Thread: Quality vs Budget powertools

Originally Posted by Guillaume

I recently purchased a RS660 router table as well as a GMC 1500w plung router, the table is great and so is the GMC but the problem is that dont go together, trying to get hight adjustment with the GMC is a joke but i guess you have heard all this before, anyway after reading all the great stuff on this site i went out and bought a new 2400w triton, wow what a machine, i just love it.....being a perfectionist i was wondering if anyone can tell me if triton make a lifter and if so were could i buy one, unfortunatly i'm in the country so i just cant get in the truck and so some shopping.

Gill

I would suggest you work with your new Triton for a while before you decide that you need a lifter. The height adjustment of the Triton when mounted in the table is so easily done that I think you will find that you won't need a lifter.

I have the same Triton router and I never feel the need for a lifter, it is just that easy with first the coarse adjustment and then the fine adjustment, takes no time at all and very accurate and repeatable.

I have actually tried the smaller Triton (1400W) in my table with the above table winder that Triton sells for it, I decided that I preferred the bigger router as the smaller one with the above table winder was really no easier to use, and not nearly as powerful.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

I would suggest you work with your new Triton for a while before you decide that you need a lifter. The height adjustment of the Triton when mounted in the table is so easily done that I think you will find that you won't need a lifter.

I have the same Triton router and I never feel the need for a lifter, it is just that easy with first the coarse adjustment and then the fine adjustment, takes no time at all and very accurate and repeatable.

I have actually tried the smaller Triton (1400W) in my table with the above table winder that Triton sells for it, I decided that I preferred the bigger router as the smaller one with the above table winder was really no easier to use, and not nearly as powerful.

Yep I agree 100% the big triton router doesn't need a lifter - well mine doesn't on my table anyway.

Thanks guys your 100% correct, I just built some book selves and used the triton quite a bit, dont know what i was thinking, the hand adjustment is magic, maybe i was still a bit gun shy with the GMC experence, its a good machine but the hand adjustment under a bench is crazy, thanks again

Having finished my reno house in 2 of the longest weeks of my life, I am now ready to give a few reviews of the tools i used.

WORX planer and WORX belt sander.
WORX products are focused on light industrial use.

The WORX tools performed very well. I used the planar to strip the paint off all the weather boards, after the GMC heat gun crapped itself.
This was an extremely noisey process, which required the use of earplugs.
All the features of the WORX tool performed exactly as desired, and the fittings so it could be attached to a vacuum cleaner made it very easy to use.

The belt sander was used to finish the weather boards, and blend any channels left from the planar.
The belt sander was also used to sand the walls on the inside of the house too. The belt sander comes with a large guide plate, which allows for height adjustment, while preventing gouging from the sander belts.

Considering neither tool was intended for use on walls, both tool performed the duties required, and the fatigue was tollerable.

Both of the tools took a thrashing, and performed extremely well.

Makita 1/3 sheet finishing sander for around $100.

Out of all the 1/3 sheet sanders I could find, this was the only one which had; a properly designed clamping mechanism to hold the sander sheets, that actually worked

The sander vacuum worked, minimising airbourne dust.
The sander also had a well designed handle which reduced fatigue.
The vibration absorbing feet between the sander base and the chassis worked.
The sander was quiet.

Compared to the cheap sanders, the Makita 1/3 finishing sander was a dream. Its the only sander which had properly designed and working features. It used the least amount of sander sheets, Its was the quietest, and caused the least amount of fatigue and frustration.

Sure the sander is 2 to 5 times more expensive than the cheaper ones, however bite the bullet and buy a good tool. For a tool which you will use for lengthy sessions at a time, one which reduces fatigue and frustration is well worth the investment.

GMC 150w detail mouse sander for around $50.

long story short.

The motor provided ample power.
The handle is small and is quite easy to hold. This was the sole reason it was purchased.
The power cord was quite long, which makes things easier.
Noise level was tolerable
Vacuum dust extraction didnt work
When used in conjunction with the bosch sander sheets it performed very well. Throw the 10 GMC sander sheets in the bin.
The on/off button sucked, and was frustrating to use especially with fatigued hands and knuckles.

After trying this piece of ermm "equipment", I knew I shouldn't have purchased it. The only reason it was purchased was due to the size of the handle, as it had to suit the females working on my reno house too.

However for $50 it would outperform a great deal of finishing 1/3 sheet sanders when using the bosch sheets.