Combination Router Base CRB7 Mk3 No other tool in the shop can perform as many functions as a router. So when an accessory comes around that makes my router more accurate or provides even more functionality, I take notice. The combination router base by M.Power does a great job.
OVERVIEW The CRB7 router base comes packaged as shown above. It runs about $80 and also includes a pivot hub and additional guide rods for routing large circles, as shown in the main photo above. There are also two accessory kits available: An edge guide ($20) and an edge-trimming base with roller bearing ($30). Universal Base. The plastic base of the CRB7 fits on any router with a base that accepts guide base by M.Power does a great There are also two accessory kits rods for an edge guide. The base of the CRB7 has a machined aluminum block on one end. It holds a fixed and adjustable guide rod. The rods can be positioned to fit almost any router. The adjustable rod features a micro-adjuster for fine-tuning the router’s position on the base and workpiece. There’s one thing to note: There are no knobs included in the kit to fasten the base to your router. If your router doesn’t include these knobs, you’ll need to order them to fit your router base.
BASIC FUNCTIONS Between the basic kit on the opposite page and the two optional attachments, there are a variety of tasks you can perform with the CRB7. Circles. As shown in the main photo, the CRB7 can be confi gured to work as a trammel. There are two ways to do this. For small circles (less than 83/4″ radius), the kit includes a pivot pin. It fastens with a screw in one of three holes on the base, depending on the desired radius. It fits into a 1/4″ pivot hole in the workpiece. For larger circles (up to 25″ radius), you use the pivot hub and guide rod extensions, as used in the main photo. The guide rods can be threaded together to make a long trammel. Use a Straightedge. The square shape of the CRB7’s base makes it ideal for use with a straightedge guide, as in the left photo above. The included knob makes it easier to control the router and keep the base fi rmly against the straightedge. The micro-adjust feature allows you to fine-tune the bit position. Mortising. Routing mortises in the edge of a workpiece is easy with the included mortise pillars. This pair of steel pins fastens to the underside of the base. They ride along each face of the workpiece as you rout a mortise (upper right photo). Routing centered mortises using a similar technique is nothing new. But with the CRB7, you can also rout offset mortises. In either case, you slide the router along the guide rods to get close to the location of the mortise on the workpiece. The micro-adjuster allows you to zero in on the exact position before routing. Basic Routing. It’s easy to overlook that the CRB7 is great for everyday routing tasks, too. Its large base provides stability and makes your router easier to control. The anti-tilt leg works as an outrigger to stabilize the base during some operations. And the index rule can serve as a guide when adjusting the router’s position along the guide rods. All in all, the CRB7 makes it easy to turn your router into a precision, multipurpose tool.
