Thread: Are the current Triton Routers of decent quality?

Originally Posted by Gerryattrick

I have been looking at getting a Triton MOF001 router as my first router.

However after a bit of Googling it seems that some of the "later" builds are not as reliable as the ones from the original designer. One owner of its big brother has had several armature issues and has decided to swap to something else.

How reliable is the current model or should I consider going for something like Bosch Combo with fixed/plunge bases

I own both a MOF001 and a TRA001. The TRA001 lives permanently mounted in a router table. The MOF001 is used mostly hand-held, but I also sometimes mount it under a small portable router table when I need a router table away from the workshop. I'm retired and woodwork for me is a hobby - not an activity that I perform to earn a living. Based on my experience so far (18 months on the TRA001 and about 12 months on the other) is that they current batch are pretty well built, and are certainly robust enough for a very active hobbyist.

But, I don't think that I could recommend them to a tradesman who expects to subject their router to for a few hours every day. For professional use, I'd be looking for a high end trade quality router.

Whilst I have the chance - if you decide to buy the Triton Router/s, I'd very much recommend buying from one of Triton's approved Australian based resellers. A member of my woodies club recently bought a TRA001 from an EBAY site. It turned out to be a old model variant - still marked TRA-001 but visually subtly different (the main give-away - it had no above table height adjustment) and many of the plastic fittings were flimsy and weak when compared to my TRA001 (which I purchased from Timberbits). He was experiencing lots of chatter causing rough cuts, which is why he asked myself and a few others for advice. A dial indicator showed about 10/1000" run-out on the spindle, whereas my Australian sold TRA001 has barely measurable run-out. There is also a huge amount of arcing visible around the brushes under no-load, and heaps more under a decent load. Our suspicion, for what it's worth, is that less expensive variants of the Triton routers may be being "engineered down" for cheap sale into some markets, or maybe these ones being sold on Ebay are simply clones made in China. Timberbits is a sponsor of this forum - and they offer free shipping on large purchases like Triton Routers....

I hope that information is of use.

Regards,

Roy

Originally Posted by AussieRoy

I own both a MOF001 and a TRA001. The TRA001 lives permanently mounted in a router table. The MOF001 is used mostly hand-held, but I also sometimes mount it under a small portable router table when I need a router table away from the workshop. I'm retired and woodwork for me is a hobby - not an activity that I perform to earn a living. Based on my experience so far (18 months on the TRA001 and about 12 months on the other) is that they current batch are pretty well built, and are certainly robust enough for a very active hobbyist.

But, I don't think that I could recommend them to a tradesman who expects to subject their router to for a few hours every day. For professional use, I'd be looking for a high end trade quality router.

Whilst I have the chance - if you decide to buy the Triton Router/s, I'd very much recommend buying from one of Triton's approved Australian based resellers. A member of my woodies club recently bought a TRA001 from an EBAY site. It turned out to be a old model variant - still marked TRA-001 but visually subtly different (the main give-away - it had no above table height adjustment) and many of the plastic fittings were flimsy and weak when compared to my TRA001 (which I purchased from Timberbits). He was experiencing lots of chatter causing rough cuts, which is why he asked myself and a few others for advice. A dial indicator showed about 10/1000" run-out on the spindle, whereas my Australian sold TRA001 has barely measurable run-out. There is also a huge amount of arcing visible around the brushes under no-load, and heaps more under a decent load. Our suspicion, for what it's worth, is that less expensive variants of the Triton routers may be being "engineered down" for cheap sale into some markets, or maybe these ones being sold on Ebay are simply clones made in China. Timberbits is a sponsor of this forum - and they offer free shipping on large purchases like Triton Routers....

I hope that information is of use.

Regards,

Roy

Thanks for that Roy,

I too am a "weekend warrior" albeit in my case just starting out so the load is unlikely to be a problem.

I have been in touch with Timberbits - contact made as a result of this forum just to prove it works. I had set my sights on the Triton until I saw a post talking about issues with the current TRA001 which made me wonder. I did find a site in Indonesia that sold Bosch Routers (and others) at attractive prices but subsequent investigation reveals they are probably scammers.

I think the Triton has just moved back to top spot on my list

Did your contact with Timberbits indicate that they do not ship these routers to NZ?

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Did your contact with Timberbits indicate that they do not ship these routers to NZ?

Sorry - I missed the fact that Gerryattrick is in NZ. Timberbits use TNT Couriers for NZ and charge $10AUD/kg, so freight for 4.77kg would be an extra ~ A$50 - might still be cost effective as Timberbits heavily discount the Triton range. I don't know whether NZ Customs will charge any import duty. Timberbits have the MOF001 at $295 plus freight, whilst Carbatec AU have the MOF001 priced at $384 plus freight, and on the carbatec.co.nz web site, the MOF001 is listed at NZ$499.01 (approx A$450). Carbatec Auckland are listed on the Triton Tools web site as Triton Tools only authorised dealer in NZ.

Timberbits, even with the added freight for NZ, still seems like a good price.

Regards,

Roy

Originally Posted by AussieRoy

Sorry - I missed the fact that Gerryattrick is in NZ. Timberbits use TNT Couriers for NZ and charge $10AUD/kg, so freight for 4.77kg would be an extra ~ A$50 - might still be cost effective as Timberbits heavily discount the Triton range. I don't know whether NZ Customs will charge any import duty. Timberbits have the MOF001 at $295 plus freight, whilst Carbatec AU have the MOF001 priced at $384 plus freight, and on the carbatec.co.nz web site, the MOF001 is listed at NZ$499.01 (approx A$450). Carbatec Auckland are listed on the Triton Tools web site as Triton Tools only authorised dealer in NZ.

