Router's whcih one

[Zed]

Hi,

Not being the richest bloke in the world I am saving $50 a week from my lunch money that SWMBO allows me and when I have enough I will buy myself a router.

I have done a bit of research (mainly AWR) but dont have any conclusive info on which is the one I should buy. Seems that the article that did the review (AWR 33 I think) had a number of different blokes that did each review so consistancy was not the best - a bit like comparing apples to oranges - eg they did not have a table that compared each brand's power, collet size, dust extraction, ease of use, saftey, depth stop system, cost, weight, bad points etc... So at the end of the day I still dont know which one to get. I must admit I do have a personal preferance for Makita as my brand of choice but the impression I get from the article is that It may not be the best around.

For the record I will be using it for home handyman and hobby construction such as tables, cabinets, dovetailingm setting inlays, etc... eventually using it as the permanent router in a router table... I understand that The Triton is a reasonably good one but I've done a bit of trashing on this forum with regard to the Triton so I'm knashing my teeth on buyting the triton - I'm scared that I'll start collecting triton gear which is a worry!!!

Any input is appreciated - apologies for those of you who have seen this before but I did a search and I don t think this exact question has popped up before.

[TOMARTOM]

If you have enough coin, then I would go the Makita 3612c, it has all the functions of what should be expected from a router, but is quite expensive. Hitachi make a good router in the TR12, but not V/S, S/S etc, I don't know anything about the M12V.The festo undoubtably expensive but I couldn't justify the cost. PortaCable also expensive, and probably, the 3 1/4 HP is needed over the 2HP model, again cost.

regards
tony

[Termite]

IMHO Triton. Regardless of what you or I may think of some of their products, I personally feel this is a very good router. I researched the issue fully and ended up buying one for my home built router bench, which also has an Incra Jig 16 on it.
Kind regards
Termite

[silentC]

Zed,

Go with your instincts, go with the blue. I've got a 3612c and I've got no complaints about it. Plus they have the best advertising material

Make sure the one you buy has variable speed control - mine hasn't, which limits the size of bits I can use.

[Zed]

All,

Thanks for replies - I just realiseed I forgot to add Triton as a response to the poll - apologies - how do I fix that ? or must a admonstrator fix it ?

[Sir Stinkalot]

Its an admin fix.

[Cambo]

You've also forgotten one of the best (IMHO) - Bosch. Powerful, variable speed, good height adjustment and multiple depth stops, good dust extraction. It gets the vote for me....

[Cliff Rogers]

G'day.

I picked up the Hitachi M12V from Tradetools Qld for $389.
I tossed up between it & the MAKITA 3612C for a while.
Their price for the 3612c is $523
They are very similar as far as I can see, except for the price.
The general feedback from this forum was that the Name 'Hitachi' generally has a better record for longivity than the Name 'Makita'.
So far I am fairly happy with it.
The only things I can pick on are both to do with the Fine Adjustment Knob.
1. When you are backing it off, there is no indication when the knob is about to unscrew off the end of the threaded shaft.
I think that problem could be overcome by fitting a longer threaded shaft.
2. When you are winding it in or out, the plunge column on the side away from the Fine Adjust tends to bind a bit. To overcome this, if the unit is not in a table, wobbling the base plate while adjusting the dept with the Fine Adjust helps. If it's mounted in a table, wobbling the head of the router while turning the Fine Adjust knob works.

Other than that, I'm happy. I can't believe how much quieter it is than my little old 1/4" AEG.

[zymurgy]

And what about a place to vote for my Dewalt.

Gordon.

[Ben from Vic.]

Whatever you buy, plug it in, fire it up (before you hand over your cash) and see how loud it is.

Size, weight, power, etc are all important, but we always forget our ears.

It's nicer on us, our family and the people next door.

I always wear hearing protection of course, but it's much nicer if it's more a precaution than essential.

My 2 cents

Ben......BEN.......BBBEE....ah forget it.

[Duramen]

First Post. I recently purchased a Hitachi M12V for $347 at Bunning’s (Bonnyrigg), they have 2 or 3 left, they are discontinuing M12V model. At $347 for a brand new Hitachi M12V do I need to say any more.

[Template Tom]

It would be great if you could have the opportunity to 'try before you buy'. Everyone has there own preference as to what they want. It is important to look for certain features before you purchase.
Can it be used both in the table position and the plunge mode?
Is the cutter selection restricted by the size of the opening in the base?
Can the depth of cut be fixed easily?
Does it have variable speed to permit the use of the larger cutters?
My Favourite consideration Can it take template guides?
and is there a 40mm guide available for purchase?
Tom

[Dusty]

I've given Triton the nod.

Packed with features. Safe. Excellent in the table.

However, I can see why many blokes are big wraps for Makita gear. It all seems to be of great quality.

But over Christmas, we had visitors from the states and the fellow is a building contractor and he surprised the hell out of me by saying that he buys Makita for his tradies to use on site, and the reason he buys Makita is 'cause in America they're considered to be crap and it doesn't matter too much if they are stolen from job sites. (Which apparently happens often in the states)
So, over there, they are considered cheap and easily replaceable, yet here, owning Makita gear is something to be proud of.

So, are we being sucked in by good marketing? Or is this guy talking through his ten gallon hat? I dunno.

[derekcohen]

I use an Elu 177e as my main router. It is a large, 1/2" and 2 1/2 HP machine. It is now about 12 years old and as good as the day I purchased it. Expensive in its day (as much as the large Festo), but worth every penny. It has formed the basis for the de Walt machines, since Elu became a subsidery of Black & Decker. I wouldn't trade it for anything new as it is built like the proverbial Brick Sh*thouse!

My smaller machine is a Makita, a 1/4" and 1 1/2 HP router that I use for more intricate, handheld work. This one is also no longer available but goes on and on.

Were I to buy a new, large machine I think I'd look favourably at the Porter-Cable units. There is one model in particular which enables you to swap bases (handy to leave the fixed-base section in a router table), yet has 2 1/2 HP and all the features of the Triton for bit changing.

I still like the Festo. Expensive but quality that will last. Smooth action and, importantly for me, a relatively quiet motor.

I like the Makitas for their durability but have never been sold on their ease of use (the ones I have used were not smooth movers).

The Hitachi has a reputation as a "screamer" - toooo loud.

The Triton looks to be a good machine for a table but I wonder what it is like to use hand-held?

I would also not consider de Walt since their rep for reliability is a bit suspect.

Hope this helps.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Sprog]

I have a Makita 3612 and a Triton router.
The Triton wins hands down, table mounted or hand held.