I would like to use my Porter Cable 3 1/4 HP variable speed router with a 3 inch molding head to produce a varation of moldings (table mounted). I can make an adapter to handle the 1 inch diameter molding head which will fit the 1/2 inch router collet. The minimum speed of the router is about 10,000 RPM.
In your opinion is this a reasonable approach? Is the 10,000 RPM speed too high or should it be around 5,000 to 7,000 RPM? Would this be an unsafe setup?
- Bill
Chester, NJ
Our Expert
I strongly recommend that you do not use a molding head in a router. All cutting tools, such as router bits, shaper cutters, and sawblades, are engineered for a use in specific machines. Using a cutting tool in a machine other than the one for which it is designed could possibly lead to a serious personal injury.
Besides, molding heads are very limited in the profiles which they can produce. Instead, why not invest in an assortment of router bits? Molding heads came on to the scene in the days when the selection of router bits was somewhat limited. Today there is a wider variety of router bit profiles than ever before. For example, in addition to the ogee and round over router bits that have always been available, you can now shape large moldings and raised panels for doors with your router. You can't do that with a molding head.
