Which trim router?

[YorkshireMartin]

I'm in the market for a single handed trim router. I only want it for chamfering the edges on finished pieces. It will be used on hard woods as well as ply, but chamfering will be it's only task.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I'd appreciate it, as I've looked at a few and they all kind of look similar.

 

[monkeybiter]

I've got one of these, approx. £35 on Amazon.

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/katsu-router-trimmer-t92553.html?hilit=katsu

There are other threads on the same router. IMHO very good value for money.

 

[flh801978]

I recently bought a bosch gkf 600 from axminster cant praise it enough
nice and easy to change bits and height... light to handle...ideal for shamfering etc
the kit i bought from axi came with 2 collets and a angle adjustable base and dust extraction parts
I bought one from screwfix that didnt have these parts for only £10 less took that one back and ordered from axi

Ian

 

[Wuffles]

There didn't seem to be any way of fitting a leigh guide bush adaptor into the Bosch, or I'd probably get one.

 

[MikeJhn]

Wuffles

In case you have missed my previous posts, the Leigh e7 Bush fits perfectly into the transparent base of the Draper Expert Router, with its three LED lights shining through the base IMO its the perfect router for the Leigh jigs.

Mike

 

[Wuffles]

Wuffles

In case you have missed my previous posts, the Leigh e7 Bush fits perfectly into the transparent base of the Draper Expert Router, with its three LED lights shining through the base IMO its the perfect router for the Leigh jigs.

Mike

It also fits the OF1010 and the OF2200 I already have.

Specifically looking for a trim router that it will fit in, so have bought one of the Katsu efforts and will see if I can manage without it. Or find some comedy way of nailing some adaptor into it.

It's not for a Leigh jig particularly, it's for the UJK guide bush set and the Whiteside inlay set I use from time to time which both fit into the Leigh adaptor.

 

[marcros]

I liked the makita one for its versatility but for the OP it is hard to justify over the cheap one for a single function.

 

[John15]

I have the Bosch 600 and am pleased enough with it. No idea how it compares to the others.

John

 

[YorkshireMartin]

Wuffles

In case you have missed my previous posts, the Leigh e7 Bush fits perfectly into the transparent base of the Draper Expert Router, with its three LED lights shining through the base IMO its the perfect router for the Leigh jigs.

Mike

It also fits the OF1010 and the OF2200 I already have.

Specifically looking for a trim router that it will fit in, so have bought one of the Katsu efforts and will see if I can manage without it. Or find some comedy way of nailing some adaptor into it.

It's not for a Leigh jig particularly, it's for the UJK guide bush set and the Whiteside inlay set I use from time to time which both fit into the Leigh adaptor.

Have you looked at the OFK 500? If so, what did you think of it?

 

[YorkshireMartin]

I liked the makita one for its versatility but for the OP it is hard to justify over the cheap one for a single function.

I saw that one, if its the one I'm thinking of. I think it was £199 so considerably more than the bosch and approaching festool territory.

What advantages does it provide over the bosch in terms of versatility? It's very possibly that I'm missing something.

 

[Wuffles]

Wuffles

In case you have missed my previous posts, the Leigh e7 Bush fits perfectly into the transparent base of the Draper Expert Router, with its three LED lights shining through the base IMO its the perfect router for the Leigh jigs.

Mike

It also fits the OF1010 and the OF2200 I already have.

Specifically looking for a trim router that it will fit in, so have bought one of the Katsu efforts and will see if I can manage without it. Or find some comedy way of nailing some adaptor into it.

It's not for a Leigh jig particularly, it's for the UJK guide bush set and the Whiteside inlay set I use from time to time which both fit into the Leigh adaptor.

Have you looked at the OFK 500? If so, what did you think of it?

I spent a load of money on the sideways handle and adaptors to turn the OF1010 into a trim router, used it a couple of times, but wasn't in the mood to chuck more money Festool's way on one of their specific tools :|

There is a Whiteside double bearing guided up/down cut bit that works beautifully as a trimmer on a normal router btw - I think it's this one: http://routercutter.co.uk/whiteside-rft2100

I use a router more than a trim router really, intrigued to know what this Katsu turns out like when I get it. Like others have said, for the price, you could have a number of them permanently loaded with your most used bits.

