The WR600 or LittleRat with a 900mm Sliding Bar. An extra complete CamLock has been added, and a measuring rod. This is attached to the top of the channel and projects out to the left, in effect to lengthen the effectiveness of the channel. The machine has the dovetailing capability of the WR5 and the newer section WR900.
WR600 with old style (WR5) section and with added 900mm sliding bar set up for dovetailing. on the left is the orange parallelogram raised to work above the measuring rod projecting left to take the Mark for dovetail ing, and joint positions.
Fitting a 900mm sliding bar to the 600mm channel of the LittleRat or WR 600.
By introducing the LittleRat version of the WoodRat we had hoped to compete directly with router tables and to sell into stores. We knew that the WoodRat had far greater capability, and that router tables had got increasingly expensive without increasing their capabilities, it should have been a contender: but it was not to be, the router table is easy to sell just because it’s so limited in scope, and it remains your retailer’s go-to next step up from buying a router.
In any case, even though it was less expensive, we felt uncomfortable selling a product with less than the full WoodRat capability, The question was always “ how does the 600 compare with the 900?” and the answer always got in the way of explaining what the big WoodRat could do. By the time the potential buyer understood the basics of the system he was sold on the bigger machine. Having worked out how much he was saving in not buying a router table, dovetail jig and mortise and tenon jig etc., he was sold on the big WoodRat. The shop keeper would have also worked out how much he was not selling to the customer, and would have lost enthusiasm for the WoodRat. And so, too often, buyers of the WR600 would quickly get to know what it could do and would wish to upgrade to the full capability of the 900. We took the decision: concentrate on the full machine and develop it further. Offer one machine only.
Which leaves us needing a simple way to upgrade to 900 capability, from the LittleRat and the 600.
The obvious course (apart from selling the WR600 on ebay and buying a new WR900), is to replace the 600mm sliding bar with a 900mm bar. This will accommodate Marker Position and Cutter Position on the bar set in the 600 channel, and an extra fence and cam lock and with the centre plate and spirals you will have full WR900 WoodRat capability for dovetailing and tenoning, finger joints and all. The longer bar will also work with the MR4 900 mortise rail, and the Pathfinder Pf1.
The measuring rod, sold with the sliding bar, will effectively increase the length of the channel from 600 to over 900mm.
It will need to be attached to the channel top. You could use double sided tape, or drill for a couple of self-tapping screws to give a more permanent fixing.
This is all that’s needed… nearly.
The wire may be too short because the earlier LittleRats and 600’s have the lay rod with the wheel set a little way out to the right. Join the wires with a neat fisherman’s knot.
The measuring rod, sold with the sliding bar, will effectively increase the length of the channel from 600 to over 900mm.
It will need to be attached to the channel top. You could use double sided tape, or drill for a couple of self-tapping screws to give a more permanent fixing.
This is all that’s needed…
nearly.
The wire may be too short because the earlier LittleRats and 600’s have the lay rod with the wheel set a little way out to the right. Join the wires with a neat fisherman’s knot.
If you have the old channel section 600 it will take an old section 900mm bar: then all you need is an extra length of wire. We have a limited stock of the old section 900mm bars. The New channel section will work with the new section 900mm sliding bar.
The old section channel will work with the new section bar, but there’s a lot of play in the system, the new tongues are narrower than the old. The simple way of taking out the slack is to screw the ali fences in place, and when placing the wooden faces, pull the fence forward with the fingers and push on the face with the thumb as you tighten its screws. If there is still some rattle, that should firm it up, but if any slack remains it will be removed as you tighten the workpiece in the cam lock.
Upgrade Kit LittleRat to 900
Sliding bar complete with racking.
Ali Fence and 2xM8 20 countersunk screws and Wooden Face and M4 10’s and 4 M4 nuts
Measuring Rod. 2x M4 25 2x M4 nuts
WireManual version 10.4.3
You may need two fences and faces if you have the earlier nylon fences.
In addition for dovetailing:
2 Spirals
Centre Plate complete.
WR600 Plate
GuideRail set complete.
Upgrade Kit 600 to 900
Sliding bar complete with racking.
Ali Fence and 2xM8 20 countersunk screws and Wooden Face and M4 10’s and 4 M4 nuts
Measuring Rod. 2x M4 25 2x M4 nuts
Wire
Manual version 10.4.3
You may need two fences and faces if you have the earlier nylon fences.
Tell us which section channel you have – old or new – so that we can match it to the 900mm sliding bar