[Belperboy]

Hi All,
I'm new to the forum and fairly new to routing. After some practice on a cheap second hand Triton, I decided to take the plunge, so to speak. I purchased a Trend T11-EK (230V) and the matching Trend WRT Router table. I really like the combination and so far, it seems easy to use with accurate results. Sadly though the router failed after approximately 3-4 hour's light usage on softwood with small diameter cutters. I stopped the machine to adjust the fence and when I tried to restart via the zero voltage switch nothing happened. After some diagnostics, I took the router to a local Trend Service Agent for repair under warranty. They're in the process of tracking down a new armature, which surprisingly Trend don't seem to have as a spare.

I have dust extraction fitted to the router table. While I think I've just been unlucky with an individual unit, I'm wondering if there's anything I might have done to cause the problem? I had not stalled the machine or dropped it, and the timber I'm using is deal/pine with a maximum cutter diameter of 12.7mm. Most of the work has been with the router mounted in the table using the fence as the guide.

 

[woodknots]

@Belperboy - Welcome to the forum - when you get a chance, please update your profile with at least a first name - it will make communications more personal.

I'm not familiar with that router, but I'm sure our members from down under will be. However, from everything you said, it certainly doesn't sound like you did anything to cause the failure. Your limited use should not have caused it. Perhaps you just got a faulty unit.

 

[Semipro]

Hello and welcome to the router forum,
Some times you just get a bad one of anything,do not think you did ant thing wrong,

 

[old55]

Welcome to the forum Charles.

 

[sunnybob]

Armatures rarely go wrong, which is why a repair shop would not normally keep one to hand.
Nothing you did would have caused that.

 

[Stick486]

Welcome to the forums Charles ...
I'm Stick and do I have some reading for you to do...
Go to this link....
much of which can not be ignored or treated lightly ESPECIALLY SAFETY...

There are PDF's here on maintenance, methods, jigs, tooling, accessories, aides, set up, and so much more...

PLEASE take the time to read them.. Your health, welfare and safety matter...
to us anyways...

 

[reuelt]

I have dust extraction fitted to the router table. While I think I've just been unlucky with an individual unit, I'm wondering if there's anything I might have done to cause the problem? I had not stalled the machine or dropped it, and the timber I'm using is deal/pine with a maximum cutter diameter of 12.7mm. Most of the work has been with the router mounted in the table using the fence as the guide.

How did you connect the dust extraction UNDER THE TABLE?
If you had enclose the router under the table for dust collection then, I suspect your dust extractor had drawn air away so much so that the internal cooling fan of router could no longer cool the motor.
THIS IS A COMMON MISTAKE.

 

[Multiwood]

Welcome to the forum Charles.

 

[Belperboy]

Hi All,
Thanks for the friendly welcome and suggestions.

1. I'll read up on Stick's reading list. Thank you.
2. The air extraction was at the table top only, as an attachment to the fence. Incidentally I use a steel vortex Dust Deputy atop a 55 Gallon Drum to reduce the load on the dust extractor, it works well.
3. The Service Agent had contacted Trend for a replacement armature. It's Trend who didn't have the spare part! At present there's no date for fix. To give Trend their due they did offer me a loan unit until my T11 is repaired, but I've already drafted in the old Triton to stand-in. I hate waiting around all day for couriers.

So at present my (tongue-in-cheek) view on Trend is that I'd recommend them, but if your job depends on the reliability of the device, buy two of them so you have one device available while the other is in repair.

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

Trends are fairly popular and I haven’t heard of them being particularly unreliable. I know the trim sized one is advertised as a light duty hobbyist machine but I haven’t heard that about the T11. Every maker eventually sends a lemon out. What they do about it after is the important part. If it’s going to take very long they should probably offer you a replacement unit.

 

[DesertRatTom]

Sounds like you got a dud. My first thought was about ventillation and dust control, but don't think it's anything more than a bum machine.

 

[Hypnotoad]

Luckily this is what warranties are for, hope they fix it soon for you.

 

[Belperboy]

When I decided on Trend one of the factors was the ready availability of spare parts. At the moment the router has been in the Service Agent for 10 days, and there's still no indication when the T11 230V Armature spare will be available. Naturally I'm impatient, but in the absence of information from Trend I'm beginning to wonder if they've had greater than anticipated demand on this part, perhaps a bad batch has caused problems?
Meanwhile, using the old Triton, I've been able to complete the project of installing a bespoke bedroom cupboard in our rental holiday home. Fortunately(?) we had a week's gap in bookings when I could work at the cottage. Being able to fabricate good quality fitments for the Victorian cottage where nothing is really square or of regular dimensions, has saved us loads of money on builders/handymen. The next major project is a Shaker style oak kitchen fit out.