Which router of these two?

[Uk-Cobra]

Hi all,
Hopeing for a bit of divine guidance

I'm about to buy a router, first time of using one: I'm in a dilemma right now I have a choice but cant decide with my limited knowledge.
Options avalible at this:
1/ New Bosch POF1400ACE £81.00 and make a table.
2/ Secondhand Trend T5 with Trend table offered to me for £130

I've always bought Bosch and I have no idea which of these two is the best path. Thanks in advance for any hints or recommendation.

 

[Spindle]

Hi

If it's going into a table I'd hold out for a 1/2" router - I went for a Trend T11

Regards Mick

 

[Graham Orm]

I doubt a T5 is up to table work. If it's already been used on the table by the seller you might well be buying a pup.

 

[Uk-Cobra]

I appreciate the input very much indeed: On that note I think I'm going to go with the Bosch for now, that's about my limit money-wise. Any 1/2" I look out will be out of my price range or some Silverline product and Id rather stay clear of that for this type of machine. I'm not going to be putting it under any great load, will probably for 1/2 cm inlay, rebates and edging mostly, If things change down the road maybe Ill have the opportunity to scale up.
I thank e one and all =D>

 

[RossJarvis]

I appreciate the input very much indeed: On that note I think I'm going to go with the Bosch for now, that's about my limit money-wise. Any 1/2" I look out will be out of my price range or some Silverline product and Id rather stay clear of that for this type of machine. I'm not going to be putting it under any great load, will probably for 1/2 cm inlay, rebates and edging mostly, If things change down the road maybe Ill have the opportunity to scale up.
I thank e one and all =D>

I've got a Makita 3612C which is a 1/2" jobby and tough as old boots, it's not got a great deal of finesse about it but it'll do any job thrown at it and more, plus it'll last for years. They've been replaced and can be got cheaply second hand off "evil bay" (£50 and up). It's one of the last well built tradesman's tools they did. You'd probably never need another router with one of these. It's fairly easy to screw the base to a bit of MDF, upside down for a table, the only issue is over-riding the "dead-mans-switch" but a piece of gaffer tape will do that.

Personally I'm getting wary of Bosch Blue these days, I think the quality's dropping. I've got a four year old planer, with hardly any use, which has already burnt out a belt due to alignment problems (within a year), clogs unless strapped up to a vacuum, the retracting foot thingy is rubbish and the single blade is not up to much (at up to £9 each!), It also doesn't give anywhere near the finish claimed for it. (Mind you I've also got a Bosch SDS Hammer Drill which is great).

 

[nicguthrie]

I don't have a great deal of experience with brands, having not had much exposure to anything but what the workshop I use has available, and the few tools I own. But for some reason the three "professional" woodies that I have regular contact with have all given me advice to avoid Bosch if and when I buy myself a router etc. The reasons I've been given are all to do with build quality and longevity of the recent stuff. I've been told to go for DeWalt and Makita, and to avoid Ryobi for the same reasons as Bosch. This is of course when talking about mid-range gear... If I was rich, I'd just go for Festool

Nic.

 

[Uk-Cobra]

UPDATE
Wanted to do a little addition here regards my personal choice and findings. In the end I went for The Bosch POA 1400-ACE Now dont get me wrong I'm very pleased as its all I expected when considered as a plunge router. But I am also hopping mad, especially as Bosch told me this model was good for a table mount? The Bosch POA 1400-ACE now comes with a deadman trigger and as a result is most certainly not recommended for table use Arrgghhh *%%"$. I'm sorry I cannot think of a more inappropriate tool to have a switch of this type fitted; Bosch its a damn router!
So unless you have a willing midget who will sit under your preferred table holding the button in at your every command dont by this if table mount is your end goal.
Rant over

 

[tomm41pvm]

You need to buy an NVR switch. You can pick them up for about £20. Just tape the trigger up on the router, then plug the router into the NVR, and then plug the NVR into the mains socket. Your router will then be able to be switched on and off using the NVR switch. It is actually better because you can position the NVR somewhere convenient, so your not always reaching under the table to turn your router on and off

 

[MMUK]

1/ New Bosch POF1400ACE £81.00 and make a table.

Am I the only one who finds the model number quite amusing? Po Face :lol:

 

[Uk-Cobra]

Tom

The reply I had today was exactly as you have suggested. Apparently All routers will now come like this due to Health and safety :evil:

I found it rather funny that they quoted the health and safety as a valid reason, then suggested that I taped or cable tied the trigger. Honestly the world is mad :lol:

Well I plugged her in today and used it for a few bits and bobs and I can tell you they aint having it back. I love it as a hand held, been knocking up a table base and sliding fence today so I can do a bit more with it hand held. There is no doubt that it would be so much nicer if it had the ability to stay on. Ill look for the switches, thanks again for that I knew I needed one but didn't know what they were called so that helped (homer)

MM.. That was kinda what my face looked at when I realized the router kept turning off :wink: