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I have made a planer table that uses a sled on top to use my router as the planing device. After using it for a good 45 minutes to an hour, my $60 Performax router is getting very warm.
Do I need to give it a break? Will I regret for life not giving it a rest because it shall just fry up?
I ask this because normally I would give it a break but there are some days when I am busy and need stuff planed and would prefer not to stop if I do not need to.
A small router like that is not optimal for use in a planing sled. Small universal motors like that can overheat and be permanently damaged. If you want to use this method for planing, you should at least look at getting a quality 2 1/2 - 3 horsepower router. If that is not a cost effective option for you, consider getting another router like the one you have and swapping them out every 15 minutes or so.
There is a reason induction motors are used in commercial/industrial systems instead of universal motors - duty cycle. A quality induction motor can be run for hours at a time with no ill effects.
Yeah, you're overusing it. But depending on what your situation is, that might be okay.
If you plan to do this a lot, and you can make an up front investment, a better quality router will be much nicer to use and will last for years.
If this is a hobby you're trying out, and the router + sled is giving you a satisfactory result, then go hog wild, man.
The internet will always be glad to give you a way to spend more money, and they're usually right at the professional level. In my shop, I can afford to replace a burnt out $60 router every 2 or 3 years. I buy used stuff and keep it creative in a way that would never work if this were my living. Your mileage may vary.
