Hello again folks, so we are looking to add a new tool to the arsenal in the shop and I am going crazy searching for it.  We are wanting a Router, we prefer one right now with a pre-fab table so we can start making our own paddles out of pine for our projects.  However, the more I search the more questions I have and no one at Home Depot or Lowe's is any help, we don't really have many local hardware stores that I know of, if any.  Can anyone here point me in the right direction?  

I've had good luck with Amazon. They do sell a variety of routers and have the reviews of many users who tell you what they think of them. Even if you don't purchase your router from Amazon, you can see what people are buying and their reviews of the router they buy. In today's market, there are many very good routers. For starters, I'm going to recommend the Bosch 1617EVSPK

Robert, please feel free to ask your questions here!

Cal

Here are some reviews, for what they are worth. Looks like Bosch, Rigid and Dewalt are the leaders. The carpentry shop, at the Vocational School where I taught used mostly Dewalt and Bosch.

http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tools/reviews/routers-router-accessories/do-it-all-routers

 

http://www.woodrouterpro.com/

 

http://woodroutercenter.com/buyers-guide-for-a-wood-router/

 

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/how-to/a2266/4230661/

2 minutes ago, lew said:

Here are some reviews, for what they are worth. Looks like Bosch, Rigid and Dewalt are the leaders. The carpentry shop, at the Vocational School where I taught used mostly Dewalt and Bosch.

http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tools/reviews/routers-router-accessories/do-it-all-routers

 

http://www.woodrouterpro.com/

 

http://woodroutercenter.com/buyers-guide-for-a-wood-router/

 

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/how-to/a2266/4230661/

Found the same here, but it mostly depends upon what your criteria are.

 

https://www.google.com/search?ei=iZDyWeChLMrOmwHsnLbwCA&q=routers+review+tool+wood&oq=routers+review+tool+wood&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i22i29i30k1.8183.14256.0.14436.11.11.0.0.0.0.284.1745.0j10j1.11.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.11.1739...0j0i7i30k1j0i7i10i30k1j0i22i30k1j0i22i10i30k1.0.f3Ym-g3lMyc

If you're going to mount it to a table, that's one thing. If it's only for use out of the table, that's another. Some excel at table work but suck at hand held stuff.  

 

The questions are mainly those you ask yourself about if you can really afford that expensive one with the good reviews and will that one be the best one for what you need.  

Like I said I can looking for one that can be mounted into a pre-fab table for the short term until I can get me a table top built for it.  I'll mainly be using it for boat paddles and some smaller frames, so what would be the lowest AMP and HP would I need to accomplish this the easiest?  

 

Reviews have steered me away from some cheaper ones, so I definitely read those. 

Robert, Like anything else, everyone has their personal likes/dislikes for various tools. Not surprising Big Orange or Blue is not much help. When you're talking about "our shop" how many different people will be using this router? If it's mainly you and / or one other, then the decision becomes a little easier. It sounds like you'll be expecting more of a production use versus home hobbyist, so I would stay away from Harbor Freight, Sears/ Craftsman, Skil B&D models.

 

Lew & Al both listed some great choices above...you might also consider Triton, Porter Cable (although the newer PC's don't seem to measure up to the older models), or Milwaukee too. Ultimately, what feels best to you, meets your budget and your needs is the right choice.

 

Another place to look for both new and reconditioned models as well as user reviews is CPO Tools. I've never been disappointed with any of my purchases from them.

4 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Porter Cable (although the newer PC's don't seem to measure up to the older models),

I have a couple of old Porter Cable 6902 routers one mounted in a table saw wing type router table and the other switches back and forth between fixed base and plunge base. Everything I've read confirms what Dave said. 

What size and type of bit do you use for this?  What are you using now - and what do you not like about it?

If we are talking some serious production type of work, you may want to look into a shaper.  

 

I have a couple older PC690's.  They have been workhorses and done what I needed to get done, although with more passes I am sure.  I have never done raised panels with them.  I will say this about them.  I have a PC table, there is no way (that I have figured out) to mount that router to the table so that the depth guide can be read easily.

Cal

My table routers are PC 7518s. 3.5 hp. Both are motor only. I use a Jessem lift for one and the other is mounted in a Shopsmith pin router system. I wouldn't even think about hanging theses beasts from a plate in a table. They are VS which you will definitely want/need for larger bits.

These motors have produced hundreds of raised panels in various hardwoods and never complained.

The table mounted one is over 15 years old an still works like a champ. The one in the pin router is about 4 years old. I can't see any difference in their abilities. 

I'm not a PC fan, per se but, these two have given me excellent service. But, so has the Boschs, Freud, and Triton. 

 

35 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

My table routers are PC 7518s. 3.5 hp.

Me too, the 7518's are beasts. I have mine mounted into a router cabinet hung from a Woodpecker aluminum plate. I use the native height adjustment that comes with the PC router, which is none, it's just the twist of the motor by reaching under the table and I've been fine with that since I put mine together over 15 years ago.

