Worktop router buying advice

[mailee]

I needed a good router for worktops and after a couple of bad buys I ended up with the De Walt 625ek. This machine is perfect for the job and tough as old boots. (dropped it a number of times) I would certainly recommend this one, not cheap but you gets what you pay for. :wink:

 

[jobsagooden]

I'd expect a decent industrial quality power tool to last 3 years of normal trade use without breaking down. So I've never included an extended warranty as a purchase criterion. Incidentally I have bought mostly Hitachi in the past and none of it's ever had a problem, even the Ni-Cad's have lasted up to 5 years. My old TR12 router is over 20 years old and still going strong.
cheers,

Ike

Isn't Metabo Industrial quality :?: I think you might have a good point on this purchase as it will never be used as much as my sander would.

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Windmill Man

Welcome to the forum.

Cheers
Neil

 

[Scrit]

Isn't Metabo Industrial quality :?: I think you might have a good point on this purchase as it will never be used as much as my sander would.

It would be if the router wasn't actually made by Felisatti (like the Trend T9 - identical apart from the plunge dial indicator and different base plate) - the big Metabo is just as heavy as a DW or Makita. The Felisatti router has been also been sold as Fein (in the USA), Holz-Her (slightly different body casing), Trend T9 (different base plate) as well as Metabo (dial plunge indicator) and under its own name in Italy and elsewhere (see model R346). I don't recall the T9 getting itself a wonderful reputation, though. Maybe why Trend now buy from DW

BTW the big Freuds are also "badge engineered" Casals designs

Scrit

 

[jobsagooden]

Don't just hate thinking you have a choice. When you don't. What about on my sander i'm sending back for repair (when they pick it up still waiting since wednesday) (it's a sxe450), I see dw are now selling the same sander?

How do you find this stuff out :?: :?: :?:

Maybe if I want to be sure who makes it i should buy festool :!: :!: :!:

Do anyone think festool saves you money in long run :?:

 

[Scrit]

Don't just hate thinking you have a choice. When you don't. What about on my sander I'm sending back for repair (when they pick it up still waiting since wednesday) (it's a sxe450), I see dw are now selling the same sander?

As are Mafell with the Bosch sander, however they sell rebadged AEG/Milwaukee cordless tools (look at the battery designs in particular) . Metabo used to supply a heck of a lot of grinder gearboxes and motors to firms making biscuit jointers - including Lamello. Kress (probably unknown here apart from Wickes grey power tools) are another firm who make loads of stuff for others, as do Sparky.

How do you find this stuff out :?: :?: :?:

A few years living abroad and noting the similarities, a few visits to trade shows abroad and being pally with one of the local power tool dealers (only because he was trying to sell to my business, though.....) - all helps. I spent a few years working on the edge of the German tool trade and the public personas of the firm belie their dealings behind closed doors. I've found the same in a couple of other manufacturing sectors as well

Maybe if I want to be sure who makes it i should buy festool :!: :!: :!:

Except for the fact that the small Festool routers are also sold in a slightly different guise as the Mafell LO50e whilst the big Festool, the OF2000 is in fact a rebadged Mafell LO65e with a different base (confirmed by a factory rep from Mafell on a stand at a trade show a few years back) - compare the stuff from the NMA website and look at the equivalence lists for collets, etc on the Trend website and you'll begin to see what I mean

Scrit

 

[Anonymous]

Do anyone think festool saves you money in long run :?:

No, had two, big router and the jigsaw, both broke on being dropped, on the router the alloy casing cracked and on the jigsaw the lead attachment broke.

Now dewalt and trend mainly, find both can be dropped from a substantial height :lol:

 

[jobsagooden]

Now dewalt and trend mainly, find both can be dropped from a substantial height :lol:

I do have lots of dewalt and i have to admit none have broken yet.

 

[jobsagooden]

Sorry to drag this up again but not yet made mind up.

Had decided on Trend T11, then the guy in the local hire shop said he had 6 in his shops and they were going through brushes every 3 - 4 hires! So he had moved onto Makita and all going well.
Hire shop thing or any one else experienced this :?:

Any way screwfix is money off (up £100) their all ready low prices see www.screwfix.com so it's:

trend t11, www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=32101&ts=86090

makita 3612 1650w www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=12938&ts=85767#

Or dewalt with jig screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=58197&ts=86129

Which would you chose.

Jobsa

 

[MooreToolsPlease]

DeWalt 625 for me!
My dad has always used them for the past 20 years, started with an Elu.
Never had to send any back for repair, just wore out with too much use!

 

[tim]

A brief overview of my routers:

DW625 which is great but heavy. Very powerful, poor dx and reasonably top heavy so easy to tip. If the fine adjuster is fitted it has a tendency to rotate in motion which is annoying and can be dangerous if it forces the cutter to stay exposed post plunge

Festool OF1400 which I love for a whole bunch of reasons - the handle design makes it very stable, the dust extraction is simply incredible and the winner for convenience is the fact that the collet is braked so the cutters stop within a couple of secs - no damage to surfaces by inadvertently putting down when still spinning DAMHIKT.

Trend T11 - this is going back. Bought purely to be inverted in table. It’s the third I’ve had in 12 months. 1st went back because of a recall. 2nd went back because of bearing problems - had them repaired but probs still occurred. In fairness to trend they then replaced it. Third one is now doing it as well and overheating - it is the same basic design as the DW625 so no effective shrouding against dust and debris entering the router body even with good extraction above and below the table. If used freehand then the same spinning of the adjuster occurs but also the square brass nut at the base has an alarming tendency to jump out too which can cause it to jerk on plunging. Plus the collet lock is sticking so the cutter has to be wiggled to make the lock disengage. Not great really.

I have just ordered a Triton to replace the T11 so I shall let you know how I get on with that. I may well just have been unlucky with the T11s I had but I don’t get the same probs when I invert the 625.

I have just spoken to Trend who couldn’t have been more helpful – they have arranged a full refund through the retailer and will be picking the router up from me tomorrow. That is the way to manage what could have been a very negative situation - well done them.

Cheers

Tim

 

[ivan]

Recently sent back two CMT 625 lookalikes because of bit run out. My original DW 625 is perfect here. So I bought a second DW 625 although dearer, acceptable runout, has some evidence of design modification by accountants over version 1. I believe all the 625 lookalikes are made in the same Italian factory, but not necessarily to the same spec?

Inverted in router table is the big Ryobi (600E??) with carefully made under table extraction the motor stays clean.

 

[jobsagooden]

Thanks so much for all your help.

Went for the dw625. With jig. Also brought freud cutter set for half price, as well as some other bits and got the £100 off! so very happy so far. Will be giving a test asap!

 

[jobsagooden]

Just a quick update.

625 went back is the cutter and guide where a little out, and know way of adjusting. So replaced with Trent T11, same router BUT you can adjust the guide so it is in perfectly with cutter. Also better for putting in bench.

Why aren't all routers made with this?