What is the best Hand Held router?

**derekcohen** · 30th May 2006, 11:42 PM

Its evidant that those of us lucky enough to own, or have used an ELU MOF96E or its little sister the MOF177 know they are head and shoulders above any other router ever.

I have had the electronic version, the Elu 177e, for the past 10 years. Incidentally, it is NOT the "little sister" - it is the Big Boy!!! The 96E is the little one. The 177e looks as good and works as well as the day I got it. It was my choice over the large Festo as the time - the Elu just had a superior balance and the springs worked more smoothly.

I have a small 2 hp Makita for delicate work, but I always return to the large Elu. There is a fixed-base GMC in my router table.

But the Best Hand Held Router is this.......

<center> <div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Planes/Chips.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br /></center>

Regards from Perth

Derek

**damienhazo** · 30th May 2006, 11:46 PM

How do you get the bit spinning fast enough?

**Groggy** · 31st May 2006, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by damienhazo

How do you get the bit spinning fast enough?

Why, you stand still of course. Don't you know the world revolves around neanders?

Seriously though, I recently got the same router and it is just a very nice thing to own and use, much better than the original Stanley version. You can also use it at midnight without the neighbor throwing things at you.

**damienhazo** · 31st May 2006, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by Groggy

You can also use it at midnight without the neighbor throwing things at you.

Use your 'real' router, then you'd be well and truly finished before it even gets dark!

Oh yeh baby! And Hazo collects points from all the judges on that one, while the darksiders kick themselves for exposing their soft and flabby bits....

**Ivan in Oz** · 12th August 2006, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by Just George

When using the Gifkins Jig, the only Router to use is the Triton due to the ease in bit changing, and ease in height adjustment.

I'm just browsing.
I have imagined that anyone doing 'Serious' Gifkin Work would have 2 Routers set up so as NOT to have to change Bits:confused:

**Gumby** · 12th August 2006, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Ivan in Oz

I'm just browsing.
I have imagined that anyone doing 'Serious' Gifkin Work would have 2 Routers set up so as NOT to have to change Bits:confused:

If you can afford the cost and space to have 2 router tables and 2 Triton routers, fine. But I see no point in it. The bits are so easy to change it's not an issue having one.

**Iain** · 12th August 2006, 08:28 PM

Have to disagree with gumbo, two routers on a dedicated table is not overly expensive, the advantage is, with a gifkin jig, you can attack the dovetail from one side and the straight bit from the other so the two do not conflict.
Sorry Gumby

**Gumby** · 12th August 2006, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by Iain

Have to disagree with gumbo, two routers on a dedicated table is not overly expensive, the advantage is, with a gifkin jig, you can attack the dovetail from one side and the straight bit from the other so the two do not conflict.
Sorry Gumby

That's OK mate. I respect your opinion. Even if it's incorrect

**Bobthequill** · 22nd August 2006, 02:44 PM

Well, being a rank hammer chewer with Routers and needing to cut some special depth door rebates, I went down to Big W and purchased a run out sale 1500watt PMX (Chinese) router for $30. (I bought a PMX 24volt rechageable drill last year which has given excellent service and even that only cost $62).The Router came with the usual 5 bit kit, three adapters and a box of attachments. Runs from 11000 to 26000 rpm smooth as anything. First job it did was to cut its own profile into a piece of MDF table top. I now have a reasonably sturdy router bench that can fold up to go in the car boot. Not as good as Bodgy's of course. It did the rebates with no problem and has since done a fair amount of barge board profiling. I am now looking round for a similar $30 dovetailing jig, but I don't fancy me chances.
If the thing wears out in a year, I will still be ahead. Granted, its a bit big for hand held fiddly work but I'm not steady enough for that anyway.
Dunno why you guys pay so much?

Bobthequill

**MurrayD99** · 22nd August 2006, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Bobthequill

Well, being a rank hammer chewer with Routers and needing to cut some special depth door rebates, I went down to Big W and purchased a run out sale 1500watt PMX (Chinese) router for $30.... ... its a bit big for hand held fiddly work but I'm not steady enough for that anyway.
Dunno why you guys pay so much?

Bobthequill

We love the scream of fine machinery........ 'sides, at a cocktail party, yer can't admit to some things.

**Schtoo** · 25th August 2006, 02:29 AM

I have a Makita RP0910.

Take the Makita 3620, give it a better plunge, built in dust port, fine adjustment doohickey, a little more power, lots less noise and a better looks and you got my router.

Difficult to really fault it, except it only goes up to 8mm in collet size.

Which is why I am giving serious thought to something a little bigger and angrier.

Bob, the Mak was about $200.

Worth every cent today, and in 20 years time when it will still be ticking. And by that time you might have bought 20 or more of them hunks of junk to do less precise, noisier and uglier work than what something decent will do without breaking a sweat.

And I should retain all my extremities in good working order. No garantees with something cheap and nasty.

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