 

Here is the exact table I have, I purchased it for 385.00 including shipping from Canada where these are made. I remember looking on the website again a year ago to see what they have been up too, and they are still shipping these out for less than 400.00 bucks. Like I said I mounted my PC 7518 with a Woodpecker plate and it has perform like a work horse.

 

Problem: I cannot find the website!

 

The video is not mine, so don't blame me for the music. This is what I have though.

 

That's a good looking system, John. Love the on board storage and the DC. And, the price is awesome. 

I still prefer the beefy Jessem lift, though. Not only does it take the weight off the plate but it's far easier to adjust the height from above the table. And changing bits is a breeze. The only time I have to reach under the table is to adjust the speed. As you age, my friend, you'll appreciate those little things.

 

I would suggest that you avoid the Triton router. A number of years ago I needed a new router for working on Christmas stuff and my old router (Freud) that I had for many years fried the motor and I needed a new one ASAP to meet the Christmas rush. I had to get a router immediately so I went to Rockler and looked for a new one in stock. I got a really good deal on the Triton and it had a great warranty so I gave it a shot since. The Triton worked really well in the table with easy adjustments and plenty of power. But down the road the motor fried and I contacted Triton Service to see what they could do. They emailed me a pre-paid UPS label and had me box it up and send it to their service center in Tennessee. They sent me a brand new one which I appreciated. The new router worked really well for awhile but then the lift mechanism broke, so I did the return dance again. They sent me another new router. About 2 months ago the 3rd Triton broke and is still hanging in the router table waiting for me to pull it out and replace it again. 

 

The Triton works slicker than any other router in the table that I have had before as it is easy to adjust. When it works it is smooth and the motor has plenty of power to plow through the whatever wood you throw at it. But the parts are not as stellar in the longevity department. So now I am going to have to get another router for the table.  

2 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

still prefer the beefy Jessem lift, though. Not only does it take the weight off the plate but it's far easier to adjust the height from above the table.

I would like a lift, but it seems whenever I think about getting one, the funding is not there. So I just simply succumbed to reaching under the table. Funny, I have not used my router table in ages though, my work has not needed it.

I would lay out the criteria you think you want, and if I was to only have one router here's what I would want: roughly a 13 amp or so motor, these are normally labeled as "2 1/4 HP". I would want a combo kit, the ones with a fixed base and a plunge base. It would absolutely have to have both 1/4" and 1/2" collets, no adapter rings (sometime called split rings or split sleeves). This router will have to have variable speed, and most of them labeled 2 1/4 HP do. It also has to have the ability to use the standard bushings,some of them need an adapter...and that's OK if it's included. The last thing I want would not be included with it, but has to be available: a good fence/edge guide. My choice to meet all this would be the Milwaukee 5616-24. But I would also consider the Bosch 1617.

 

What I spelled out will handle any bit you should use in hand held mode, and should you also use it in a table (fixed base) it will be able to adequately handle most of the larger bits (with care). Some of them (the Milwaukee is one) have special features on the fixed base making for easier table use, like through the top adjustments for bit height. A nice feature (to me) is to be able to get a collet for 3/8" shank bits. They are available for the more popular models (PC, Milwaukee, Dewalt, others I can't remember) and I even have a few metric size collets that see little use, but can be handy at times. To save money, consider the refurbished ones at CPO (great place to do business with) or you might even find on at Amazon.

If you're looking for a good router at a very reasonable price, consider the Hitachi 12VC. I do have this router and have been happy with its performance. The one negative about it is that most of the router lifts made won't fit the motor because the motor is a bit smaller than most router motors, though it is a 2 1/4 HP motor. It is the quietest router on the market. I believe Amazon has reconditioned units for sale at under $100. If I were buying today, my first choice would be the Bosch 1617 but the Hitachi is definitely a good router at a very reasonable price.

Edited October 28, 20178 yr by It Was Al B

I do a lot of router work above and below. I like PC ,Dewalt and Bosch...I use a lot of each, but with the tooling changing over the years I think I would buy Dewalt or Bosch. A lil more Bosch I guess...

 

Just bought a Bosch 1611 for $75.

Hoping I got a good deal...

We've had several PC7518's good, durable, powerful. Have one mounted in a home made router table with an Incra lift plate. The Incra is made by Jessem and very similar to the one they sell under their own name. The Incra throat plates are steel, held in magnetically. Work well. I machined a cast iron shaper top to hold the Incra. If you are going to use a table router setup a lot, the Jessem/Incras would be worth their price.  Our bench routers are mostly Bosch 1617's. Used to use some of the PC690s but had problems with the motor clamps. My personal "hobby" router is a Makita RF1100 set. I haven't had it long enough to know what its durability is but other Makita tools have held up extremely well in our production shop.  

There is one other thing that you might consider. A pin router. They aren't much used anymore and are available cheap. We've still got one, an SCM R8, tilt table. They have plenty of power, big tables, changeable pin sizes, multiple depth stops etc. Beefy machines that are normally used for pattern routing. Some were available with power feeds. Great for repetitive work if you don't have a CNC.