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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Sydney
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    1

    Default General use router reccomendation request - hand held + under table ideally

    So, I'm a completely amateur woodworker and am starting to get a few of the basic tools together. I have extremely limited space, and given I'm not actually starting a business want to get the best bang for my buck as far as the tools I purchase go.

    I built a little wood working bench recently with the general intention of creating inserts for it for various thing, including an in table router. After doing some research however It is not at all clear to me if there is a make and model of router that is likely to do everything I want, considering I have seen people comment about various routers suitability for in-table work in the research I have done.

    I can forsee circumstances where I would want to use the router hand held and where it would make sense to have it in table.

    Can anyone recommend a good model, available in Australia, that would be suitable for both? Does not have to be ideal for both! just.. capable.

    I won't be doing high volumes of work, but I am a fan of buying good tools that are capable of accuracy and are good quality.

    Perhaps I am over thinking it and at this level almost any decent brand router will do the job. I don't know.

    It is not likely that I will be needing to swap bits in and out frequently or anything like that.

    Up until this point my vague intention was to simply mount a router base flush with the bench top and make a fence for the table to suit. I have an Ozito router which.. works, but it is pretty garbage and don't intend to bother putting the effort into table mounting it.

    Porter Cable seems to be well recommended but their routers do not seem to be available in Australia as far as I can tell.

    Anyway any advice appreciated. Don't know that I need a plunge router, but if there was one that could be conceivably used in an under table setup that would theoretically be great.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Mt Crosby, Brisbane
    Posts
    2,548

    Default

    What you want is something around 1500 to 2000W. makita and hitachi are the best.

    but:

    As i advocate elsewhere if you have not used a router much before IMO you are better off buying a second hand cheapie off gumtree, using it a while, deciding what you like about it, and not, then buying a quality new router that suits your preferences. You can probably move the old one on at little loss.

    You can pick up a makita 1500W router on gumtree for maybe $120. Provided it works properly, switches on runs at constant speed, nothing obviously broken even a well used makita or hitachi is a much nicer tool to use than a brand new consumer grade machine.

    Those mid size routers are just a tad slower in the table, lighter cuts slower feed. They are light enough for most hand use, remember setup is crucial, be safe, make sure you maintain control of the machine at all times. This makita is 6kg

    https://www.tradetools.com/product-r...-and-22000-rpm

    Probably at the bigger end for hand work. Something about 4kg would be ideal.

    This is too small and 3/8. You absolutely should buy a 1/2"

    https://www.tradetools.com/product-r...-plunge-router


    I have 2 tritons and an ozito. If I started again I'd got for a mid size makita for hand work and a spindle for the table. I do a LOT of table routing, not so much handheld anymore but it's nice to have.

    2c
    I'm just a startled bunny in the headlights of life. L.J. Young.
    We live in a free country. We have freedom of choice. You can choose to agree with me, or you can choose to be wrong.
    Wait! No one told you your government was a sitcom?

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Crowborough, East Sussex, UK
    Posts
    820

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Joelphin View Post
    Don't know that I need a plunge router, but if there was one that could be conceivably used in an under table setup that would theoretically be great.
    There is and it's designed for inverted use. Look at the Triton TRA001, MOF001 or JOF001 and check the reviews on my pages here: The Triton 1010W Router - JOF001

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Mt Crosby, Brisbane
    Posts
    2,548

    Default

    I have a mof and a tra. I wouldn't buy them again. Had a lot of use out of the tra but it seems to be developing the speed control problem. IMO it's too big for general hand held use.

    The mof has done little work but likewise has the problem. It is the perfect size for both hand and table work but I would prefer something that weight and power but without the "features" to go wrong.

    2c.
    I'm just a startled bunny in the headlights of life. L.J. Young.
    We live in a free country. We have freedom of choice. You can choose to agree with me, or you can choose to be wrong.
    Wait! No one told you your government was a sitcom?

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