Thread: Which router? Makita, dewalt, triton.

Hitachi M12V2 3 1 4 HP Variable Speed Plunge Router New - eBay

It all depends on what you want to use it for.

I currently have 7 routers; two of them are Tritons. One is permanently fitted to a Triton router table; the other I use for hand work.

If you're only ever going to use this new router in a table then the big Triton is superb. It was designed to fit easily into the Triton router table only; although people have fitted them to router insert plates with a bit of careful marking out and drilling. Richard Vaughn made a new table a couple of years ago and fitted the Triton to a Routerlift; it was covered in Australian Woodworking Review. Most other routers are a pain in the proverbial once fitted to a table; this one allows you above table cutter changes and height adjustment, plus it's the only one that has built in dust collection that actually works. Coarse adjustment is done using the rack and pinion handle, fine adjustment using the above table height winder.

The smallest Triton router is a conventional plunge router and works well for hand work which is why I purchased one but they do take a bit of getting used to. What I like about it is the low centre of gravity compared to a traditional plunge router. Unfortunately many jigs, templates, fences and lots of other add-ons won't fit this machine.

If you are going to be using the machine for hand work mainly and especially with proprietary jigs and fixtures I would recommend DeWalt first, followed by Makita and Hitachi. There is a firm called Trend in the UK who produce probably the most comprehensive rage of router accessories and jigs/fixtures you can think of and are all based around DeWalt machines. They even produce their own range of routers that are badge engineered versions of DeWalt machines (well, Elu actually who DeWalt bought out many many years ago).

However....

If your hand work involves mainly edge work and jig work then maybe look for a "D" handled router. These are fixed base so they can't be plunged or adjusted in use, but control of these machines is much much better than a conventional plunge.

Originally Posted by hellofellow

Hey all,

I have had a little ryobi since starting out.

It's not bad, but man do I hate adjusting the height in the table.

That being said, with a little practice under my belt, I would at least like to consider which router to get.

It seems Makita, dewalt and triton are the leaders of this market.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

It seems that the triton can be adjusted above the table easily? Is this just micro adjust? Or can you turn the handle easily under the table anyway?

Can others do this?

All in all, which is the best?

Also, can the triton only be mounted to a triton table easily, or could I build my own table and put a nice insert such as the Kreg insert Plate in, and it would be compatable?
Cheers

I have been working with routers for over 40 years and have experimented with quite a variety of routers in that time. It all depends on what routing processes you are going to do to complete your projects. From my experience the Makita router has proved to be very dependable and one of the reasons is that there is a good variety of template guides to choose from. Introducing the template guides will increase your router's potential by 80%. Yes there are still processes that must be done in the table mode.
I had written an article on purchasing a Router way back in 2001 that may give some guidance to your purchase 0001 Buying your first router Feb 2001.pdf

Another Makita fan here too. I bought my first - a 3600BR in the early'80's and it is still going strong even though I am about to swap out the bearings in it - not bad for going on thirty years old.
A few other guys in the building trade I know also have this or another Makita router and have nothing but praise for them.
Hitachi is another brand that seems to get good wraps for their routers.
In saying that though I don't know what the current Makita models are like even though they look pretty good on paper.
I think some brands will maybe more flexible or easier to adjust especially in a table but you have to weigh that up with longevity.

Stewie

I definitely want to keep it mounted to a table. I can use the Ryobi for out-of-table work I figure.

That being said people seem to praise the Triton.

To those of you who are Makita and Hitachi fans, what did you do for in table use? Take the springs out, fit it to a router lift...?

Its a shame about the Triton being made primarily for triton-only tables.

What I really want to do it buy a Kreg insert plate and build my own table. Now just got to figure out how this would work with ( possibly the Triton).

Originally Posted by hellofellow

I definitely want to keep it mounted to a table. I can use the Ryobi for out-of-table work I figure.


What I really want to do it buy a Kreg insert plate and build my own table. Now just got to figure out how this would work with ( possibly the Triton).

I've just looked at the Kreg website and they do make one pre-drilled for the Triton router, click HERE

You can't go wrong with Makita or Hitachi. My Hitachi TR12 has been in use for around 30 years and still runs like new. I think the newer version is the M12V2 and it has variable speed and soft start. The Tritons seem to be the goods but I've not used one. I use my TR 12 in the table with a Router Raizer for above table height adjustment and it works great. From memory the Raizer was about $80.00. The Triton has this feature built in.

Steve

I own four routers (not counting trim routers) two are Triton and two are Makita, all are different sizes and all are variable speed except for the smaller, and older Makita.

They all get used where they are most suitable. Since I got a (non-woodworking-related) hand injury a couple of years ago, I dont use the two larger ones freehand any more. In fact the hand injury is why I bought the smaller 1400w triton. The big triton is my favourite in the router table.

There seems to be a myth that the triton routers cant be fixed to normal conventional plates because of the system that is used to affix them to triton router plates. all you need to do is ignore the triton bolts and affix it using the screwholes in the base of the router same as you do with the other brands.

To my knowledge, only the Triton routers were built with any consideration given to below the table usage, with above the table bit changes, easily removable springs etc.

For other operations, I look at size, power, balance etc to work out which one to use. It is a very individual thing and something you have to work out for yourself, but hopefully everyone's contributions here will help you make an informed decision, but do your own research as well.

Cheers

Doug

I recently built a router table to house my new Triton router. I bought it because I could change bits easily above the table without having to spend another $500 plus for a router raiser. I got a Woodpecker ali plate form Professional Woodwork Supplies which came with all the holes drilled which made installation very easy. I have no idea about the operational side of it yet but so far things are looking good.

I have the large Triton permanently connected to a Kreg router table.

Two thumbs up

No major hassles getting a Triton onto a Kreg insert, but you need to plan it out. The Kreg insert is fairly well standard sized for US plates, and interchangable size wise with a range of other US inserts, but uses a different mounting technique, no rebate in top and height adjustable corner support brackets mounted under the table.

The Triton is one big beast with the handles being somewhat wider than the insert and opening in the table. But there is no real issue mating the two, drill your own plate with the router mounted so the handles are mounted on the diagonal, then remove the stationary handle from the router (2 screws) and store with the lift spring. The router and insert then drop into the table and lift out without hassles, and reconfiguring for hand held use takes about 2 minutes to replace the lift spring and stationary handle. Leave the insert attached as a larger base plate.

As previously noted, there is a Kreg plate available predrilled for the Triton and a Porter Cable with the same mounting pattern, but I don't know whether this is set out to put the handles accross the diagonals as I have ot used one.

I also have a Mak 3600BR, a very nice unit but out of production for many years now, haven't worked with the newer big Maks so can't comment on them but others seem happy with them. Before you get tempted with the Hitachi in the ebay link, take into account that it is a US model and 110V rather than 230V.

I use a variable speed Makita in my table with a shop made winder for ease of use.

Mike

I have just purchased the big Triton router and a Kreg plate per drilled to suit the Triton router and am in the process of building a cabinet to house the unit.
The plate fit's the router perfectly and has the hole for the crank handle to raise and lower pre drilled also so just need to finish the top to the cabinet and route the recess for the plate into the top to get started. I also have 2 Hitachi TR12 routers that I have had for many years and an old black and decker all aluminum body router from the 70's when I was an apprentice that also has served me well but from what I have looked at the big Triton seems to be the best suited for table mounting so this is the track I am going down.
Regards Rod.

Triton don't make their routers only or primarily for Triton router tables, but they do make them so that they swap in and out more quickly when the two are used together. It's up to other router table makers to decide which routers to favour.