MPower Router Base--A Disappointment

[Wiley's Woodworks]

A while back I paid ~$150 for an enhanced MPower CRB7 combination router base and accessories. I didn't use it then, but now I need to cut two 5' long dados in stringers to install a lower shelf on a workbench. I am totally frustrated by the hard-to-understand instructions, total lack of customer service, missing parts, and the actual tool itself. I am trying to mount it to a DeWalt 618 2 1/4hp router.

I've got multiple problems:

• No customer service. The 2 phone #s listed in the instructions are non-functioning. The company is based in England (if I had known this before I bought it I would not have bought it for this very reason), and emails don't get responses.
• The instructions aren't clear--lousy illustrations and not much copy to explain things.
• The company claims its "universal mounting system" works on over 400 routers, but the fit on the 618 is so sloppy I don't trust it under load. The base does not screw to the router base; it mounts on two rods that fit through holes in the router base and are secured by pinch screws, which were not included. DeWalt doesn't even make these screws; they say the screws are the responsibility of the router base manufacturer, and I agree.
• The mounting rods are way undersized. MPower includes 2 sizes--6mm & 7mm--but the 7mm rods are still 2-3mm too small. The resulting fit is quite sloppy, and I don't trust a single point locking system when the router is under load. DeWalt is a high volume manufacturer of routers, so MPower should fit the DeWalt 618 tightly and without problems.

OK--rant's over. Had anyone had similar problems with the MPower CRB7 router base? If you have, how did you solve them? Did the set up work properly with undersized rods and single point locking?

 

[Wilsoncb]

I don’t have one of these, but after reading your comments and looking at the manual, I understand the frustration. Instructions are bad. I have done a similar setup (not MPower) and I can see your concern. I found this picture and like you said it relies on a single locking point on each rod. I can tell you that if you over tighten that point, you are likely to break the base. I have a similar situation on my Bosch and broke it. The base has a very thin wall between the rod and bottom.

It looks like a really nice idea, but I think you’ll need to do some testing and maybe some reinforcement. Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[Charles Lent]

Two other larger sizes of rods are available from M Power, but they don't seem to be stocked in the US. I bought mine from Lee Valley. A phone call to Lee Valley had them on their way to me.

I agree, the M Power manuals aren't very good, but I have used my CRB7 quite a bit, although mostly on my 1 hp DeWalt router on it's fixed base. It is a relatively light duty jig and your planned uses should not expect it to handle any wide and fast cutting. If you don't secure the wing bolts well, you will be cutting a curve where a straight cut should be (BTDT). I bought more DeWalt wing bolts (and springs) from www.ereplacementparts.com and had them in just a few days. True, the manufacturer of the jig should supply them, the added two sizes of rods should be supplied to those buyers in the US, but it isn't worth the fight to get them. Just buy what you need and move on. They weren't all that expensive. You gain the ability to use the jig to cut wider circles with additional rods too. Watching the M Power videos multiple times will teach you more about the CRB7 than their manuals.


Charley

 

[golfdad]

Send it back and get a Dado Whiz......great product