Open/closed mouth router

[Yorkshire Sam]

sorry in advance if this is an ***** question but can someone explain the advantages of a closed mouth router over an open mouth router and vice versa. And where would you use one in preference to the other?

 

[JohnPW]

Closed mouth is better on a narrow workpiece, open mouth is better for seeing where it cuts.

 

[PAC1]

Get the Veritas and have both open or closed. All you do is turn the blade holder to the other side of the post.

 

[AndyT]

The Stanley or Record router has a depth stop which can also be used to close the mouth.
If you have an open router but no stop you can fit it onto a thin wooden base to achieve the same effect.