Routers and tables

[TobyB]

Some thoughts/advice please.

I want a router ... mainly for workshop use, that could be larger bits of door, etc ... or smaller boxes, picture frames etc.

I mainly see myself using it in the workshop, so I was looking at a table router, but could see it being used around the house - on the kitchen worktop for instance.

So - I was thinking of a powerful router, and a table that was portable and could fold away, so was less inclined to look at building a big table (no space in the workshop) and was looking at something like a Trend T11 in their PRT table (expensive - worth it?), or a Triton in their fold-away table.

Does anyone use either of these combinations - good, bad? Are there better ideas?

Cheers

Toby

 

[neilricketts]

Hi, i have the triton router and the triton router table and it is absolutely brilliant. The only downside i have of the trriton router table is there is no mitre slot for fitting a mitre gauge to it. Other than that it is brilliant.

Cheers Neil

 

[OPJ]

Keep an eye out in your local B&Qs for Triton routers - they're going for less than £100 there and are supposed to be the bee's-knees when it comes to table routers.

And yes, you are better off buying two separate routers, if you can afford it. That way, you can leave one fixed in a router table so you don't have to keep removing it.

As for freehand work, I have a Makita 3612C. At over £200, it may be over your budget. But, if you intend to do heavy work on kitchen worktops, etc., then really, you will need a big 1/2" router with an 1,800w motor minimum.

 

[Sawdust]

I got one of the Tritons from B&Q and mounted it in a table. Have a look here https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... hp?t=21838 for more details.

It is a very nice machine to have in a table. The height adjuster works well and it has plenty of power, however as a hand-held router I didn't like it. It feels a bit top heavy and I much prefer a more conventional shape.

Also, if you are only going to have one router, be aware of how long it takes to take it out of the table and put it back in. In my case. that would mean removing 4 screws, putting the spring back in place, possibly putting the dust extraction/guards back in place and then the same again to put it back which would be quite a pain to do. If I was only going to have one router, I wouldn't go for the Triton and I would want a much easier way of switching between table and hand-held use.

That said, it's great in the table and at £98 from B&Q a pretty good deal.

Cheers
Mike