Thread: Best 1/2 inch plunge router?

Go for power!

There's no replacement for displacement, or so the revheads among us would have it!

Triton does a 2400w router that is purpose-designed for table mounting. It CAN be handheld, but feels severely compromised and top-heavy. Triton watts don't really seem to be the equal of others' either. I sold mine.

Or to put it another way DeWalt's DW626 is another quantum ahead in quality, sophistication and power in comparison, despite being a "mere" 2300w. It benefits from using the same "system" accessories as the Elu MOF97E and DeWalt DW621 and 622, together with some of the DW625/Trend T11 range also.

Then there's Festools cripplingly expensive OF2200 (2200w), which is 3 or 4 times the price of the others! Hard to justify, in my opinion, despite it's obvious quality pretensions (it uses 3 armature bearings unlike all the others). Festool have a small sized and expensive range of quality accessories, which is just about all that fits this machine.

Then there's the industry standard DW625, which is an Italian made (slightly) lesser quality version of Elu's original Swiss MOF177E. Power is now 2000w, and the accessory system available is unrivalled elsewhere. Elu,Trend DeWalt, CMT and dozens of others make accessories for this machine. Although almost unchanged in it's 30 odd years of manufacture, it's (relative) lack of sophistication is countered by it's practicality, reliability and ubiquity. As a global best seller, there's parts and accessories available worldwide, and just about every single router jig ever made by any 3rd party manufacturer the world over has been designed with this specific tool in mind!

Of the current versions available perhaps Trend's T11 version is best, despite being more expensive that DeWalt's "original". Despite coming from the same factory, the Trend is better designed in having a round, larger aperture in the sole, and the extremely useful provision for above-table depth adjustment when inverted.

The family's major vice is somewhat sticky plungeing, which is in part overcome by repeated use, and the judicious use of powdered graphite. Using grease on quality bronze and steel router mechanisms is a no-no. Only the very thinnest, non-corrosive lubes should be used. Or preferably dry lube such as pencil shavings.

You can get extension collets for all the Trends/DeWalts, too, which make them better to use as a mini-spindle than the others. I use an American CNC milled replacement collet that uses a hex grub screw for bit exchange, removing the need for spanners, spindle locks etc. It has just enough extra length to counter the thickness of my cast iron router table top.

Another useful accessory is the Trend/Woodrat plungebars that are available to fit just about any quality machine. This makes plunging either way up a one handed breeze, rather than a two handed (and if inverted often chin as well) battle!

Makita also make a well-regarded tool of about 2200 or 2300w. I don't know it, havent ever used one and therefore can't comment other than to say that the range of accessories is limited. They are nevertheless highly praised by their users, however.

i got caught up in the green koolaid and bought a of1400 after many internet searching and talking to the toolshop rep. I was after the 1/2 in collar, great dust extraction and could be used easily on a track.

the dust extraction is great, the 1/2 ratchet collar is great, the quick setup guide fence is great. the systainer is great................... and thats it.

everything else sucks. its underpowered, but i went into it knowing that as i was aiming to run it of a VC power takeoff. The "ergonomic" handle is not great, even after 12 months of use i still cannot get used to how to hold the damn machine.
even when i use the guide fence, it still is a pain to use without a wobble.

my recommendation would be to do a lot of research, and if you go the green koolaid way, try before you buy. it would have saved me $500.00 in the process.

I like the look of the trend, and i like all the accessories that you can get for it. Having a couple of Dewalt tools, id probably even consider the dewalt too. Id like the Makita RP2301FC however i couldnt find many good reviews on it.

Wow, I've had the opposite experience with the OF1400, but then again, I've drunk a lot of the green koolaid!

I have the big old Elu and love it. In the past I've owned Porter Cable, and Makita. Both nice machines.

The OF1400 works well for me. I bought it primarily because I was sick to death of hand routing and having to put up with a sawdust storm throughout my shop. Any amount of routing usually results in considerable clean-up time. And if your shop is like mine, where tools are strewn everywhere, and drawers and doors are partially or fully open, chips seem to get into every nook and cranny!

With the 36mm hose and a CT48, the OF1400 has pretty good dust containment. Not perfect, by any means, but a LOT better than the non-existent extraction on my Elu. I don't mind the handle, but I guess that's a preference thing. The other feature I really like on the OF1400 is the electric brake. I like being able to put down the router immediately rather than having to wait for it to stop. Do the other routers have this feature these days?

My two cents worth...

Many (most?) of the higher end routers have soft-start and fast-stop features, especially if they're variable speed.

I'm going to give my vote to any of the variable speed Hitachi or Makita routers. They're in the 1500-1800w range, not the most powerful out there but definitely enough for most things. They're also pretty easy to find spare parts for should you need.

Fair enough! My experience is with relatively old routers, except for the OF1400. That's what I love about forums like this--getting exposed to so many different opinions and experiences. Thanks.

yeah, the dust extraction is 2nd to none. and there are some really good features with the machine. But if you are dropping over a 1k on a router its got to be 100% great, not some of its features.

the dust features were the main reason why i ended up with the OF1400. I cant router inside clients homes and have dust go everywhere. The Ergonomics of the machine i will have to "get used to" It still does not make sense to me
and i have done alot of searching on the net to find out the pro's of having the handle the way they have.

Originally Posted by GCP310

The Ergonomics of the machine i will have to "get used to" It still does not make sense to me
and i have done alot of searching on the net to find out the pro's of having the handle the way they have.

Maybe they just have it that way so they can share parts from the ETS orbital sanders

Has anyone had a look at the Bosch?

Generally bosch aren't as highly regarded as the others in routers.

I own a few routers and some are better than others, Elu MOF 11, 96. I also have a festo OF 1400. And a Scheer HM 1800
The most powerful no BS Router you can buy is the Scheer Routers..Did my apprenticeship with them and own one now, If it blew up tomorrow i would buy another without question. They are terribly expensive and you can't really get an idea what they are like till you use one. if you do a search particularly in Europe you will find they use them when you have serious heavy duty work. Japanese machine i think are great value for money and if your budget limited they are the way to go. But if you need to do serious heavy routing for hours on end then Scheer. In the US i think they are about $1800 and you can get them in 240 volt. They are not as ergo as say the OF 2000 say but just grunt they are unsurpassed.
So is it better to own maybe 3-4 japanese machines or one Festo or Scheer that is your call.
Sinjin

For the price and features you cannot beat a Triton for use in a router table. I suppose if you pay $1000 or more you might get a really good routre but I have used two Tritons, one in my own Workshop and one at school and they have been terrific.