What router should I buy?

[logchopper]

It's about time I got myself one, would be interested to hear what people would recommend...

Budget is around £200, but I could go a bit higher if needed. I'm allowing another £80 or so for a set of bits, does that seem reasonable?

 

[Chippyjoe]

Hi,I am sure you will get a lot of different answers to this question but I have the Makita 3612 and the Trend T5 and T11.
They are all good at what they do. It depends on what you want yours for?
Most mouldings can be done on a smaller router,but if you want to fit one in a router table then you need to go for one of the bigger wattage ones.
Or again if you want to do worktop joints etc you need the big one.
I'm happy with my Makita and Trend and would recommend either.
With regards to router bits that is another minefield,general opinion is you get what you pay for.
Having said that if you only want one bit for a one off job and you dont think you will use it again,why pay big money.
I have always stuck to the Trend professional range,Wealden and CMT.
Hope that helps in some way.
Mark.

 

[Argee]

Seems reasonable, but you might want to think again about a set of bits.

Go for ½" bits (i.e., bits with a shaft diameter of ½") over the ¼" ones. Although more expensive, they're much better and can be much safer in use, due to more mass and less breakages.

Usually, sets will contain bits that you'll never use, so figure out what you will use then get those from Wealden. Their mail order is free and their bits are top notch.

Not only will you use all the bits you get, but you'll have better quality bits too.

Ray.

 

[mailee]

As most of the members of the forum know I have a 'few' routers. :roll: I would also recommend the Makita or the De Walt 625 or even the Hitachi M12, Trend T11, Freud 2000. These are all very good routers for use in a table or hand held and most will be ideal for kitchen worktops. They are however heavy beasts so this must be taken into account if using them for light work. I also have a selection of 1/4" routers for lighter work such as signs, small mouldings, biscuit slots, dovetails, etc. Ray has hit the nail on the head with Wealdon and suggesting you only buy what cutters you need, very good advice. Only thing I will add is to buy the best you can afford even if the cheaper ones have a two year replacement guarantee or lots of bells and whistles, what really counts with a router is build quality and accuracy of which the above models all indeed have. It makes sense it will then last you a long time. HTH :wink:

 

[logchopper]

It won't be in a table as I don't have a workshop as such, everything I do is on a Black & Decker workmate in my back yard

Is there any significant difference between the Makita 3612 and the DeWalt 625, or is it pretty much down to "brand preference" between them? A quick Google suggests both could just about be purchased within budget.

Cheers for the advice so far

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Is there any significant difference between the Makita 3612 and the DeWalt 625,

I don't own either machine, but i've read dozens that praise the De'walt 625 over anything else, so that's the one I would go for of the two.

 

[mailee]

I agree with his lordship, I have the DW625 and it has served me very well indeed. It certainly earns it's keep. :wink:

 

[Paul Chapman]

Another vote here for the DeWalt 625. I have the 1/2" DeWalt and the 1/4" Elu MOF 96 (probably the best 1/4" router ever made) but use the DeWalt most of the time now. A very comfortable tool to use and bags of power.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[logchopper]

Am I right in thinking that a machine labelled as 1/2" will also take 1/4" bits? Or is it not that simple? :? :roll:

 

[mailee]

Yes you are correct logchopper, they also come supplied with the 1/4" collet too. Just be careful not to put too much pressure on it if using a 1/4" cutter.

 

[busy builder]

Can I suggest you actually get hold of one or all of the above and see how it feels in the hand, and if possible try one ou.

I tried the Triton and couldn't get on with the rising/lowering mechanism and with the DeWalt/Trend variants I didn't like the handles but the Makita suited me okay.

It's what suits you not the other way round.

 

[logchopper]

It's what suits you not the other way round.

I guess I don't really know what suits me or not yet though - this will be the first router I've owned, up until now I've got by with a chisel and sandpaper

I want to buy something decent that will last, that's all...

