Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
I'm sure most have seen these by now, and probably wanted one for a while like me too. I finally got off my wallet to buy this one here.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0B1HCJQC7?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I chose that one, because I like the black colour, and it came with what I believed to be 4 extra inserts and an extra follower bearing..... Imagine my surprise when It showed up yesterday, and in the box was the tool only. I could have swore that the ad specifically said that the extras were included, but I went back and re read the ad, and couldn't find where it specifically said the extras came with it. They COULD have changed the ad, but the more likely scenario is that I hastily ordered from the wrong tab I had open at the time.....Rats. I DID go back and find a few other ads with extra inserts and bearings, but so far none for that price, so do your own due diligence. My mistake.
Enough rambling, on to the tool. It doesn't come with a qc fitting, so beware of that too. I pumped my compressor up to 120 psi and shut it off. Grabbed some saw cut stock from the rack and dropped a few drops of oil in the tool (everybody remembers to do that right?). First impressions is that it's LOUD. I normally hate the high pitch whine of air tools. They're like an ice pick into my brain. This tool is no exception. IMO it's WORSE than a die grinder. Higher pitch for sure. A set of ear muffs nulls the pain though, and makes it tolerable. It's pretty air hungry too, but it worked all the way down to about 40lbs before it didn't really have enough oomph to cut anymore.
It DOES work though. And pretty good too. I use a electric trim router with a chamfer bit to do aluminum all the time, but don't use it on steel. It will "work" but wood bit chip and don't hold up to the steel for very long in my opinion. This tool is very compact and easier to manage than even a small trim router so it gets the nod there for sure. It's much smaller than I thought is was, so that's a plus for me. The small depth collar, and bearing make it easier to get in tight places.
It also does a great job on steel as can be seen on this saw cut tubing off cut.
That is exactly how it came from the box set on the 0.6mm setting.
This is at 0.25mm. Tough to photograph but it creates a pretty nice chamfer IMO, even on this saw cut edge. Adjustment is pretty easy, and requires 2 sets screws to be loosened so you can rotate the depth collar. There is also a set screw to calibrate the collar. Measuring both depth settings has them within a couple thou of stated depth, so that's good enough for me.
My over all impressions are that it's a pretty good tool. A bit frivolous for infrequent home shop use, but this one will go to work with me where I will abuse it daily, and maybe even remember to oil it once in a while. I'll report back when it's time to change the inserts, to see what kind of longevity they have. I'm especially curious how they will hold up in steel, as that is kind of what I was buying it for. Even if they don't hold up, it'll still be handy on aluminum due to being smaller in size, and easier use than the trim router. I like bigger chamfers on larger blocks, and smaller on small blocks, so having tools tools preset will speed up production, and up my finishing game. Changing depth on the trim router sucks, but on this one is a breeze.
I wouldn't recommend buying the one I linked, due to the image trickery, and slightly higher price. You can find ones in a similar price range to this that come with extra inserts, and ones cheaper that don't. For the sake of the $10-15 difference, I'll keep this one, and eat my ordering error. I won't open so many tabs next time when researching purchases......
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0B1HCJQC7?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I chose that one, because I like the black colour, and it came with what I believed to be 4 extra inserts and an extra follower bearing..... Imagine my surprise when It showed up yesterday, and in the box was the tool only. I could have swore that the ad specifically said that the extras were included, but I went back and re read the ad, and couldn't find where it specifically said the extras came with it. They COULD have changed the ad, but the more likely scenario is that I hastily ordered from the wrong tab I had open at the time.....Rats. I DID go back and find a few other ads with extra inserts and bearings, but so far none for that price, so do your own due diligence. My mistake.
Enough rambling, on to the tool. It doesn't come with a qc fitting, so beware of that too. I pumped my compressor up to 120 psi and shut it off. Grabbed some saw cut stock from the rack and dropped a few drops of oil in the tool (everybody remembers to do that right?). First impressions is that it's LOUD. I normally hate the high pitch whine of air tools. They're like an ice pick into my brain. This tool is no exception. IMO it's WORSE than a die grinder. Higher pitch for sure. A set of ear muffs nulls the pain though, and makes it tolerable. It's pretty air hungry too, but it worked all the way down to about 40lbs before it didn't really have enough oomph to cut anymore.
It DOES work though. And pretty good too. I use a electric trim router with a chamfer bit to do aluminum all the time, but don't use it on steel. It will "work" but wood bit chip and don't hold up to the steel for very long in my opinion. This tool is very compact and easier to manage than even a small trim router so it gets the nod there for sure. It's much smaller than I thought is was, so that's a plus for me. The small depth collar, and bearing make it easier to get in tight places.
It also does a great job on steel as can be seen on this saw cut tubing off cut.
That is exactly how it came from the box set on the 0.6mm setting.
This is at 0.25mm. Tough to photograph but it creates a pretty nice chamfer IMO, even on this saw cut edge. Adjustment is pretty easy, and requires 2 sets screws to be loosened so you can rotate the depth collar. There is also a set screw to calibrate the collar. Measuring both depth settings has them within a couple thou of stated depth, so that's good enough for me.
My over all impressions are that it's a pretty good tool. A bit frivolous for infrequent home shop use, but this one will go to work with me where I will abuse it daily, and maybe even remember to oil it once in a while. I'll report back when it's time to change the inserts, to see what kind of longevity they have. I'm especially curious how they will hold up in steel, as that is kind of what I was buying it for. Even if they don't hold up, it'll still be handy on aluminum due to being smaller in size, and easier use than the trim router. I like bigger chamfers on larger blocks, and smaller on small blocks, so having tools tools preset will speed up production, and up my finishing game. Changing depth on the trim router sucks, but on this one is a breeze.
I wouldn't recommend buying the one I linked, due to the image trickery, and slightly higher price. You can find ones in a similar price range to this that come with extra inserts, and ones cheaper that don't. For the sake of the $10-15 difference, I'll keep this one, and eat my ordering error. I won't open so many tabs next time when researching purchases......
