Thread: Router Purchase Advice

Originally Posted by HeadScratcher

it's 2400w.. Different model or something dodgy?

The Triton web site says "2000W (3.25HP)" but if you do the conversion 3.25HP equals 2400W and it is sometimes advertised as 2400W. Nobody seems to be sure quite why, but it is nothing to worry about.

If you buy on ebay make sure it is 240V of course.

I find it uncomfortably heavy for hand held work but great mounted in a table. I bought the smaller MOF001 which is lighter and also find the plunge design more convenient for hand held use.

Thanks for the feedback Glennet, at this point in time I am only buying it to specifically build 5 speakers, then it anybodies guess what it might be used for after that, but looking at some video it looks like it is designed to work well as a table router. I highly suspect that would be a likely resting place for it to do odd jobs with.

Originally Posted by HeadScratcher

Thanks for the feedback Glennet, at this point in time I am only buying it to specifically build 5 speakers, then it anybodies guess what it might be used for after that, but looking at some video it looks like it is designed to work well as a table router. I highly suspect that would be a likely resting place for it to do odd jobs with.

If you going to use the router exclusively in the table mode then the Triton will do the job But if you wish to become more ambitious and produce many more projects then you should look for another brand that can be used in both modes such as the Makita or Hitachi. Another reason the selection is; both routers are capable of adding template guides especially the 40mm guide. With the addition of the guides you will add Greater Safety awareness with the use of the router
Tom

Thanks for the advice Tom... Perhaps I really should spend a couple hundred more and leave my options open for later. Who knows if my speakers turn out alright I might go on to bigger and more ambitious projects later.

Tom - curious to know what current routers you would recommend for handheld use. I already have a Triton MOF-001 mounted in a router table, but am getting a bit tired of unbolting it whenever I want to do handheld work. Given the reliability problems I've had with the Triton, I'm not sure I'd buy another...

I know the Makita are a good reliable workhorse, but (money no object...) are there any other routers you've tried and liked for handheld operation?

I really liked the Festool 1010 (the tiny one, 1/4" collet only) when I tried someone else's, but are there any other particular 'compact' routers you'd recommend?

Cheers

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

Tom - curious to know what current routers you would recommend for handheld use. I already have a Triton MOF-001 mounted in a router table, but am getting a bit tired of unbolting it whenever I want to do handheld work. Given the reliability problems I've had with the Triton, I'm not sure I'd buy another...

I know the Makita are a good reliable workhorse, but (money no object...) are there any other routers you've tried and liked for handheld operation?

I really liked the Festool 1010 (the tiny one, 1/4" collet only) when I tried someone else's, but are there any other particular 'compact' routers you'd recommend?

Cheers

There are a number of reason I would recommend The Makita and the Hitachi Routers. I mean the large router not the 1/4" (1) They have template guides readily available for use especially the 40mm Guide.(with the use of the template guides there is no need to worry about weight as they are supported on the template when using template guides) The Makita have maintained the large depth stop screw system which means when plunging there is less chance of the depth of cut changing where other routers are relying on friction to maintain the depth. Up until the last change of design the Makita had always chosen a circular base this gives more support to the router when using cutters with bearings, also in my opinion "There is no need for a straight side to a router".

If I were to purchase a new router First choice would be a Makita then a Hitachi.

When you do decide on what router to purchase make sure that it is capable of taking the 40mm guide.
I have posted a number of Videos on YOUTUBE demonstrating the use of the template guides and also the new Super Jig I produced at the Perth Wood show in September illustrating the versatility of the router. You als mention the disadvantages of having to unbolt the router from the table mode (that is why 90% of router users use prefer the table mode of routing) they have failed to see the versatility of the router when used in the handheld position when the guides are used

tenons - YouTube

Sample video
Tom

Just got off the phone with my cabinet maker brother and he tried to talk me out of buying a router... I think he believes I am going to take an arm off or something. I’m not silly and realise they need to be treated with a massive amount of respect. Pity he is in Brisbane or I could get him to give me some lessons.

Just looking at the video you did what is stopping the router bit from cutting into the jig? Is that what the guide does? Can’t really see the underside of the router to tell what is going on.

Edit:
Ok I see it now in one of your other videos, this is exactly what I think I would need for tight inner circles.

