Thread: Best Router

A second hand Hitachi TR12 from cashies is the best bet for a novice. They are built like trucks and just keep going. They are common at cashies and usually sell for around $120 ish. Great routers.

My 2nd hand 30 year old Makita 3600B is a top router. It's big and heavy, so not suited to all routing tasks.

I've also got a Leigh Super 18 jig. It's good. I find that the Makita is too big to use with the Leigh jig. For that I have my first router, a Bosch 400A. I also have a GMC in a router table.

Remember when you buy a Leigh jig to factor in the cost of an appropriate guide bush (I found it cheaper to buy a universal router base for the Bosch) and a 8mm collet. Most routers come with 1/4 or 1/2", so you need to make sure you buy one that can take a different collet. I had to order an 8mm collet in from Sydney tools for my Bosch.

Cheers,

Tom

Hi Damienol,

Just a word of caution about the Leigh dovetail jig. It looks easy to produce fantastic results with this tool particularly in the hands of exhibitors at shows etc. Take my word for it as a user of the jig of over a decade. It isn't!!.

From time to time when I have been using the jig frequently over a number of days I have achieved a high degree of competence with it and excellent results to match such as when making a run of blanket boxes but when you are an infrequent user its almost back to beginner status each time you get it down off its hook.

The key issue and challenge is that the cutters have a pretty deep projection and the nature of the working of the jig is such that the cut has to be made in a single depth pass. To get a good outcome the material has to be removed with a large number of sequential cuts applied in a specific direction and order.

All of this can be learnt but it's a lot easier to learn if you have already spent a lot of hours routing on more mundane tasks so you are thoroughly familiar with the underlying principles, the noise, the dust etc etc.

First make yourself a router stand that you can set the router on upright between cuts. That makes life a lot easier and safer.

Good luck, it's a pretty steep learning curve.

Old Pete

Originally Posted by Damienol

Hi guys,

I have just purchased a Kreg router table and loving it. Have fitted it with a ozito router but thinking it is not really up to scratch. Don't get me wrong I am a budding novice with aspirations to get better.

I am also looking at a dovetail jig and am thinking the Leigh is the way to go.

Anyway I am looking for advice on a good router for a novice with aspirations to me more. And money is tight

I have owned a TR12 for about 200 years. I think I bought it second hand from Noah. And yes it is built like a truck. But it has a few draw backs for use in a table.
1. It is not variable speed so you cannot use large panel raising bits with it.
2. It does not have a fine depth adjustment control
3. It requires two spanners to change router bits
4. The springs are not really meant to be taken in and out quickly.

The combination of these four factors make changing bits difficult and getting very precise height adjustment only slightly less difficult than brain surgery (when held upside down in a router table that is.)

So for router table use it is a pain in the bum to use. In my opinion, and having used one extensively in a router table, I would recommend a Triton router. They are purpose built for use in a router table.

The router most recommended for router tables is the Triton

Originally Posted by TomH

My 2nd hand 30 year old Makita 3600B is a top router. It's big and heavy, so not suited to all routing tasks.

Good Morning Damien

I fully support Tom's view. My 30 year old Makita is bullet-proof. But it is very heavy, torque is fantastic (held free-hand, it kicks in your hands when you switch it on), it is single speed, and not as easily/finely adjustable as others. But an excellent machine in the router table. Hand-held its very heavy and you always remember that kick.

You might like to consider that you will eventually move to two routers, a big bullet-proof one to use in the router table, plus a small easily hand-held on for free-hand and template work.

This might guide your thinking a little.

Cheers

Graeme

The first router I owned was a Hitachi TR12 that I bought for $100. I put this in my router table and it was a beast. I used a car jack to raise and lower the router and it worked a treat. The only thing I didn't like was that I had to go under the table to change bits.
I then bought a Triton as you can change the bits from above the table, and also it has an adjuster wheel on the router that allows you to raise and lower it. I'm a big fan of the Triton.
As for dovetail jigs, I bought a second hand leigh jig when I first started out. The thing looked complicated, probably because it didn't come with instructions etc. I hear a lot of users say it's annoying to set up, but once they get the hang of it it's great to use. I sold it soon after.
I now own a Gifkin jig, and it's brilliant. You can get an extra templated that allows you to use thicker/thinner stock, as well as finger joints. They have also just recently came out with a longer jig.

Andy

May I butt in here?
I've got a 3600B as well. Think I may have bought it in the same clearance sale of Noahs that Chook got his about 200 yrs ago.
You're right. It kicks like a mule. I always thought all routers do that. It's the only one I've ever used.
Been thinking a router table project is getting closer and always assumed I'd be using the Makita in it.
But this recommendation for the Triton caught my interest.
Is it really that good?
Should I retire the Makita and keep it only for handheld larger jobs maybe?
Its paid for itself 100 times over so it wouldn't bother me to get a new one.
Any thoughts from anyone?

I recommend getting a good variable speed plunge router with a soft start feature, a range of template guides, and as dust collection port - you won't regret it.

From the above, sounds like the Triton would fit the bill..the big advantage of the Triton is the ability to change the bits working above the bench level

+1 for the big Triton for use in a router table, it's pretty much made for mounting in a table. I bought mine earlier this year and now I just need to finish building the table to go around it. However it's probably too big to be used comfortably with the Leigh jigs. What about the Gifkins jigs for dovetails, since you already have a decent table.

In years gone by I had the chance to use a router table of a cabinet maker. Once dust extraction was achieved it was a joy to use.
What did happen though was because the router did not have a soft start part of it got damaged.
Sorry I do not know the make of the router but the table was made by the cabinet maker and used an Incra jig for fences and stops. Dust extraction was through a 3 or 4" hose.

Damien, I'd go for the Triton/Gifkins combo.
We run about 6 router tables at our Club ( Woodturners of the Hunter) and have a mixture of boxmaking classes and furniture, toymaking, general woodworking operations too. The Triton/Gifkins combo is great for learners and experts alike. If people want to do more intricate joints they then progress to something like a Leigh but it is a big step-up in complexity and physical difficulty ( ie holding a big grunty router on top of the jig and keeping it vertical
Havn't used the Kreg but they look to be great tables.

Cheers Bruce

I have had a couple of Makita br3600s and a couple of Tritons. I now have two Dewalt Dw625s. One mounted permanently under a router table and the other for hand held use. I also have a smaller Dewalt dw621ek for hand use. I use both on a Leigh jig. The Makitas were good but single speed making them pretty useless for big router bits. The Tritons are pretty junky and I wouldn't have another one. OK I suppose for minor use but flimsy in quality and longevity. The Dewalts are probably the best available or an equivalent secondhand Elu or CMT. I got mine from the UK as they don't seem to stock the big Dewalt in Australia any more. Buy them from here Dewalt DW625EK 1/2in Variable Speed Plunge Router 240V (DW-625-EK) Takes a couple of weeks to get here and you need to change the plug only. I just purchased a Metabo SXE450 random orbit sander from them with systainer and 50 discs for $341.00 posted to my door. I couldn't find a price anywhere near that in Australia. Some might say support the locals. I say support the best price and service. There are Festools but the price is over the top for what you get unless you buy a second hand one at sensible dollars. At the end of the day you get what you pay for. I personally wasted good money on Tritons.

Col.

I love my Bosch GOF1300CE router. At 1300w it lacks the grunt for big trenching (stairs ect.), but with soft start and fine adjustment it is so nice to use freehand. Mines 12ish years old now, so I'm not even sure if they still make them.