Plunge router with precision adjustment mechanism and conversion kit

A plunge router constructed for free hand use or mounting beneath a work table comprising:

• a. a base adapted to be connected to a work table and defining a central opening;
• b. a router head assembly comprising a drive motor, a drive shaft, a collet and a housing, said drive shaft projecting from said motor toward said base in alignment with said base opening so that a router bit mounted in said collet can project through said opening for engaging a work piece on the table top;
• c. a plunge guide assembly supporting said router head assembly for movement toward and away from said base;
• d. said router head assembly biased toward a default position spaced away from said base a maximum extent along said plunge guide assembly;
• e. a retracted position adjusting mechanism coacting between said base and said head assembly for blocking movement of said head assembly to said first default position from a second, adjusted retracted position, said retracted position adjusting mechanism comprising a threaded force transmitting member fixed to said base and projecting toward said head assembly, an abutment element projecting from said head assembly transverse to the direction of extent of said threaded member and an adjustment member threaded to said force transmitting member and engagable with said abutment element to adjustably change said head assembly second retracted position;
• f. said head assembly further comprising a second head assembly abutment element;
• and,
• g. a precision adjustment mechanism for moving said head assembly a precise distance from said second position to precisely position a router bit relative to said base opening, said adjustment mechanism comprising a first positioner fixed to said base and extending to said second abutment element, a second positioner engaging said second abutment element and said first positioner and a drive transmission coupling said first and second positioners, said drive transmission operative to shift said second positioner along said first positioner to change the distance between said base and said second abutment element, said second positioner comprising a manually actuatable structure disposed remote from said second abutment element, said manually actuatable structure operating said drive transmission to incrementally shift said head assembly for precisely positioning a router bit.