Thread: Trim Router advice

I recently [early Nov2018] had the need to purchase a trim router, asking my friend of 30yrs who owns a tool shop.
I was looking at the Bosch Blue Professional but he persuaded me to buy the Makita with variable speed plus micro adjust ratchet on the side....
I've been running T/C Bits on hardwood and IMHO it's one top machine. Cheers, crowie

I favour the Makita ones as well and recently added a cordless trimmer to the collection. They also offer a tilting base , plunge attachment and a offset base for routing up against a vertical surface

Crowie, is that the Makita trim router with the plunge base accessory or a different unit?

Cheers

Originally Posted by Lappa

Crowie, is that the Makita trim router with the plunge base accessory or a different unit?

Cheers

This is the one I purchased - RT0700C


https://www.makita.com.au/products/p...5mm-1-4-router

I don’t recommend the Ryobi. For trimmer routers there is no middle ground, either go cheap and accept the limitations or go quality and swallow the price. I have the Ryobi but only because at the time Ozito didn’t make one and I didn’t need a quality tool. I still don’t, it only comes out once or twice a year for those little jobs that I can’t do with a full sized plunge router.

The depth adjustment on the Ryobi is rack and pinion but very stiff to operate; it doesn’t matter how carefull you are or how you try to free it up it is still a PITA to get set up. If you are going to use this tool regularly go for the Makita and retain some sanity.

The Ozito is for all intents and purposes exactly the same as the Ryobi and shares all its flaws at half the price. I’ve said several times on this Forum that Ryobi products are best for people who are too proud to buy Ozito.

I bought a Mak (the grey Makita brand) for $100 and it worked well enough to convince me to buy a second. I can leave a roundover bit and a trim bit permanently in each one.

The Makita with the plunge base is a good option to have ,I have a basic Makita trimmie as well as a Ozito which i used today without any issues, so I don't necessarily write off the cheapies if they do the job without a struggle.
Some years back I bought the Festool OFK700,its an expensive toy to have sitting idle when the cheapies will often do what I want to do .May have to consider moving it on.

I have a 10 year old Makita, and it does all I could ask. Out of curiosity, I purchased on ebay a trimmer router much discussed and praised on the UK forum. It appears to be reliable and comparable with the Makita. Most parts are interchangeable. And it is cheap.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Variable...8AAOSwFbJZ3w5n

I have used it, and it is more powerful than my Makita, and comes with variable speed (which my old Makita lacks). It uses the same fences, etc.

For a few Dollars more, you can get one with all the fruit ...

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/710W-Var...UAAOSwq9lZhHGl

Regards from Perth

Derek

Makita N3701 all day; fully cast aluminium body, made in Japan and enough power to run a 10mm radius in one pass in any timber you like. Not sure if they're still in production, but I'm sure you could find something online.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Makita N3701 all day; fully cast aluminium body, made in Japan and enough power to run a 10mm radius in one pass in any timber you like. Not sure if they're still in production, but I'm sure you could find something online.

That's the one I have.



It is a great little trimmer with a great balance. Slim and easy to hold. However, it is very basic. The latest Makita model, as with the cheapie I link to, has soft start and a fine adjuster (both of which the Makita N3701 does not have). And they are also aluminium bodied.

Incidentally, all the accessories for the new Makitas (and the cheapie) fit the N3701. So, you could get both.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

I have a 10 year old Makita, and it does all I could ask. Out of curiosity, I purchased on ebay a trimmer router much discussed and praised on the UK forum. It appears to be reliable and comparable with the Makita. Most parts are interchangeable. And it is cheap.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Variable...8AAOSwFbJZ3w5n

I have used it, and it is more powerful than my Makita, and comes with variable speed (which my old Makita lacks). It uses the same fences, etc.

For a few Dollars more, you can get one with all the fruit ...

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/710W-Var...UAAOSwq9lZhHGl

Regards from Perth

Derek

Looks like a clone of the Makita Crowie talked about, pretty good copy too. Well, I just treated myself to an early birthday present coz THIS one I got for only $125 shipped.

I have one of these https://www.boschtools.com/ca/en/bos...0evs-195774-p/
I also have a Makita trimmer, but it's back in AUS.
Accepting that comparisons are drawn from memory, the Bosch seems easier to use in terms of depth adjustment and one handed use.


However, for a trimmer, I think you would want to look long and hard at the various cordless options.
This one https://www.boschtools.com/ca/en/bos...-25n-196784-p/ is getting some positive reviews.

looks like Makita gets the most votes

Those Chinese knockoffs are ridiculously cheap - definitely worth a look

Cordless does make sense, but I'm reluctant to add yet another battery system to the already growing selection. Wouldn't it be nice if manufacturers could agree on an industry standard? Bad for profits but good for consumers

My new brushless 18v Makita one is amazing. The power is equal to my corded version and not having a cord catching and pulling on the machine is a big win.