The WoodRat converts any plunge router into a controlled three-axis milling machine. A versatile joinery tool, it excels at finger, lapped and housed joints; it machines standard and angled mortise and tenon joints, and cuts half-blind, through and sliding dovetails. It will also mill molding profiles and produce rail and stile joints. Rather than relying on fixed templates, the cutter is guided by following a layout you create for each specific joint. In essence, you produce a drawing of the joint and use the WoodRat to duplicate it. This removes the constraint of having to design joinery around your tooling, allowing you to develop an effective process to solve virtually any joint-making problem.
Designed as a wall-mounted workstation for efficient use of space, it is straightforward to install; step-by-step instructions provide clear direction for drilling the router plate to suit. The 36" long jig body and guide rails are machined aluminum, while the cam locks and fences are glass-filled nylon. Capacity between the clamps is 29", and the router plate slides over the jig base to produce a 10" long crosscut. Lateral positioning of the workpiece is provided by an accurate cable-driven mechanism that also permits safe climb cutting for splinter-free routing across the grain.
Comes with a 50-minute instructional DVD and thorough 112-page manual that provide valuable guidance for gaining proficiency. The manual also includes diagrams for shop-made accessories. Made in England.