 

[busy builder]

Any of the above.

stay away from own brands from B & Q, Homebase, Tesco etc.

 

[John. B]

If you can try before you buy, that would best.
The woodworking show this weekend at Ally Pally would be a good start as, hopefully there would be several to try, if of course you are near enough to get there.
As far as which one?, a lot depends on what use you are going to put it to.
I would go for a quality make, 1/2" (also comes with 1/4" collet) at least 1500w upwards, If you bought a quality 1/2" router as apposed to a quality super expensive router, you could also budget in a quality small trimming router.
Thus you would have one for heavy work and one for light work.
I know that's easy enough my those of us who has several, (I have 8 but that's over a great number of years)
But IMHO you do do need at least two, one for small stuff, the other as big as can get for heavy stuff.
My main Routers are the Big Triton in the table. for big hand held stuff A 1700w Bosch, 2050w trend. for small stuff I use the small Bosch pof 500 I also use A small ferm, cheap but useful.
The others are for different purposes, EG I fit my Stanly to my RAS.

John. B

 

[eggflan]

stay away from own brands from B & Q, Homebase, Tesco etc.

Why ? , I have a few routers , one of which is a cheap mac tools B&Q 1/2" router it cost £49 (this included a table) and ive used it nearly everyday for the last 2 years with no problems at all , i would certainly buy another when it eventually dies

 

[Boatfixer]

My first ever router was a cheap small Ferm from Screwfix - I still reach for it if I want a lightweight trimming job done. A year or so ago Argos were selling off Worx 1/2" routers for £20ish. I had a load of nectar points so I figured it would be a free router for site work that wouldn't bother me if it got nicked or damaged. I'm still really impressed with it a year down the line.

Obviously the more expensive a tool is gives an indication of what sort of quality you are getting and DeWalt, Triton and Makita will give you a really good reliable tool but not all cheapies are that bad and sometimes they are quite good enough for the job at hand...

 

[Streepips]

Busy builder. I was going to warn you but too late. Whatever you do don`t have a pop at the cheapie brands. I did once and got inundated with responses from people with sub £50 routers and hurt feelings.
I still contend, as you obviously do that you get what you pay for.
and you only have to buy the right tool once.
I use a Triton monster lump in the table which it is ideal for
Makita 3612c for kitchen worktops and heavy site work
and Elu 177 for workshop grunt work freehand ( too noisy for site )
Elu 96 for handheld
Trend T3 for a paperweight.
Bought a DW 625 last year ( new) and ebayed it after a week, lots like it but not for me. Ergonomics are wrong somehow.

 

[Dave S]

Key thing about the cheap tools is the quality control (or lack thereof), which means you can get a good one or you can get a duff one.

I had a Power Devil router which lasted me for 7 years and a **** of a lot of work. Alf, who used to post here, had one and I think the bit was slipping in the collet from the get-go, as I recall.

At some stage or another I got a Wickes router which looked identical to the Power Devil (apart from the colour) and it lasted about 3 months.

Dave

 

[woodbloke]

I've had a Bosch router for about 10 years now and it's been very good. If you have a look at the Axminster rating system most tools have a usage rating and I always go for either 'trade' or better 'industrial' - Rob

 

[busy builder]

Busy builder. I was going to warn you but too late. Whatever you do don`t have a pop at the cheapie brands. I did once and got inundated with responses from people with sub £50 routers and hurt feelings.
I still contend, as you obviously do that you get what you pay for.
and you only have to buy the right tool once.
I use a Triton monster lump in the table which it is ideal for
Makita 3612c for kitchen worktops and heavy site work
and Elu 177 for workshop grunt work freehand ( too noisy for site )
Elu 96 for handheld
Trend T3 for a paperweight.
Bought a DW 625 last year ( new) and ebayed it after a week, lots like it but not for me. Ergonomics are wrong somehow.

Agree with all the above, but he did say he had around £200 to spend. I once had a cheapie from Homebase, it was burnt out after 2 worktop joints.