Thread: Mactec any good?

hhhmmmm....I'm the first to redply to my own first post - with another question. You can buy an extra-grunty 3.25 hp Triton for c $400. These appear to be a quality tool. Handy to have?

I'd go for the Makita, myself.
No real reason, call it gut instinct
TM

G'day Cherp.

There are often surprises to be had no matter what brand you buy.

I have an oldaer Hitachi 1/2" router. Well made and with plenty of grunt. A bit basic by some of today's standards but a wonderful Machine.

I also have the Big Triton. I bought this specifically for a router table. A great machine and no probs so far. I know some peolpe on the forums have had a coupleof minor probs. and better so it may well be a good buy.

The Maita has a great reputation. It remains to be seen if the Mactec will build a good reputation. My assesment is that MMade In China is getting better.

Have met a couple of very happy Ozito owners. So there are surprises everywhee.

Hi

We listyen to a lot of router stories from our customers, some good and some bad. The theme to them all is buy the best you can afford. A router needs to be reasonably made, the speed and power required for routing are vastly different to other power tools.

If you're a serious woodworker then look at what the tradies use... usually Makita, Hitachi and sometimes Festool, but rarely Maktec & Triton.

My experience FWIW.

Regards


Grahame

Thank you Termi Artme and Grahame......After looking at your advice and getting some more prices, I can get a Makita 3612C in a local hardware shop for $399. As I said, I have occasional use, but when I want to use it, I want it to go and go well. For that reason I will now stump up the extra couple of hundred and add the 3612C to my garage collection. I expect it will see me out, given I use it only from time to time and I'm sixty. I really want to put it under a Triton router table top I have. I think there will be a bit of mucking around to make it fit, but I'll get there. The table top has a handy dust extraction pipe you can fit to a vacuum cleaner, so that should be useful. I notice there is a deal of talk in here about removing the springs before you put the router under a table. Why is that?

I have decided on the Mactec. For $210 odd dollars the look good value. Don't get Ryobi..I have one and after 10 hours the thread stripped, although my little ryobi is ok.

If you go over $300 you get into the good gear. You need to decide how much you will use it.

Should not be too much hassle mounting to Triton table.

cheers
conwood

Originally Posted by conwood

I have decided on the Mactec. For $210 odd dollars the look good value. Don't get Ryobi..I have one and after 10 hours the thread stripped, although my little ryobi is ok.

If you go over $300 you get into the good gear. You need to decide how much you will use it.

Should not be too much hassle mounting to Triton table.

cheers
conwood

I have the maktec and have used it on a few things and it's still going strong. It's only got one speed though. The collet adaptor for 1/4" is #### but I had a Gifkins collet reducer that works great

http://www.gifkins.com.au/Reducing%20Collet.pdf

Nice thing about the gifkins other than the fantastic grip is the fact it's got a lip and won't disappear inside the larger collet

I have successfully used 1/4" without slipping

Hello..the deal is done. I went into the hardware store to buy a Makita and the salesman talked me into a Maktec for c $200 - half the price of the Makita. He reckoned that with my limited use it would more than do the job. He said they don't get any back. So I'm happy. It's a lump of a thing and quite powerful. Thanks for your input. BTW, I had a small GMC as well as the big one I put in the rubbish bin. The small one has been used once for a few minutes. I got it out the other day - dead as mutton.

I have the Maktec router for 2 years now, and still going strong. For occasional use... it's more than enough.
However, IF I live there, I'll go for Triton of course.

My first router was a new Maktec. The motor came loose in the housing and the collet consequently slid up to somewhere where the bits couldn't reach the timber. I was able to push it back though. The motor still runs. I just don't trust it.

I then got a 3612C at auction and have never looked back. Many of the parts from the Maktec fit the 3612C - eg the shield for inverting the router under a table so I am happily scrapping the Maktec.

i bought a Maktek last week to use on a Leigh jig.
for the money its great.
i like the compact size and the height adjustment knob is up high and easy to use.
the Makita adjustment is a hard to get to finger tip screw affair.
but the Maktec is made in China.
already the plastic base of the adjuster has split, lost one of the 2 pins in there that holds it to the plastic nut.
had to insert a piece of nail and tape it back together.

whats annoying is that i now have 3 routers and not one has a Guidebush adaptor to suit the Leigh.
so i had to fit a carbatec baseplate (very tricky, holes everywhere but not one suited the maktec).
anyhow it works well on the jig.
but a pain to change baseplates when i want to use the Maktec guide.
one comment.
i think the maktec power switch is dangerous.
its a small toggle switch that is easily knocked to the on position without you noticing it.
have done that twice already.
plug it in and its ON!
so be careful with that.

Hey thanaka,
Is it variable speed. Was going to get one, not so sure now.

[plastic base of the adjuster has split] - do you mean the lever that locks router to poles?

cheers
conwood

Thanks for the advice on the Maktec guys. I've bought one. Seems like some have trouble and some don't. I'll have only light use, so I'm hoping for the best. I'll report progress in due course. Haven't used it yet.

Hi
FWIW a few customers have bought the Maktec expecting Makita features at a better price, alas they all seem to have run into trouble!!

The new Makita RP2301FC is selling at a very good price and will run rings around a Maktec. Woodpeckers have modified the UniLIFT to accept this router. Retro fitable mounting plates will be available soon.

Regards

Grahame