Choice of Routers

[Arry]

Last week or so I have been looking for a decent half inch router.

I am amazed that we do not seem to have much of a choice in AUS.

I mean we have Ozito, Black and Decker and Ryobi etc at the cheap end then Bosch Green, Maktec etc middle of the range and then Triton, Makita, Hitachi and Festool at the top.

Looking on overeseas forums they have such a greater choice.

I was wondering, is it our population that is the problem.

ie if I look on the Bosch site overseas they have a pro range of routers which we cannot seem to get here.

What are thoughts etc?

[Handyjack]

There is also DeWalt and probably a couple of others.

One of the problems with buying IS the amount of choice.

It is a pity, (and understandably why,) that you could not try three or four machines doing the same thing on the same timber to get a real idea of how comfortable they are for you, and a clue as to how well they actually work for comparison before parting with your hard earned.

[elanjacobs]

I know someone who has a Bosch Pro router, I'll find out where he got it. There's also Metabo.

That takes the total number of brands mentioned in this thread to 12 - personally I don't think that counts as "we do not seem to have much of a choice in AUS"

[T.C]

I remember asking a Bosch rep a couple of years ago whether they were going to bring the changeable base routers like these (http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductCategory.aspx?catid=30) to Oz and he pretty much said no and that most people and tradies just get the big Maks, hence Bosch don't sell professional grade routers here anymore. I wouldn't have minded having a changeable base router to do dual duty as a handheld and for table routing, but I guess Australia is too small of a market for the big companies to bring us even more choice. Anyway I settled for a Festool OF1400 and the big Triton, both excellent routers for their intended uses.

[Gwhat]

Last week or so I have been looking for a decent half inch router.

I am amazed that we do not seem to have much of a choice in AUS.

I mean we have Ozito, Black and Decker and Ryobi etc at the cheap end then Bosch Green, Maktec etc middle of the range and then Triton, Makita, Hitachi and Festool at the top.

Looking on overeseas forums they have such a greater choice.

I was wondering, is it our population that is the problem.

ie if I look on the Bosch site overseas they have a pro range of routers which we cannot seem to get here.

What are thoughts etc?


Hi

There is a big gap in the Aussie market for another decent plunge router, the DeWalt 625 was taken away from us a few years ago, this was a great router. It's a pity B&D can't see past the lower end of the market.

Makita's RP2301FC seems to be the best of what's left or perhaps the Hitachi M12V2.

Bosch have been 'gunna' bring in a mid market Plunge Router that's popular in the UK but that seems to be lost somewhere.

Population size is probably a reason, but I think that is that they (importers) listen too much to the hardware chains and not enough to the real market!!

My advice is to look at what the 'Tradies' are using, they're usually price and performance savvy.

My thoughts for what they are worth. BTW, we don't sell routers.

Regards

Grahame

[pellcorp]

What do you want to pay what so you want to use it for? I have a maktec and it's a gutsy router but not variable speed. I have a big triton and it did cease working after I replaced the colet. But a $15 trip yo tool doctor and its back! So far for the use I have made of it it's still going (fingers crossed) - but I'm not sure I would recommend it - the above table change is awesome though, and carbatec can now cover warranty of new ones.

If I could afford it I would get the makita or hitachi

[pal]

I have the Makita RP2302FC a bit pricey but a great router. some would say a bit heavy at 6.1kg for hand use but I haven't had any problems with handling it. It has built in LED lights not of much use, not bright enough, variable speed 9000/22000 rated at 2100W, 1/2"collet ,1/4 collet sleeve and the usual edge guide and depth adjustments and stops. For the size of it it is a fairly quiet motor.
I also have the Bosch GOF1300 CE professional now that is a beautiful router to use, it is a great pity they don't still bring them into Australia.

Regards

Harold

[KenBee]

I am from the US of A and have a question. Is it the cost or some other factor that prevents Y'All from buying tools and such from the USA? I have noted in several threads certain tools are not available to Australia, but don't fully understand why.

[ian]

I am from the US of A and have a question. Is it the cost or some other factor that prevents Y'All from buying tools and such from the USA? I have noted in several threads certain tools are not available to Australia, but don't fully understand why.Hi Ken
Our power is 240V 50Hz single phase and 415V 50Hz 3-phase, with a supply spec which "supposedly" allows 230V Euro stuff to work here
also there's some rules around electrical compliance that I've never fully explored

you guys use 110V 60Hz
transformers to convert 240V 50Hz to 110V 60 Hz cost a bomb

[Gwhat]

I am from the US of A and have a question. Is it the cost or some other factor that prevents Y'All from buying tools and such from the USA? I have noted in several threads certain tools are not available to Australia, but don't fully understand why.

As answered above we have the wrong power + certification of new tools is very expensive. Also we have traditionally been a plunge router market and apart from one antiquated offering from Makita, most power tool companies don't see our small market (25 million) big enough to warrant the expense of bringing in a fixed base router to Australia.

'tis a pity as there are a lot of goodies available for FB routers.

http://www.woodpeck.com/media/main_side_winder.jpg

Regards

Grahame

[malb]

you guys use 110V 60Hz
transformers to convert 240V 50Hz to 110V 60 Hz cost a bomb

They probably would if they existed. Transformers can convert the voltage but won't convert frequency. To do that you would need to convert 50Hz mains to filtered DC and feed it into an 60Hz inverter, with the appropriate voltage conversion incorporated somewhere in the train. This is effectively what a VFD unit does, but they do it for 3 phase outputs rather than single phase.

For what it's worth, routers and other high speed motors don't give a damn about the input frequency as long as it's below about 100Hz as they use brushed (universal) motors that are voltage dependant rather than frequency dependant.

[Gwhat]

They probably would if they existed. Transformers can convert the voltage but won't convert frequency. To do that you would need to convert 50Hz mains to filtered DC and feed it into an 60Hz inverter, with the appropriate voltage conversion incorporated somewhere in the train. This is effectively what a VFD unit does, but they do it for 3 phase outputs rather than single phase.

For what it's worth, routers and other high speed motors don't give a damn about the input frequency as long as it's below about 100Hz as they use brushed (universal) motors that are voltage dependant rather than frequency dependant.

Hi Malb

That's why in our quest for a solution we've not worried about frequency, who cares about a few % of RPM? Currently our best price on a transformer is about the same as the router????

Perhaps we need a poll so we can show the power tool companies just how much serious woodworkers need a decent router?

Regards

Grahame

[Wretched]

They probably would if they existed. Transformers can convert the voltage but won't convert frequency. To do that you would need to convert 50Hz mains to filtered DC and feed it into an 60Hz inverter, with the appropriate voltage conversion incorporated somewhere in the train. This is effectively what a VFD unit does, but they do it for 3 phase outputs rather than single phase.

For what it's worth, routers and other high speed motors don't give a damn about the input frequency as long as it's below about 100Hz as they use brushed (universal) motors that are voltage dependant rather than frequency dependant.

Sorry for a noob question, but I'm really after a fixed and plunge router combo like you see the US flaunting all the time and as I feel my use will be limited, to try and save money on buying more than one machine.

Will something like this: PowerBright VC3000W Step-up/Step-Down Voltage Transformer (3000 Watt Capacity) [VC3000W] : Adaptelec.com, International Electrical Specialists (http://www.adaptelec.com/powerbright-vc3000w-stepupstepdown-voltage-transformer-3000-watt-capacity-p-54.html) make a US-bought power tool useable with our power and not blow it up down the track?

[HeadScratcher]

It's not just routers we have always been the country of low spec. Have a look at the same cars that were available overseas in the past... Europe would get a fuel injected 2 litre, what do we get in Australia the 1.6 litre version wth a carb :(

If they did offer a 2 litre carb version ,the price was so rediculous no one would buy it. Same for just about everything. Thankfully the internet is opening up the world to us to finally get what everyone else has.

[Ozzie]

I have recently had a price from Axminster Tools (UK) and was quoted about $300 plus $120 shipping. Total $420. This is a 230V 50hz machine and will run on Australian power.
This router has 70mm plunge depth.
Has anybody tried this option and if so do you see any problems.?

Cheers,
John

[Superbunny]

I have recently had a price from Axminster Tools (UK) and was quoted about $300 plus $120 shipping. Total $420.
Cheers,
John

Ozzie, the shipping looks a bit over the top, have a look at ToolStop in the UK, you might get a better price. All you have to do is change the plug and they work perfect, I just got the makita router/trimmer change bases from them.:D:D

SB

[Gwhat]

I have recently had a price from Axminster Tools (UK) and was quoted about $300 plus $120 shipping. Total $420. This is a 230V 50hz machine and will run on Australian power.
This router has 70mm plunge depth.
Has anybody tried this option and if so do you see any problems.?

Cheers,
John

John

By the time you do all this, for a few extra $$'s you can get a locally supplied and serviced Makita or Hitachi. I had an Axminster a few years ago for a demo, not a patch on those above.

Regards

Grahame