Im looking to sort myself with a futures instal kit. Ive got onto the Futures distributor here in Oz and have sent an email querying how to get my hands on one?
Im assuming they are not too interested in a small time shaper, so they haven’t replied. Anyone got any suggestions for accessing Futures gear (instal kit and boxes) here in OZ.
I have a router (almost the exact same as the one included in their instal kit), so would just be after the ‘special’ items relevant to their fin boxes!
What part of oz are from saltbush? I have found the futures guys good to deal with. They have moved premises a bit lately so they might have lost your communication. I got a gig recently, the deal I took was something like $900(can’t remember the exact amount so don’t quote me) worth of fins and boxes and a jig included. Might be a bit exy for many smaller producers. The local agent was more than happy to arrange the use of a jig if I wanted to get it happening in a few boards before I purchased. It is certainly in their interests to get as many boards out there with their system and you can be sure that the next big thing in shaping will be a small player somewhere first.
Might I also add how weLl designed and engineered the jig accessories are. Takes a little to figure what does what and where but real smooth when you do. I wish I could get something similar for a standard fin box. I know you can make your own but my attempts have been a little rubbishy.
Have got on to Pete at Futures Australia and he has given me the details/prices for a jig and fin boxes, so wll get it sorted after Chrissy.
One question…I already have a ryobi lam trimmer which I am hoping will work with the futures jig, however I noticed in a You Tube video on installing futures fins boxes, that the trimmer they used sat ‘into’ the collar of the jig. My trimmer has the standard 82mm x 90mm square shaped foot plate which will mean the trimmer cannot sit ‘into’ the jig collar.
Pete seemed to think it would work, and he mentioned that they actually recommend a Maktek MT370 Lam Trimmer. I had a look at the Maktek (online) and it looks alomst identical to my ryobi i.e has the 82 x 90mm square base plate).
Is it a case of removing the base plate so the round body of the trimmer sits into the jig collar?
Would be great to get an idea if the collar set up on the jig has changed since the you tube video was made? Any ideas??
I just sent you a PM but I wanted to mention it here in case others have similar questions, your Ryobi router will most likely work.
The Ryobi that we sold also came with a square faceplace but we offered a round plate that was interchangable, simply using the same screw holes that the square plate was screwed on with. As long as your Ryobi is the same or similar model you can just take one off and screw in the other.
With that faceplate on, the router will adapt into our collar (sometimes called a donut) which serves as a guide when routing out the cavity for the fin box.
yeh I think I will have to check this out with Pete.
The sqaure base plate on my ryobi is a plastic device that actually wraps around the entire body of the trimmer, and can be manually dialled up and down to control depth. It can be taken off completely, but im not sure about screwing on a ‘round plate’ to suit the instal ‘doughnut’ would work, as mentioned that sqaure plate doesnt screw on…it is part of a plastic shroud that envelopes the entire body of the trimmer!!
Pete seemed to recommend a lam trimmer called a MAKTEK MT370, this looks almost identical to the ryobi I have, so will need to speak to him about how the Maktek differs and therefore if I can use my ryobi…hope I can!!!
I got the Ryobi EVT350RG and it works perfectly. The plastic sleeve it comes with slides off and the futures one goes on. These things are real cheap and not too scarey to use.
not sure about getting both base plates when buying ryobi in australia? I certainly didnt get a round base plate when I purchased and their aussie website doesnt mention anything about getting 2 base plates??
and this round base plate that came with the instal jig fitted onto your existing router?
did it screw on? my base plate forms a shroud that wraps right around the body of the router. this shroud can slide up and down the body of the router which controls the position of the base plate i.e depth of cut.
i have had a look at the lam trimmer that you mentioned you had… Ryobi EVT350RG. It looks the same set up as mine. Im not with mine at the moment, but im pretty sure mine is a dark green colour, its about 2 years old, it was the entry type lam trimmer from ryobi when I bought it. I think it’s basically the same as yours, I think ryobi changed colours to a brighter green somewhere along the line?
SO…I assume the ‘round’ base plate that you got from Pete at Futures will slide right on to my trimmer as it did yours?!
based on this i think i need to follow up with pete at futures and get a circular base plate like yours!
I assuming the circular base plate will just slide over the body of the router, just as the square base plate that comes with the router did, is that correct??