Left-field router option?

My old hitachi M12V is on its last legs. I bought it cheaply and well used several years ago, and it now only goes when all the stars align and following several minutes of wiggling the speed controller and swearing.

I mainly use it in a table, or on a sled for flattening boards (using bigger diameter bits for the latter), and have never used it for plunge cuts. It's a pain to adjust depth on the table, and I like the accuracy I can achieve with my ancient 1/4" skil fixed base router. So ideally, I would like a 1/2" variable speed fixed base router with some fine adjustment capabilities. Which doesn't seem to exist here. The second hand market is pretty grim, mainly single speed plunge makitas and hitachi, usually in pretty poor condition.

However, I found this on aliexpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fixe...604317652.html

It seems to tick all of the boxes for what I want, without any of the compromises I'd need to make buying what's on offer here. I did a bit of research on the brand, and it seems to be built for the south east Asian industrial/professional market by a large OEM (which makes Skil and apparently some product for the big brands).

Is this a bonkers idea? Anyone think I should take a punt?

Reckon you should have a punt... mainly so the rest of us know if it's any good :U

Not too pricey - Around AU$300 landed, and the reviews seem reasonably positive (although the 2nd one doesn't have very good english for a yank... which is a little sus!)

I know the seller's good. I bought a baseplate and set of template guides off them, and was impressed with the quality of those.

I notice that there's also another router at https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1800...3-c22c1ceee318.

It's cheaper than the other one and more powerful too -- more in line with your old Hitachi.

I wonder if anyone here has bought one.

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Originally Posted by Gassito

I notice that there's also another router at https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1800...3-c22c1ceee318.

It's cheaper than the other one and more powerful too -- more in line with your old Hitachi.

I wonder if anyone here has bought one.

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My needs are for something a bit lighter and more manoeuvrable for edge work, but still good for table use.

I have ordered the fixed base one and will post an update when it arrives...

Thanks...will wait for your verdict.

Well, the router (the Devon one in the original post) turned up today, and first impressions are that my gamble has paid off.

Fit and finish is excellent, and everything fits together precisely and accurately. It's solidly built with thick, quality plastics and nicely machined castings. The soft start and speed control both work smoothly and there isn't a hint of vibration when it runs. If it was blue and had "Makita" or "Bosch" written on the side, you wouldn't bat an eyelid.

It's easy to adjust depth very accurately, and it has a few nice features like LED lights to illuminate the cutting area and good shrouding (with a built-in vacuum port). The only little criticism is that the supplied edge guide feels a bit flimsy (quite at odds with the construction of the rest of the tool), but it should do the job fine.

Next step is to use the thing in anger. If it performs as well as it looks like it will, I'll be very happy.

Can't wait!

Used it last night to do a few rebates. Nothing particularly challenging, but it performed flawlessly. Quite impressed really: it's a genuinely good piece of kit.

Great! I'll order one tomrorrow.

A big thank you!

Hope you like it!