Getting serious about routers

[loninappleton]

This may be a Tool Time question appropriate elsewhere but I figured that the FR forum is the right place to talk about build tools.

I'd like to get a lightweight non-industrial strength router. One that is easy to handle for someone coming on to arthritis in the wrists.

A company called Trend has such an item.

But this appears to be an English company. And Porter Cable has one that looks similar though I can't recall which photo on here showed that. Porter cable is available here in US but it's still expensive anywhere you go.

This all got started with wanting to make flush mounts.

The flush mount jig/template requires a table mount router functioning as a spindle shaper. That's to get the square shape (or any shape other than round) of the driver flange.

For my workspace, the fixed base would be mounted on a work table with a removable center leaf. Pop it in, pop it out.

I suppose an extra motor housing of the quick release kind would be beneficial to cut down wear and tear on the fixed mount table setup.

What suggestions can you make?

If this belongs elsewhere just let me know where it winds up if moved.


cheers

[AuroraB]

The larger Porter cables are about half the price or less than a similarly powered Trend here in Europe.. makes us europeans drool, except we need a trafo to run the PCs, and only some of them can cope with 50hz. England often uses 110V for site power...not sure about the Trends doing 60 hz,
Have you checked out Rockler for the PCs...quite often on sale.....

[gareth]

The Bosch POF series with electronic speed control are pretty good and go up to about 1400W. I would have thought that they would be easily available in the US too. They are easy to handle (though they don't have the soft start feature of the pro types) and come with a good range of accesories (they do here in the UK) including parallel guide, circle cutting accessory and dust extraction outlet.

Gareth

[hayenc]

I have been completely happy with the Bosch routers, both the 1617EVSPK and the PR20EVSK. Amazon has some relatively inexpensive kits of each with many accessories. I also would look at the table tops that Rockler sells. You get just the top and make your own stand.

Other thing to look at is the Jasper jigs. They are great for the circular holes. And lastly, don't cheat on bits. They make a difference.

Craig

[loninappleton]

I see they moved me. Ok.

From the tips so far the most accessible and reasonbly priced item is
from Porter Cable:

Porter Cable 690LR Router $149.99

The Home Depot has the Rockler accessoriies and likely the Lowes (our Lowes is new) has some of this.

One thing I never see on Freecycle is power tools. I have no idea where old power tools go. Freecycke is an online free exchange of stuff.

But the other question is: on the Porter Cable 690LR Router do they have extra fixed bases with quick relase? I imagine the adjustment is Porter Cable quality.

I've seen and priced the Jaspers on and off over time but the small roto tool I've been using has a circle cutter. That tool takes nothing larger than 1/4 bits. But no way will mount right.

[AuroraB]

Rockler sells the 690 with combo base for 209$. This was the one I was looking at for myself.
The Bosch 1600W combo is 219$
These are the more heavier candidates.
Of course there are cheaper versions- particularly in the US.
Your intended use and load factor should be a guidance.
If you intend to use it table mounted, there are often good priced packages - router and lift - but I haven't checked this for some time now. I'll probably buy a Bosch combo from England ( half price compared to Norway retailers)

[gareth]

Originally posted by AuroraB
Rockler sells the 690 with combo base for 209$. This was the one I was looking at for myself.
The Bosch 1600W combo is 219$
These are the more heavier candidates.
Of course there are cheaper versions- particularly in the US.
Your intended use and load factor should be a guidance.
If you intend to use it table mounted, there are often good priced packages - router and lift - but I haven't checked this for some time now. I'll probably buy a Bosch combo from England ( half price compared to Norway retailers)

Hi,
Just don't buy form Screwfix, thay are not the cheapest.
Thanks
Gareth

[loninappleton]

Here is a reconditioned item. I didn't look at warranty details or shipping. Is this the deal to beat?


http://bosch.cpotools.com/reconditio...-base_routers/


Things I do will not require a lot of wear and tear usage.

[gareth]

Originally posted by loninappleton
Here is a reconditioned item. I didn't look at warranty details or shipping. Is this the deal to beat?


http://bosch.cpotools.com/reconditio...-base_routers/


Things I do will not require a lot of wear and tear usage.

Very nice indeed, those routers (Grade A) sell for a lot more than $140 over here, mind you so does pretty much everything. With 2.25horsepower aswell you could even ride it down to your timber yard .
Nah, seriously though, I know some of the guys in work use the same and they are pretty impresed with them and the fact that you cah swap the handles over.
I wonder if these are the Swiss made (probably) or the Chinese made efforts..
Gareth

[pinkmouse]

Originally posted by loninappleton
The flush mount jig/template requires a table mount router functioning as a spindle shaper. That's to get the square shape (or any shape other than round) of the driver flange.

Though a table router is a nice tool, you don't need one for flush mounting drivers. You just need to make a jig, ( you would need to do this anyway even with a table router), and use a guide bush in the base of your router.