Inverted router?

[Dave Bagwill]

Can someone explain what an 'inverted router' is? The brand is Osrud.

[Bob Matthews]

Errmm, a router turned upside down? :P

[Dave Bagwill]

Bob, oh Bob - a valiant effort, but you do not win the rubber ducky. :-)

Turns out it is also called a 'pin router' - great for following templates and such, useful for inlays and other things, I'm just learning about them myself. I've been offered a good use one at a very low price, just wondering if anyone here has used one and what he/she/it (?) may think about it.

[ken cierp]

Essentially old production tech

[dave d]

Dave, there's a pin router at the local community woodworking shop, and the only thing it is used for is intricate template routing. In applications where you would use a small diameter bit, i.e., an eighth of an inch or less, for doing inlay work etc. then it works great. The pin on top, same diameter as the bit, rides against the template that is stuck to the top of the workpiece, and underneath the workpiece the bit removes the material. For larger applications with a template, I suspect people generally use a regular router with a top or bottom-mounted bearing on the bit. I could certainly see the pin router being used for headstock or fretboard inlay work.

[Dave Bagwill]

So the 'pin' acts as a bearing. Aha. I could maybe see using it as a production tool, but to call my output 'production' would be straining the limits of the language...
Thanks for the info.