Introducing the New Makita RT0700C

[Superbunny]

As I said, I would do a review of the Makita 0700C Router/Trimmer from the UK. As yet I have not had time to test drive it but here are my first impressions with pics.

It arrived on Tuesday after being posted 8 days before from the UK, not bad delivery only 8 days. Toolstop had it well packaged and informed me to check it out before signing for it. I thought this is some big box for just a small router/trimmer untill I opened it. What a fancy carry case is that for, they sent me the wrong gear, I'm sure. No it was not, it is a complete case for everything to do with this router/trimmer all in one case plus some.

The manual is simple and straight forward to read and shows what is what as expected. After taking out the motor section I looked for the dredded made in china but no, it's made in Japan. I unpacked and read through the manual and found that there is more than I thought I was getting. I did not expect the dust ports, 2 of them, one for the router base and one for the trimmer base and threre is more. Two template guides that I really wanted were included, one for the router and one fore the trimmer what else.

I have to change the UK plug to the aussie one on Friday when my electrician comes for my new kitchen stove to be rewired and after I get to play. I like all the rubber bits that you would use to hold onto and the spindle lock for bit changes. My main reason for this purchase is for use as a specialist inlay router with a template guide for string inlays in my work where I'd like to head in the direction of in the future after watching a DVD on the subject.

I've included some pics for now and I'll do a test drive over the weekend.

SB

[wolften]

Looking good SB, nice price too.

[FRB Design]

I purchased one last week here on the coast, the tilt and plunge base can be purchased separately.


Regards,


Frank.

[Superbunny]

OK, I had a play today and I must say I like the Makita very much and I like the soft start. I did a rout with the router base and a rout with the trimmer base. I used a template guide and a freehand trial. I also routed with the dust port attachiements and without. I used the same 4mm upcut bit as this is the bit I use for inlay work.

First impressions, what a nice machine to use, smooth, easy to adjust, set and change over bases. Freehand was easy to control with the router base and easy with the trimmer base to follow a template guide. Without the dust ports attached it was easy to see the work in progress and dust did not get in the way.

With the dust ports on, it is easy to see the work in progress with the router base but not so good with the trimmer base. The router base dust port does not cover the whole viewing area but the trimmer dust port does. Both dust ports did a very good job of removing the dust. However, and there is always an however, I hate the things as they are hard to put on and take off when it should be a simple click on attachement. I'm not sure they are going to last long and I feel they are too cheap to last long, I can see the clips on the router base port breaking off at some stage before I decide to throw them across the workshop.

Having said all that, I'm happy to use it without the dust ports as the dust is not a problem in use due the air from the motor blowing it all away from the workface.

I really like the bit change with the spindle lock, it just makes it a joy to change bits and you do this before you put the base on as it's all easy to get at. After learning how to set the router base up with the hight adjustments and settings it is easy to do as you have a quick release button. The plunge lock is smooth and where you want it. Unlike the De Walt equivalent that I was reading in a review lately, the on/off button is right next to your finger and easy to operate with the router base, and simple to operate when using as a trimmer.

So, do you really think I would say it's rubbish after waiting so long for it to arrive and spending $336 Australian dollars on? You bet, if it's rubbish I'd tell you but it's not, it is a good one from Makita and I'm very happy to have it and hope to have many more days using this router/trimmer for a long time. You know, it just feels right in the hand when you use it.

SB

PS did I mention the speed control, well it does a good job of changing the speed.

[MK I]

Hi Superbunny,

Just wondering how your makita router is going 6 months on? I'm thinking of buying the same one, and there's not many reviews, given its relatively new I guess. I did read one review from America which indicated that it was made in china, however, this was the RT0700CX3, which may be a different model made for the American market. Anyway, are you happy with it? Would you recommend it?

Thanks,

Mark

[Superbunny]

Hi Superbunny,

Just wondering how your makita router is going 6 months on? I'm thinking of buying the same one, and there's not many reviews, given its relatively new I guess. I did read one review from America which indicated that it was made in china, however, this was the RT0700CX3, which may be a different model made for the American market. Anyway, are you happy with it? Would you recommend it?

Thanks,

Mark

Your lucky I can get decent wifi in this Cairo hostel I'm staying at in Egypt on holiday to reply. Yes I still love it, used several times since last post. I got mine on Toolstop in the UK, it comes with all the bases, but in Australia it does not, so if you want the complete set buy from overseas but not the US. Mine was made in Japan.

SB

[MK I]

Thanks SB, yep looks like a good multi-purpose machine. Have a good holiday mate, and while your there report back to us on how the pyramids were built.

Mark

[Superbunny]

Thanks SB, yep looks like a good multi-purpose machine. Have a good holiday mate, and while your there report back to us on how the pyramids were built.

Mark

Built with hard yakka from what I can tell.

SB

[Markw]

It will work out far cheaper to buy in UK than in Aus once you start adding the other bases. I purchased an Aus unit and paid an extra $150 for just 2 of the bases - the plunge and the tilt base and still didn't recieve the fence for the plunge base. Bloody Aus Makita - they think that cheap is better.

[Multor]

Hello there,
i have been looking for a suitable and affordable router to use for my new cnc build.
i hope that someone can tell me what is the diameter of the (i assume a perfect cylinder, hopefully anyway) motor body?
it would be really helpful.

thanks in advance

[doug3030]

Hello there,
i have been looking for a suitable and affordable router to use for my new cnc build.
i hope that someone can tell me what is the diameter of the (i assume a perfect cylinder, hopefully anyway) motor body?
it would be really helpful.

thanks in advance

65 mm. I recently bought one for my router pantograph. Pretty sure thats what it measured at. I will check this evening. Motor body appears perfectly round apart from a rack and pinion part for height adjustment ant it is strong.

Doug

[Multor]

65 mm. I recently bought one for my router pantograph. Pretty sure thats what it measured at. I will check this evening. Motor body appears perfectly round apart from a rack and pinion part for height adjustment ant it is strong.

Doug

could use a little more! but i think that will do. thanks man!

[The Muss]

I have one of these that I use at work almost every day. I use it mainly to put radius on timber and some plastic on occasion. I am really happy with it. Feels much more solid then the old trimmers. A great tool.