Thread: Router selection

...if you want bang for buck, go for the Triton routers.
Solid...strong...got all the features.
I have the big TRA in the table, she handles everything I have driven through it.
I also have a big Makita, but at twice the price, it is no better than the Triton.
My $0.02 and no affiliation with any retailer.

Glenn

Recently I purchased the Triton TRB001 (formerly TRA001, then TRA001B now TRB001). It is brilliant, absolutely amazing. A hundred bucks or so more than you want to spend though. I got it direct from Carbatec end of january, price then $349, in their february catalogue I notice it jumped up to $399.

But for a router that you want to install into a table, you will not get better. On another thread here somewhere I have some photos of the table I built for this router, everything is just so simple to use. The fine height adjuster handle (above the table also) is remarkable in itself.

I still have my 32 year old makita 2hp router mounted into my old triton router table which I will keep purely for the triton biscuit jointer (still an amazing tool after all these years). But no more standing on my head, bruising knuckles etc trying to change router bits under the table.

Paul

It looks like the triton might be the way to go. I had been looking at the makita's as i have a couple of their drills i use for work that just keep going but as woodworking is just a hobby for me it looks like the triton will be the best bet. I think i might get the TRB001. Ill price it around and its given me the motivation to list a heap of stuff on ebay that iv been going too for a while. In regards to table mounting it, Would i be best to buy an insert like the type that is sold in carbatec or shoud i just drill out whatever im going to use for the top, Im Undecided on final design yet and will be looking at the photos on this forum to see what other people have done.

Thanks for the help guys

When I was down at Carbatec in Sydney in january, the bloke there did show me the router insert, just for me to keep in mind should I think I needed it. I didn't get one, and am very happy with the outcome of my table that I made. Like I said pics are on another thread not to far away from this thread.

I used the base plate as a template to mark out the 4 holes. Extra screws come with this Triton TRB001 outfit, but I did have to buy more to get the correct length. They are a 1/4" whitworth thread and from memory I think I bought 3/4" long ones with the countersunk head. The top of my table is 24mm thick consisting of 3mm laminex, 6mm mdf board, 12mm mdf board, 3mm laminex. I cut a 190mm circle into the two bottom layers which means my triton router is mounted into 9mm (3mm laminex and 6mm mdf board). I was able to drill the holes very precise and there is a small indent also in the router baseplate where you can allow for your fine height adjustment lifter to slide through your top and down onto the router.

Here is the link to the thead with my pics on

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f20/ne...-build-151409/

Pauls321, i like the look of yours and particularly using laminex on both sides is a good idea. The only other thing im thinking is what type of fence I should use. I dont know wether to use just the simple pivoting fence or a more complex paralell fence. Im glad that im not going to need the insert as thats gunna save me another 40 bucks.
By the way does anybody know why commercially available router tables are so damn expensive? You can buy a small table saw from bunnings with a fence for about a hundred bucks but the cheapest router table i could find without anything powered with a fence is about three hundred. I know the router table would probably weigh a bit more but i don't think cast iron is that much more expensive!

woodwormer, I've used both Tritons in a router table, that is the big and small models. The smaller one is just as good in the table for your needs and more and it should be a less expensive. I still have both and very happy.

SB