That time I tried to save time with a plunge base and blew a whole door panel

Working on a kitchen remodel for a client in Arlington last month, I thought I'd speed things up by using a plunge base router instead of marking my hinge locations careful. Got the bit set and went for it... and the whole thing jumped on me. Took a good chunk out of a $250 shaker door panel right in the front. Ended up having to order a replacement and lost two days waiting. Has anyone else had a tool shortcut backfire this bad?

2 comments

2 Comments

jade_lane191mo ago

Yikes, that's a $250 lesson in patience right there. Plunge bases are great but they'll humble you fast if you're not careful.

elizabeth_gonzalez1mo ago

Oh man, that's brutal! I'd be cursing up a storm if I ate a $250 door like that. Idk how it happened exactly but those plunge bases can really bite you if you don't have them locked down tight. I've had a router dance across a piece before and it's scary how fast it goes wrong. At least you got a good story out of it, even if your wallet took the hit. Maybe it's just me but I bet you double check everything now before you pull the trigger on that thing.

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