Thread: CMT vs Hitachi

I have the Dewalt 625 which is identicle to the CMT - even made in Italy, probably in the same factory. Great router! But I am only a keen hobbyist and cant comment about the rigors of tradesman use - though I must say it appears to be exceptionally well built.

Whilst I am unable to comment on the CMT I can assure you that the Hitachi is pretty much bullet proof.
Had mine for close on 25 years now and still going strong.
has a few the same vintage which have worked harder than mine and his are also going strong.

Thanks for the feedback. I've run across several Dewalt items in the past with mixed reviews. (Drill Drivers, Circular Saws, and lot of SCMS's) Some swear by them while others swear at them. From my personal and highly subjective viewpoint the only consistant objection I could make against Dewalt products is the colour scheme is far too attractive for the sticky-fingered. Not a heck of a lot to base one's bias upon but there you go.

One of the advantages of the CMT unit is the brand is unknown and is unlikely to be pinched, in preferance to the other items, from my van. If the unit is a badge-engineered version of the Dewalt 625 then additional bits'n'pieces should not be a problem. Which gives a great big fat tick to the capabilities column.

Again, thanks for your input. It is appreciated

Put me down one for the Hitachi.

Very happy with mine.


Cheers......Sean

hitachi is bulletproof. collars sometimes bind but worth the money. CMT has considerably better depth adjustment.

LCS

The pictures I have seen of the CMT (in the Carba-tec catalogue) appear to be identical to my Elu 177e router. The Elu has long been considered the benchmark against which all other routers are judged. I'm not sure how objective this is since it is a oldish design now (I have had mine at least 10 years), but it does work superbly, has all the features of the most up-to-date designs, plenty of power and is just as good handheld or in a table. At the time I bought it I chose it over the big Festo (the Elu was just smoother and more comfortable to use), the Hitachi (too noisy), and the Makita (just not in the same class). When Elu became a subsidory of Black and Decker, the 177e was marketed under the deWalt brand (as the 625), and I am not sure if it is manufactured by them any more. I suppose if I were CMT, as a major router bit manufacturer, and looking to market an own brand router, this is one of the designs I would consider.

Regards from Perth

Derek

no $hit - get the triton TR12. better than the rest by a long margin and the right price. take it from me - a triton basher from way back - converted. beats the elu & hitachi by a country mile. AND you support Australian business too !

With regards to the similarities to the Elu-177e router. Having remembered debates in the smoko room many years ago this paticular router got a pretty good rap in terms of the plunge depth, adjustment, handling etc. Things that just were not on the market at the time, or they could well have been but what would an apprentice know. When I enquired about the CMT unit the saleman told me "blah, blah, blah, Elu-177, blah blah" which caught the EAR and jogged some remaining memory.

My inquiries thus far show this unit, the CMT, appears to be closely related to the Dewalt 625. Hence aftermaket items should be available that suit. Spare parts, such as brushes, may be readily transferrable between the models which is something I will have to check.

With respect to Hitachi. Great gear right across the range. I've never had any issues with capabilities nor reliability. Those I have broken have been able to be repaired without having to wait 3 months for parts. Great little SCMS's

All I am doing with regards to the CMT router is a basic SWOT. Looking for the strenths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. In this case I am assessing the risks involved with a brand unknown to me for their electrical equipment.

So again. Thanks to all for your comments and advice. It is greatly appreciated.
L.C.S.

G'day.

Hitachi.....

There has been a poll on this board, check it out.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...hlight=Hitachi

The issue has been settled, the Hitachi got the nod. Basically it came down to the 3 main points.

The reality check. IE - "For christ sake it's a $500 router not a friggin combination saw"
The Devil one already knows
And the recently acquired knowledge that parts are not always available.

Again thanks for every ones patience and input
L.C.S.

Come on LCS, don't wimp out now. The Hitachi!! Good Grief!!! Just because 60% of this Forum voted for it doesn't make them right. Be an individualist - vote the CMT, even if you're the only guy in Oz to have one. Think of the parts situation - no one else wants them so there will be more for you! I just don't know about the poll business - my Elu wasn't even on the list, so I had to vote for GMC (actually I voted for Porter Cable, but I didn't have one either). So who are you to believe, your instinct or your reason?!

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

vote the CMT, even if you're the only guy in Oz to have one. Think of the parts situation - no one else wants them so there will be more for you!

Actually not the only one I´ve had mine for a few months now and think its fantastic.

Lets be honest if you were CMT, one of the best if not THE best router bit manufacturers in the world, would you sell a router that was a load of trash??

Go with the CMT you´ll not be dissapointed