router -saw foot control

glennster

Well-known Member
ok so my latest obsession is setting up some woodworking stuff so i can turn quality wood in to kindling. router table,table saw, radial saw, band saw, ect. i would like to get some kind of a switch that you have to step on to keep the machine running, and if you take your foot of, the saw stops. my router table, especially, you have to reach under and lock the trigger to the on switch, then when done reach under and shut it off. basically, plug the machine cord in it, then plug the foot switch in to power. looked around on amazon and wasnt impressed. most were cheap 10 dollar stuff. a trip to the er to get a finger stitched back on is a lot spendy-er. any suggestions as to a good one??
 
You can control a motor with a foot switch.

But, typically the foot switch contacts will have a fairly low amp capacity. That will work for a small motor, a router would be pushing the limits, a table saw would be more than it could handle.

The solution would be to add a magnetic contactor. Some equipment already has this, called a "motor starter", a set of contacts held in by a magnetic coil. The coil draws minuscule current, so the foot switch, and any other start/stop/e-stop circuits can easily handle the load.

If you go the magnetic contactor route, you could even add a bypass switch so you could keep it on for handling long pieces.

Ebay will have some good used switches. Industrial type heavy duty foot switches are very expensive bought new.
 
I put a foot switch on my floor drill press.
Then kept the toggle switch, and added a light. The master/toggle switch has to be on for everything to work. So if the light is on, then the foot switch is active. So if the light is out then you cannot accidentally turn on the drill press.

Dusty
 
My only concern is that it might be easier to accidentally start machines by stepping on the wrong place, or dropping something on the switch. I also like to have both feet firmly on the floor when I am using stationary power tools, especially with heavier pieces of wood, but that might be different for others. I mostly see those kind of foot switches being used with handheld power tools where you bring the tool to the wood, which seems safer to me. Best of luck with setting up your shop, wood is a lot of fun to mess with.
Zach
 
Don't do this. By installing a contact switch you will make the machine cumbersome. When a machine gets cumbersome it's distracting and makes it more dangerous. You need to concentrate on running the machine and which direction you are pushing your hands. As long as you never have your hands pushing toward anything cutting you should be safe. Keep all the factory guards in place until you get a lot of experience and you should be safe. On a router table you could fabricate a hold down which would be in front of the cutter. This would make the would route better if it's kept firmly on the table and also put a barrier between your hands and the bit.
 
Zach, good point on the accidental start. Didn't think of that. Have to figure out plan b.
 
I did woodworking for 25 years. A foot operated switch sounds dangerous to me for those tools. You often have to re-position your body when sawing or routing; that would make it hard to maintain constant contact on a foot switch. Once your foot came off the switch, the saw or router is likely to grab the wood and send it flying towards you.
 
The only woodworking machine I would consider using a foot switch on would be a drill press. I used one a few times that had an automotive starter switch on it.
 
Glennster, if it was me I'd get a 4"x4" ele. box and attach it to your router table. I'd get a on/off switch and a recepticle and a plug in cord. Wire the recepticle to be controled by the switch which is powered by the cord plugged into the wall. Plug the router into the added recepticle with the new switch OFF. Lock on the switch on your router and control the on/off of your router with the new switch you have added.

But that's just how I'd do it. REMEMBER...safety first!
 
There are remote control switches you can set up to turn equipment on and off like you would a TV. It still presents a danger of accidentally turning the equipment on.
 
Check out mcmaster carr and see if they still sell the allen bradley foot switch. It will run home shop tools. I have a table saw and a radial arm saw running thru one and love them especially on the radial arm. Both are wired in parallel so either the stock switch or the foot switch can be used. The allen bradley switch is covered so it isn't easy to mistakenly turn on the tool. OH, the table saw connects with a twist lok so it can be taken off to move.
 
Glennster,I used a old foot style automotive dimmer switch on my glass bead machine,wired up with 2 female spade connectors plenty heavy enough amp wise.It turns the air on and off so you don't have to hold down a button with your hand.The same should work good for your router.
 
I agree 100%, I have two machines set up this way myself. Been using them for 20+ years and they work great.
 
Den N Ms:

An automotive Dimmer Switch is Click On - Click Off, he needs something that is a "Normally Open, Momentary Contact" switch, such as a Roller Switch under a treadle plate.

:>)
 
If you go to youtube and look for the swag portable band saw table. It comes with the foot switch you would be looking for. I see several reviews but not the one that popped up a while back that I watched.
 
I cant envision how a momentary switch operated with one's foot is more dangerous than a maintained contact switch operated by hand but maybe I am a shallow thinker???
Harbor Freight has a pretty decent one for something like $14. They are handy for certain machines that get turned off an on a lot and when both hands are tied up. I have had them on my belt sander that is used to deburr parts off the mill and lathe and another on my bead blast cabinet that operates the light and vacuum for probably 10 years.
 
I bought the Bosch router table from Amazon. It's a little pricey but IMHO it's worth it. The router plugs into the table and the table has a paddle off/on switch on the front. It has adjustable finger guides to keep the stock against the fence. We made all of our trim for the new house we built using a router mounted in that table.
 
Get one with a protective cover to prevent accidental starting of the machine. I had one on a honing machine and it would be bad if you stepped on switch with stones hanging .
 
Well as for myself i have not found the need for a foot controled switch for any of my wood working machines and the only one that i do not have at this moment is a shaper . The use of guides feather boards and push paddles and push sticks and of course guards and anti kick backstops and the biggie , keeping your finders away from moving parts . Myself i want both feet planted firmly on the floor to maintain good footing and balance . One more good thing to have in you TERMITE FOOD PROCESSING DEPT. is good lighting and a dust collection system .
 
A foot switch is very handy on a jig saw, especially if it is a variable speed control. Jig saws are low powered and the work can be small and delicate. I can sit at the jig saw, guide the work piece into the blade with both hands and control the blade speed with my foot without worrying about loosing my balance. I would not want a foot switch any machine that I operate standing up. I like to have my feet planted solidly on the floor when working with the higher powered machines.

For your machines that have a switch in a awkward place, try to move the switch to a handier location.
 
After watching some of the woodworking guy on TV (forget his name) He uses all old style hand tools. I am amazed at how fast it actually goes. Makes me rethink the whole power tool thing. I seem to spend a lot of time just setting up the tooling.
 

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