Comments on: littlerat http://www.lawrence.org.uk/blog/2009/12/littlerat/ Whatever I feel like writing about Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:19:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jon http://www.lawrence.org.uk/blog/2009/12/littlerat/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Jon Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:29:01 +0000 http://www.lawrence.org.uk/blog/?p=20#comment-10 Well, I've had chance to play with it. I have to say I'm impressed with how easy it is. As I'm in the process of making a jewelry box for swmbo so I've been practicing the joints for that. At couple of things I've found which I'm not a fan of. 1) the blue cutter block. I'm not entirely sure whether this is me doing something wrong or not (will need to re-read the manual to find out) but I found that it stopped me making cuts deeper than 10mm. Hmmm, I can't imagine that is correct. I actually ended up routing out the center of the block by mistake so will order another one of these. 2) Errors in marking/aligning to pencil marks. There is an inherent problem in the way you align to a pencil mark. The problem I forsea are: a) you need to measure and mark by hand. b) you are aligning to a pencil line - which you have put in place by hand. two is two too many - and they are avoidable problems. The way I'm intending to remove these problems is 1) fit a moveable ruler to the left hand side of the machine. It needs to be moveable to allow for differing sizes of router bit - unless I just set the 'zero' reading to that of the center line. 2) make a marking cursor. This is actually quite simple. It's just going to be a bit of 5mm plexi glass fitted where the current cursor goes. It'll have a score line on it to line up the the ruler and purhaps one of those tiny magnifying lenses - that would make lining things up a lot easier. Paralax (sp ?) error. One thing that can easily creap in is paralax error when you're alinging the cursor to the pencil lines (or ruler when it's sorted). Making half of the scribe line on the back of the cursor and half on the front would sort this. If you're looking slightly from one side then you'd see 2 lines but if looking from bang on the front you'd only see one continuous line - sorted. Since the score lines can be very thin it should make alignment a heck of a lot less error prone. I'm sure even if perfectly aligned there'll be the odd fetling of the joints. My first joints certainly aren't perfect - there are the odd gaps to sort out. But hey, that just makes them look more like hand made joints :). One thing to add is that the T11 works perfectly in this littlerat :). A 8mm reducing sleeve and 1/4" collet are on their way (hopefully) so I'll be able to use whatever size bits I want in the router. Well, I’ve had chance to play with it. I have to say I’m impressed with how easy it is.
As I’m in the process of making a jewelry box for swmbo so I’ve been practicing the joints for that. At couple of things I’ve found which I’m not a fan of.
1) the blue cutter block. I’m not entirely sure whether this is me doing something wrong or not (will need to re-read the manual to find out) but I found that it stopped me making cuts deeper than 10mm. Hmmm, I can’t imagine that is correct. I actually ended up routing out the center of the block by mistake so will order another one of these.
2) Errors in marking/aligning to pencil marks.
There is an inherent problem in the way you align to a pencil mark. The problem I forsea are:
a) you need to measure and mark by hand.
b) you are aligning to a pencil line – which you have put in place by hand.
two is two too many – and they are avoidable problems.
The way I’m intending to remove these problems is 1) fit a moveable ruler to the left hand side of the machine. It needs to be moveable to allow for differing sizes of router bit – unless I just set the ‘zero’ reading to that of the center line. 2) make a marking cursor. This is actually quite simple. It’s just going to be a bit of 5mm plexi glass fitted where the current cursor goes. It’ll have a score line on it to line up the the ruler and purhaps one of those tiny magnifying lenses – that would make lining things up a lot easier.
Paralax (sp ?) error. One thing that can easily creap in is paralax error when you’re alinging the cursor to the pencil lines (or ruler when it’s sorted). Making half of the scribe line on the back of the cursor and half on the front would sort this. If you’re looking slightly from one side then you’d see 2 lines but if looking from bang on the front you’d only see one continuous line – sorted. Since the score lines can be very thin it should make alignment a heck of a lot less error prone.
I’m sure even if perfectly aligned there’ll be the odd fetling of the joints.

My first joints certainly aren’t perfect – there are the odd gaps to sort out. But hey, that just makes them look more like hand made joints :) .

One thing to add is that the T11 works perfectly in this littlerat :) .
A 8mm reducing sleeve and 1/4″ collet are on their way (hopefully) so I’ll be able to use whatever size bits I want in the router.

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