G'day, newbie setting up...which router?

[AyeJay]

Thanks a lot lou. I have another question...sorry for being a pest.

I have mostly been looking out for the triton 1400W as it seems small but has many features. I think my favourite is the adjustment via turning the handle. How do you rate the adjustment on the dewalt compared to this?

or a better question would be...why do you pick up the dewalt instead of the triton 1400w?

I think I'm pretty much down to one of the tritons or the dewalt now...so that's a plus.

[NewLou]

Why do I always reach for the Dewalt

I guess @ the end of the day out of all the Routers in my stable it just feels right; its never let me down and to date has always delivered the goods...................U know one of those tools thats been one of your best M8s in the workshop.

Was also my 1st Router purchase & on a more practical note:

Build Quality
Weight
Great Plunge Action
Versatility
And most importantly in a Router Superior Dust extraction

All part of the Spiritual experience of the 621 in Routerland @ the end of the day shes just a bloody good piece of Kit LOL

If you can have a bit of a play with the routers your interested in...................you'll find the right Router ....................will pick you!!!!!!!!!!

Regards Lou

[AyeJay]

Thanks a lot Lou for your input... i will go up to carbatec in a few days and see how the triton feels. I guess they would only have the 2400W one but the features seem exactly the same on both, so will have a go looking to get the 1400W version. I am now down to either the Triton mof001 or the Dewalt 621xe thanks to your input.

By the way, have you had any problems with the triton's collet? Ie...hard to tighten/hard to loosen...bits moving etc? I have heard that is a downfall. is it a big one? THis issue has been remedied on the new triton tra001 at carbatec

[munruben]

Thanks for your reply munruben.

Can I ask how you use a router without a plunge action? Is this something that you have done (take out the springs) or do you have to wind it to the depth every time?

)

The B&D router I use, doesn't have a plunge action as such. The router body fits into an encasement and the whole body of the router adjusts up and down with a sort of rack and pinion and is raised or lowered by turning the adjusting Knob The knob turns a pinion which adjusts the rack that is attached to the side of the router.. These were called a fixed base router. You don't see many of them around today. You have to fix the height of the bit by lowering or raising the whole body of the router with this adjusting knob and lock it into position with a wing nut. Simple but effective. There is no springs in the mechanism for doing this.

I have this router mounted under a table and the adjustment has to be made from under the table but can e very precise with the adjusting knob raising or lowering the router.

Hope this explains it to you I'm not very good at explaining technical things.

[AyeJay]

Thanks for the explaination munruben...yes I did understand.

Well, after some more thought, I've decided to go with the dewalt.

I tried the 2400W triton at carbatec the other day (just a touch/plunge/wind x3 sort of try), and I was surprised to see that the winding was not done on the handle, but that you had to actually pull on a button type deal behind the handle first and then you could wind it up and down.
I'm sure you could get used to it quick, but it felt quite awkward to do. I still like that mode though. Also I thought the plunge was good.

The thing that swayed me to the dewalt was parts and warranty. If I buy a triton of ebay....well, I feel like I am going out on a thin branch there. I'm sure i'd get many good years out of it, but on the off chance it broke, I would be in a bad place.

things I like about the dewalt:
-dust extraction in the column
-light weight
-the plunge lock on the handle
-warranty and parts not an issue

Anyway, now I have to find one. Went to total tools after recieving an email saying they had one left in stock....the one left in stock was their display model and they wouldn't give me a discount. Any ideas?

Thanks all for your help..problem solved (descision anyway)

[AyeJay]

So I guess I should close this off in case someone else reads it.....

In the end I was still unsure of spending 400 + big ones on a router, so instead I bought one from aldi for 50 bucks! haha Bit of a swing, but I figured it's probably as good as the 100 buck ones from bunnings, so go with that. Seems workable.

Oh, I spent the 400 bucks on the router, router table, table saw, hand plane....plus other things....I think it was a better spend for now. If I get good at this and it becomes a consuming passion (like handplanes has become recently)....then the money can be spent.

Good luck all and thanks again everyone for the help.