Router as a drill?

tadaska · Post by **tadaska** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 8:52 pm

Can routers which are used for joining worktops be also used to drill a hole which is perfectly perpendicular? I seem to remember watching a video about it but I could be wrong. And I have never seen a router up close.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 9:07 pm

It is the speed that you have to reckon with as the speed is very high compared to a drill. The plunge facility on a router does allow a perpendicular movement but even using spiral cutters as opposed to the normal fluted cutter it is not made for drilling. A drill press is usually the tool for accurate drilling depending on the work piece. You can buy portable drill stands for working on drilling insitu

DWD

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 9:44 pm

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Thu Mar 19, 2020 9:07 pm It is the speed that you have to reckon with as the speed is very high compared to a drill.

My Hitachi is a variable speed model, I can't tell you what speeds 1 to 6 relate to in terms of rpm, but I've used it to drill out for kitchen door hinges without any problems. I'd say it's overkill for anything that you could just as easily use a cordless drill for.

jaeger · Post by **jaeger** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:22 pm

This might be better suited https://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-d ... ide-500458

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:35 pm

a router dependant on model and size will be between perhaps 35-65mm depth off plunge
you must only use very accurate shank sizes as in 6/8/12mm or 1/4"/1/2" no other sizes will fit

Rorschach · Post by **Rorschach** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:10 am

Short answer, yes, long answer, depends why you are drilling that hole. There are likely better alternatives.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:20 am

Big All makes the most important point in that a router does not have an adjustable 'chuck' to accommodate various drill sizes it has a collet that clamps onto the cutters and it will only accept cutter shanks specific for the collet size.

DWD