Timberbits, even with the added freight for NZ, still seems like a good price.

Regards,

Roy

Roy,

You are right - even with freight the price is better than local purchase and Timberbits will ship to NZ. Also I do not have to pay Australian GST so that drops the price even more. At this end (NZ) it used to be and maybe still is the case that if GST amounted to <$NZ50 they would allow entry GST free.

Best of all I just got a $290 tax refund cheque so it must be an omen of some sort

You could try Gray's Online - I just got one at an extremely good price. Check if they send to NZ first.

Originally Posted by Chrism3

You could try Gray's Online - I just got one at an extremely good price. Check if they send to NZ first.

I was looking at those but was told they were old stock that were lot bought with lots of other Triton equipment some time ago when GMC closed so I bought one from Timberbits who have them on special.

Originally Posted by Lappa

I was looking at those but was told they were old stock that were lot bought with lots of other Triton equipment some time ago when GMC closed so I bought one from Timberbits who have them on special.

Well mine is certainly the latest model - arrived Monday.

Originally Posted by Gerryattrick

Roy,

You are right - even with freight the price is better than local purchase and Timberbits will ship to NZ. Also I do not have to pay Australian GST so that drops the price even more. At this end (NZ) it used to be and maybe still is the case that if GST amounted to <$NZ50 they would allow entry GST free.

Best of all I just got a $290 tax refund cheque so it must be an omen of some sort

Are you sure they ship to NZ? I was informed by another member that they don't when he inquired.
I see they are out of stock at the moment which could signal a price rise when new stock arrives due to the drop in the Aussie dollar.

Originally Posted by Chrism3

Well mine is certainly the latest model - arrived Monday.

That's interesting. Obviously the person from a certain company, that will remain nameless, told me a furphy

I've got my TRA001 also permanently mounted in my router table and I have to say it's a quality piece of kit. I have also read of people reporting the older variant being somewhat poor in comparison.

In a table the micro adjuster and auto head locking really makes it standout from the crowd. Having previously owned numerous lesser quality routers which all came with the slide in 1/4" collet adaptor I really like the fact the Triton comes with a dedicated 1/4" collet nut. Being someone who regularly used 1/4" bits this makes with far more enjoyable use, I've had numerous pieces destroyed previously thanks to bit slipping from 1/4" slide in collet adaptors.

I got mine for a good price from Greys Online . .

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Are you sure they ship to NZ? I was informed by another member that they don't when he inquired.
I see they are out of stock at the moment which could signal a price rise when new stock arrives due to the drop in the Aussie dollar.

Well In January they did but when I went to order in February the policy had changed - they no longer ship to NZ. I did find another company preopared to ship but their price was higher and freight was almost double.

The good news is that a member of this forum has sold me a new one in the box and unused and at a better price than any retailer could do.

I am a happy chappie

My Triton MOF001 which I bought appx 4 years ago has been disappointing and now sits in my shed, in its box having done 2 return trips to Auckland and is defunct.

Carbatec have been excellent. The machine first stopped 2 months after the 1 year warranty ran out. After discussion with Carbatec they replaced the armature free and I paid for the freight and labour.

I am by no means a heavy user and Rimu is the hardest timber I use in a hobby situation, in all I would estimate the Triton has done a maximum 4 hours work and not been overloaded.

I carefully chose it as have many many others for its features and I went for the middle of the range thinking the power more than adequate. I previously had a Ryobi 600 watt, Japanese made which has lasted for years with no problem and I offer that as to evidence I am not a hamfisted heavy user. So I was suspicious the first time the armature went ... no burnt smell by the way. Now here I am again and Carbatec tell me, via their independant repairer that the armature has burnt out again. Repair will be half the cost of a new one. I am the chap who enquired in Australia regarding purchase from them and got the reply they do not ship to New Zealand. That apart, having had time to reflect I would be doubtful about going down the Triton track again having investigated various forums about the track record.

My conclusions are that those people who have had no problems must have bought original models. There was a period of change of manufacturers with real problems. Now it seems there are still a few wobbles out there. I suspect, and I admit I have no proof that the replacement armature I had was still old stock and I have been unlucky.

I am also reluctant to buy a new router .... what happens if a similar set of circumstances again ... yes I agree thats a whimpish attitude but I really can't afford to buy another expensive bit of kit as if it stuffs up SWMBO will say thats enough of woodworking!

I ran into the DeWalt rep here the other day and asked why they dont import the DW625 .... he didn't know but said he had one himself which he bought over when he moved to NZ. He pointed out that that particular model has an overload cut out, probably the only model that does....wonder why others dont? But then other makes just dont seem to burnt out armatures and if they do, not very many.

I have just today landed my replacement, after much heartwrenching and trolling the web for facts ..... a second hand Hitachi M12V which is 8 years old and used once.

I'll have to adapt to losing the features of the MOF001 but thats life .... Maybe its me but I just can't afford to trust them.

David

I think it was a similar post that prompted me to ask the question originally. However I have decided on balance to risk it and have been very lucky to get a brand new MOF001 from an Aussie lister, still in plastic wrap for $200 less than Carbatec wanted for one here. I also benefit from having a brother who is an electronics engineer and servicing power tools is a doddle for him.

Its a pity that a lot of the decent routers seem to be predominantly 110v otherwise I'd by looking to USA for my tools. I know its possible to use a step down transformer but that negates any benefits costwise in buying from USA. I suppose I really only need to buy one transformer