Small Plunge Router: from WoodCentral
"Lately I have come across a few applications where a small plunge router would be very handy. I would want it to accept Porter Cable style guide bushings. Anyone have one or know of such a beast?" – Jess
There were a couple of suggested tools, but they had limitations, including the inability to use the bushings Jess preferred. – Editor
"Proxxon makes a mini plunge router in the $100 price range, but it takes the Dremel size router bits and I don't think it takes standard template bushings." – Robin
"If you're looking for an actual plunge router, I've got a Makita model 3620, and it does absolutely everything I could ask of it. It's got plenty of power and is extremely accurate. As long as quarter-inch shaft bits don't limit your needs, it's a very solid performer." – Howard
Perhaps the best solution offered was not to buy a different router, but simply to buy an aftermarket base. – Editor
"Check out MicroFence. It's the top-of-the-line entry in this category. Give them a call and see what they can do for you." – Ellis
"I have the MicroFence plunge base fitted on a Porter Cable 310 router and love it. Took me a while to accept the initial purchase price, but now I couldn't live without this tool." – Scott
While it got high praise, the price scared some readers. – Editor
"Am I the only one that thinks $400.00 is insanity?" – Jerry
"Depends. For anything like this that is not mass-produced, it is going to be expensive to get quality. If you really have a need for it, then the initial price is probably not the deciding factor. If not, then it is basically insane for your application. Tooling up for something like this is not inexpensive and you have to recoup your investment over however many units you figure that you can sell." – Dan
Paraffin Wax: from WoodCentral
"I have a chance to get some large blocks of paraffin wax for free. Is this wax going to be useful to me in woodworking without too much investment in time or money? I've used combinations of beeswax and carnauba wax for waxing materials and I've used paste wax. This is definitely a candle wax, though." – JL
There were certainly plenty of suggestions of how to use it. – Editor
"I use paraffin wax primarily as a lubricant for drawer slides. Also over screw threads. I recall my sainted grandmother pouring liquefied paraffin wax over her homemade jelly jars to seal them. That homemade grape jelly made me into a better woodworker!" – George
"Some folks melt it and use it to seal the ends of fresh-cut logs or turning blanks. I prefer the Anchorseal, but if you have a lot of it available to you it does do a good job as an end-grain sealer." – Ray
"I use it as a glue barrier on jigs, a lubricant for drawer slides, a lubricant when drilling aluminum, and mix it half and half with mineral oil as a cutting board finish. It makes screws go in easier, seals jam and jelly jars and makes candles; or you can get into tie dyeing." – Terry
"Mix beeswax, carnauba and paraffin in varying percentages for the greatest hard wax for saw tables. Add more carnauba and a tube of graphite car lock lube to make a great lube to brush onto gears in a table saw." – Charlie
"When I was an apprentice, my boss would bring in a big block every year and cut it up on the band saw and hand each of us a chunk or two. We used to rub it across the infeed table on the planer and jointer to make the wood slide easier as well to lube the dead center on a wood lathe to keep it from burning and making noise." – Robin
"I keep a block of it near the lathe. It is a great thing to use on the tool-rest to make things slide easier, but my small piece will probably outlive me. A little goes a long way." – Dave
"I use it to wax the forms I use for bent laminations, so any glue squeeze-out won't stick to the form, but a quarter pound would last a lifetime for that use" – Jesse
"There is yet another use for the wax. Melt it and mix in sawdust. These make great fire starters." – Bill
Speaking of fire starters... – Editor
"Historically, woodworkers melting wax, for whatever reason, have been the cause of an alarming number of kitchen and shop fires. The vapors are very flammable, and once the wax starts to melt, the slightest open flame or glowing ember can touch off a flash fire. Just a little heads-up for you." – Ellis