 

[Droogs]

I have bot yhe makita and the kamatsu and find there is no difference between them apart from the badging. I would recommend the kamatsu but rather than just getting the single router at £35 get the full kit with all the bases and fences at ~£100. so happy I did

edit
everything is interchangeable too

 

[custard]

The Festool trim routers are pretty specialised tools, they are unbelievably good for certain applications (for example, laminate and veneer trimming) but their excellence in these areas limits their usefulness in other areas. Most significantly you can barely see the cutter on the Festool trim routers, thats by design and it is what it is. Consequently they're pretty useless for things like freehand waste clearing for hinge mortices.

I use both a Festool trim router and a De Walt trim router, but if I only had one it would have to be the De Walt because of its versatility (or the Bosch or the Makita, I've used them too in various workshops and there's not that much between them)

Incidentally, trim routers would be no good for a Leigh jig, because you need to use 1/2" cutters with a Leigh and trim routers are limited to 8mm max with some even capped at 1/4".

 

[pike]

I have bot yhe makita and the kamatsu and find there is no difference between them apart from the badging. I would recommend the kamatsu but rather than just getting the single router at £35 get the full kit with all the bases and fences at ~£100. so happy I did

edit
everything is interchangeable too

What do you get for £100? As far as I can see it's just the angled base and plunge base? If it's only going to be used for rounding edges I think the £35 deal makes sense or am I missing something? Surely most have another router for other tasks. Cheers! Carl.

 

[Wuffles]

The Festool trim routers are pretty specialised tools, they are unbelievably good for certain applications (for example, laminate and veneer trimming) but their excellence in these areas limits their usefulness in other areas. Most significantly you can barely see the cutter on the Festool trim routers, thats by design and it is what it is. Consequently they're pretty useless for things like freehand waste clearing for hinge mortices.

I use both a Festool trim router and a De Walt trim router, but if I only had one it would have to be the De Walt because of its versatility (or the Bosch or the Makita, I've used them too in various workshops and there's not that much between them)

Incidentally, trim routers would be no good for a Leigh jig, because you need to use 1/2" cutters with a Leigh and trim routers are limited to 8mm max with some even capped at 1/4".

Was that for me? I'm not using a 1/2" cutter, as I explained, I am using my UJK set of bushings which screw into the Leigh adaptor.

 

[Droogs]

I have bot yhe makita and the kamatsu and find there is no difference between them apart from the badging. I would recommend the kamatsu but rather than just getting the single router at £35 get the full kit with all the bases and fences at ~£100. so happy I did

edit
everything is interchangeable too

What do you get for £100? As far as I can see it's just the angled base and plunge base? If it's only going to be used for rounding edges I think the £35 deal makes sense or am I missing something? Surely most have another router for other tasks. Cheers! Carl.

Hi Carl
you get the 3 bases and all the various adapter brackets for attaching fences and guides etc. each of the(kamatsu) bases sell for around £40 each on their own. so collective buying is a little bit of a saving anda huge saving on the makita prices and they fit stright on. it also allows you to be more versitile with it as well. You soon discover loads of other ways you can use it, including being excellent for fitting to small cnc machines.

 

[YorkshireMartin]

Thank you for all the responses guys. I'm still pondering which model to choose but this has narrowed it down to 3 models. Bosch, Katsu and green kool aid.

 

[Wuffles]

I know which one of those I probably wouldn't be entertaining.

 

[pike]

Cheers droogs. Like YorkshireMartin I just want something for rounding edges. So I might just get the basic model and perhaps regret it later I've got a 1/4" dewalt for other things.

 

[Wuffles]

I'm in the market for a single handed trim router. I only want it for chamfering the edges on finished pieces. It will be used on hard woods as well as ply, but chamfering will be it's only task.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I'd appreciate it, as I've looked at a few and they all kind of look similar.

In fact, going back to your original post, get the Katsu.