Welcome to the forum! You should be able to search on the forum for the topics you mentioned. If you can't find what you are looking for just ask.

For what it's worth make sure that before you buy, you actually need it. Just saying, been there, done that. I do look forward to seeing pics of some of the builds you do.

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Howdy @nnervous nice to have you aboard. Last night I watched a guy who maintains Willie Nelson's "Trigger." It was fascinating how he was managing to keep that instrument going despite all the wear and tear it has received over it's lifetime. I'm also fascinated by the violin makers work. Would love to see some of the things you are doing. I know we have a couple of members who make solid body guitars.

 

Folks who do this work 'for real' are amazing. There is a Canadian YouTuber names Ted Woodford that posts a video a week and he covers the gamut of technician work, far beyond anything I will ever aspire to. But his acoustic neck resets and electric Gibson headstock repairs and just masterful. I am just a long time hobbyist that can find my way around things as needed and I do enjoy full setups, fretwork, and some limited restorations, modifications and improvements. A limited number that involve routing skills. That's generally battery box installation. I did add a third/middle pickup to a Gibson Midtown a few years back, just to see if I could, and in hindsight that was a pretty bold undertaking given my limited skill set. But it came out fantastic and ended up being a very unique piece.

But pickguards are on my list to tackle and that is where my current router related pursuits are focused. Looking to do a simple table that will attached to a Workmate 435, and that will use a Makita cordless trim router and an HValley Tools #20008 Trim Router Lift, which BTW, for a guy like me is a very nice lift that I never see discussed. I stumbled on it while researching and shopping for a cheap lift and plate for my Bosch PR20EVS Colt Palm Router. But I learned that has a 69mm motor and everything cheap was for 65mm so that was a dead plan. Since I already have a ton of 18v Makita tools and yard equipment the XTR01Z was an easy choice. The Makita/HValley is a nice combo and I look forward to getting that installed.

The next step is to finalize a decision on what that table/top will be made of. My first thought was a Formica like laminate which I have worked with in that last but it seems that is no longer so easy to find in small pieces, if at all. I have to make some calls locally to see if any installers might have some cuts. If not, BB ply and polyurethane probably gets me done. I don't want it to be ridiculously big or heavy.

 

G’day @nnervous welcome to the forum.
Most of us purchased our first router, as we saw it as the best tool to complete a certain project.

 

Welcome to the forum @nnervous

 

One more thing @nnervous. I love the sound of the violin and I suspect you like music. There is a fairly young violinist, Hillary Hahn, who performs the Vaugn Williams "The Lark Ascending" in this video. It is about a day in a meadow where Meadowlarks nest on the ground. It is probably the most wonderful violin piece ever. Notice the conductor's expression of appreciation as she plays solo and the orchestra is silent.

 

What a magnificent performance on so many levels. And that sheo does all that without the aid of sheet music is incredible. An absolute gift. Thank you

 

Looks to me like you have things well in hand. Good that the top is half inch. Just cut the bottom layer (3/4 very flat ply) opening an inch smaller so you have half an inch shelf for the plate. You will need to run some screws into it to level the plate with the top. Flatten the tips of the screws so the don't dig into your plate. The weight of the router will hold it in place during use. Whatever plate you buy, get one with twist lock inserts. The kind with three tiny little screws has a way of the screws getting lost. As to the lift, if it's too loose, sometimes you can wrap it with metal to make it hold tight.

 

Oops, meant to comment on Hillary Hahn's performance. Interesting that in interviews, she explains that she is the mother of two, so only gets to practice 4 to 5 hours a day, which isn't much for a top level soloist. I think she has some sort of intuitive feeling for the instrument. There is also a series of four books of scales that include bowing and technique for every single thing composers have violinists do. The idea is that by practicing each over and over, you should be able to play anything. The Lark Ascending is such a subtle piece. Notice that she has her eyes closed during much of the performance, which suggests to me she is not just playing from memory, but by the emotional tone of each section. The bowing, not just the left hand fingering, produces that almost asian feeling of the bird, singing. Probably my favorite modern classical piece. Hahn is my violin teacher's idol. No wonder.