Having a good selection of other guides will give you the opportunity to produce the smaller circles you might require such as the 16mm Guide
Tom

Ps It was whilst I was in my cabinet making business I realized that we were not getting the full potential from our router. It is not just for doing edges and grooves or fitting hinges it can do many more functions all people have to do is 'Take of the blinkers' I get comments like 'I always do it this way' when I am doing my demonstrations showing alternative methods. My answer is always 'Keep doing it the same way and you will end up with the same results' There are more ways to use the router and the accessories supplied with it and the template guide is the most important accessory supplied with the router along with the the other sizes available. Take a closer look at the videos I have presented and ask yourselve could I do all that with the router in the table mode some yes but can it be done with safety

Looking at the RP2301FC on the Makita Australia website, I don’t see any round guides that come with the router as a standard or optional accessory.


Standard Accessories<O</O
Straight guide
1/2\" collet cone
1/2\" to 1/4\" collet sleeve
Wrench
<O</O
Optional Accessories<O</O
Guide rail adaptor
1400mm guide rail
Guide rail clamp set
Bevel guide set
Vacuum headset
Template guide
Knob complete
Collet cones
Collet nuts
Collet sleeves

Originally Posted by HeadScratcher

Looking at the RP2301FC on the Makita Australia website, I don’t see any round guides that come with the router as a standard or optional accessory.


Standard Accessories<O</O
Straight guide
1/2" collet cone
1/2" to 1/4" collet sleeve
Wrench
<O</O
Optional Accessories<O</O
Guide rail adaptor
1400mm guide rail
Guide rail clamp set
Bevel guide set
Vacuum headset
Template guide
Knob complete
Collet cones
Collet nuts
Collet sleeves

It has been some years now since Makita no longer included a Template guide with a new purchase. I did perquade them to insert the 40mm guide some years ago when I was demonstrating at the Sydney woodshow, I was pleased to see they had taken my advice but I later found out that they were only included with the router in Sydney and they were removed following the show.
Iwas dissaponted to as I was not informed they were going to include the guide at that time. I had a word with the Makita Salesperson and gave him my constructive comments "It was a waste of time including the guide without directions as to how it could be used"

There was very little said when the 16mm was removed and also years later when the 40mm was no longer available with the router. Proof that very few router users actually use the template guide on a regular basis. It has been 20 years since I made the first effort to get people to use the guides and I am still trying to get others to have a go.

I am sure the guides are available as an accessory and the ones I recommend for purchase are the 40mm 30mm 20mm 16mm and of course as many others you can afford to purchase. There will always be a time when the odd guide is the one to use. I have a great variety of guides.
Tom

Hi Tom, if you look at my speaker build thread here https://www.woodworkforums.com/f99/novice-speaker-builder-144661/ it is fairly apparent why I need to be able to work with some fairly small circles. Where do you get your guides from if Makita don’t offer them?

Every piece in the cabinet will be curved in multiple directions, and I need to make 5 identical speakers which have identical volumes, so I really need a solution that is flexible.

I was thinking I would need a combination of a few small guides, and an adjustable hole jig to do all of the curves I need. The biggest problem I can see myself facing is the outside of the cabinet walls.

Using the hole circle jig I can do three semi circles on the inside (2 small, 1 large) and I can afford to go past the optimal point because everything on the inside is scrapped, but the problem I was scratching my head over was how to do the same thing on the outside of the cabinet without going past the critical point and burrowing into material I want left.

I think the guides would work well for the outside of the box, but I am faced with trying to work out how to make the outside circumference slowly shrink without making multiple jigs.

Anyway I probably shouldn’t clog this thread with speaker building advice.

Edit:

Found a link to them in another thread...
https://www.woodworkforums.com/attach...des-guides.jpg

These are for the 3612 but gives me an idea of what I need. The collet is to stop you putting the router bit in too far and hitting the guide I presume?

Funny you do a Google search and you wind up coming back here all the time

Originally Posted by HeadScratcher

Where do you get your guides from if Makita don’t offer them?

Have a look for "Router Sub-Bases" and you'll find that Trend make them, as well as complete guide sets.

Ray

Thanks Ray... do you need the sub base or will the guide bolt directly to the router?

The idea of the sub-base is that it allows guide bushes to be used where it's difficult, or impossible, to obtain ones that fit directly to the router itself. Think of it as an adaptor. You may find that you can get bushes that will fit directly to the base of your router, but if you can't, then the sub-base offers a good alternative. If the base of your router (i.e., the black phenolic bottom surface) doesn't come off by removing screws, than a sub-base won't fit, I'm afraid.

I was just trying to make sure that you knew all the possibilities. Any further questions, fire away!

Ray