Thread: Makita RP2301FC purchase

Hi Alan,

I dont have that model but heres my 2c worth anyway.

If it is a 15 amp motor as all the advertising material I saw claims, then make sure you have a 15 amp circuit to run it on. Most homes have only 10 amp circuits.

Thats an awful lot of power for a hand-held router.

Cheers

Doug

Hi Alan,

I have this model router but use it exclusively in a table so can't give any insight as to its use as a hand held. I am certainly happy with it in the table. For hand held use do you really need a variable speed router? Although you can use big diameter bits in a hand held router it all seems a bit scary to me! I have no trouble operating this router on a 10A circuit. It comes with a 10A plug fitted. Can a manufacturer make a recommendation for a 15A circuit and fit a 10A plug to the machine? Seems a bit odd to me.

Originally Posted by aldav

It comes with a 10A plug fitted. Can a manufacturer make a recommendation for a 15A circuit and fit a 10A plug to the machine? Seems a bit odd to me.

I suspected that this machine would come with a 10 amp plug so why is it promoted as a 15 amp device? Thats why I worded my earlier post the way I did. Being a Makita it is very likely an excellent router.

However, I still question the need for that much power handheld. I can see a need for variable speed control for handheld use, not for spinning big bits, but to avoid burning in some types of timber for one example.

Alan, I have no knowledge of what your shed setup is as regards power. Does it have its own dedicated circuit or are teh power points in your shed on a shared circuit with the house?

With the power that router consumes, even on a 10 amp plug there had better be not much else on the circuit you are using it on. If for example, you are working in the garage and the power points in the garage share a circuit with the lounge room where the TV and the computers are, you are going to make yourself very unpopular every time you start that big beast up.

Also, look to the future, how many routers do you want or need? I have six - all different sizes and three brands. If I had to cut down to only one it would not be the biggest one I own. It would be one that is big enough to handle the big jobs but small and light enough to handle the delicate work when handheld. probably my Triton MOF001 1400w would be the one I would choose. It might take a bit longer on the big jobs than the big Triton but I could really do most of the things I do with all the others with that one router and a bit of patience. The only router the MOF001 could not really replace is the Makita trim router i use in my router pantograph. I would have to build a router pantograph to accommodate the larger machine if they passed a "one router per household" law.

What am I trying to say? I have a router as big as the one you are looking at and I rarely, if ever need all the power it has, and NEVER in handheld mode. Think about what you want the router to do, now and in the future, and also consider what power you have available in your shed and who you share it with. After considering all that, If you still want that router, go for it. If you want it because you think it is more powerful than others because it is rated at 15 amps and the others are 10 amps look into it further.

Good luck with whichever way you decide to go

Cheers

Doug

Originally Posted by doug3030

I suspected that this machine would come with a 10 amp plug so why is it promoted as a 15 amp device? Thats why I worded my earlier post the way I did. Being a Makita it is very likely an excellent router.

However, I still question the need for that much power handheld. I can see a need for variable speed control for handheld use, not for spinning big bits, but to avoid burning in some types of timber for one example.

Alan, I have no knowledge of what your shed setup is as regards power. Does it have its own dedicated circuit or are teh power points in your shed on a shared circuit with the house?

With the power that router consumes, even on a 10 amp plug there had better be not much else on the circuit you are using it on. If for example, you are working in the garage and the power points in the garage share a circuit with the lounge room where the TV and the computers are, you are going to make yourself very unpopular every time you start that big beast up.

Also, look to the future, how many routers do you want or need? I have six - all different sizes and three brands. If I had to cut down to only one it would not be the biggest one I own. It would be one that is big enough to handle the big jobs but small and light enough to handle the delicate work when handheld. probably my Triton MOF001 1400w would be the one I would choose. It might take a bit longer on the big jobs than the big Triton but I could really do most of the things I do with all the others with that one router and a bit of patience. The only router the MOF001 could not really replace is the Makita trim router i use in my router pantograph. I would have to build a router pantograph to accommodate the larger machine if they passed a "one router per household" law.

What am I trying to say? I have a router as big as the one you are looking at and I rarely, if ever need all the power it has, and NEVER in handheld mode. Think about what you want the router to do, now and in the future, and also consider what power you have available in your shed and who you share it with. After considering all that, If you still want that router, go for it. If you want it because you think it is more powerful than others because it is rated at 15 amps and the others are 10 amps look into it further.

Good luck with whichever way you decide to go

Cheers

Doug

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies.

Doug, the shed is on the same circuits as the house. 10A + 15A. When I use my welder very occasionally it throws out the 16A circuit breaker on the 15A circuit if I weld for too long.

At present I have 2 routers. Triton TRA 001 mounted in my router table & Makita 3601B fixed base D handle for hand use.
I have been playing with the big plunge Makita in the stores & I can understand why both of you question my need for such a big & powerful machine.

I will certainly look further into the Triton MOF 001. It appears to offer everything I need from a quick glance.
I'll see if there is one in a store here that I can play with.
Do you use the triton template guides. I think they would be something I would be keen to get if still available.


Regards,


Alan

Originally Posted by Little Boxes

Doug, [...] Do you use the triton template guides. I think they would be something I would be keen to get if still available.

Hi again Alan. I have gotten a lot of use out of the template guides. Just lately not so much , and that is only because I haven't done much that needs them. Having said that, they are sitting safely in my tool cabinet awaiting their next use. When you need them they are indispensable.

Over the last few years other products and techniques have come into being but sometimes it just has to be templates and guides. Hang onto them, their time will come around.

Cheers

Doug