depth of cut of round nose and straight bits is pretty limited. I haven't used mine for years. One problem with the original design was the plastic used for the pulleys was not UV stable and degraded over time to the point of failure. I had to have a friend make me replacement pulleys out of aluminum to keep mine functional.

You are pretty limited on maximum diameter for turnings. I did make an adapter that fit into the cup style head stock that let me work with pieces that did not fit into the cup of the headstock.

[rudy de haas]

I bought one. Ooops?

I saw this thing at a yard sale and no idea what it actually was, but the price was right - original box (from Sears, 1993) and manual so I shelled out.

I have no need to make fluted parts or spiraled chair legs, so what do I do with it?

[jack duren]

Door stop....I'm not sure those things still have support..

I actually bought one two years ago and have not
touched it yet... I hope to eventually do something with it...

[Charles Lent]

There is a discussion now on Router Forums about Router Crafters, but the title of the post is "Barley Sugar Router Attachment". In that post I added a link to a long earlier post about them and the similar version that was a project in Woodsmith. It's interesting reading, and worth looking into if you want to know more about the subject.

Charley

[jack duren]

I'm unable to get back on Router Forums. When I ask for a new password it sends nothing to my email. Don't know whats going on

[Charles Lent]

Jack,

Are you sure that you are asking for a new password using your original sign-on name? It has to match their records or this will happen. Then, the new password sent needs to be copied and pasted to avoid typing errors. It's a very secure password system that is sometimes a bear to use.

Charley