im in the market for a fixed base router. It will be the first time i have purchased a router but i have used a porter cable on the job for some time. I will mostly be doing small cabinet jobs, rabbets and dados, and may fool around with some custom work at home. cananyone guide me in a good direction with brand and horsepower suggestions. thanks
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Listeners weigh in on Brian’s haunted showerhead and ask questions about covering overhangs with trim coil, sealing air leaks, and how to partially finish a basement.
Featured Video
Related Stories
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Good overall fixed base routher is the classic PC 690 1-1/2 hp.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
is 1 and a half hp enough to go through a full two by and dado it?
"is 1 and a half hp enough to go through a full two by and dado it?"
Just fine as long as you don't try to take too much in one pass. The PC 690 is the router to have as a first one. Don't bother with the newer 890 or whatever it is, made in China cr^p.
CPO Porter Cable for $114.95:http://www.cpoworkshop.com/reconditioned_tools/routers/fixed_base_routers/690lrr.html
I have the one that comes with 2 bases, fixed and plunge. (PC)
Got a deal at Sears 2 yrs ago, $179!
If I was buying only one router, I'd get one of those 2 base kits ( fixed and plunge bases) in the 2 HP range.
Either Porter-Cable or Bosch make good ones.
Once you start using a router, you'll find a plunge router is very handy.
Take a look at the Ridgid fixed/plunge combo at Home Despot.
I have it and it's a wonderful router for the money (about 2 bills... so make sure to score a 10% off coupon somewhere).
2-1/4 HP so plenty of power.
Mag housing so it's light.
My favorite feature... the baseplates are clear lexan and there's an LED light built into the housing - so you get great visibility to what you are routing. It's a standout feature.... one that really separates it vs. competitively priced models.
It also has a no-mar pad flat top so you can flip it upside down for bit changes on a finished surface (if you absolutely must) but even better... you can flip it upside down while the bit/motor is winding down after you hit stop... PROVISIO- be careful when you do!
It has all the micro adjust features, supports 1/2 and 1/4 collets, good dust collection, yadda, yadda, yadda....
This router really is a best kept secret...
Edited 1/4/2009 1:55 pm ET by GraniteStater
Edited 1/4/2009 1:56 pm ET by GraniteStater
good way to go....
smart too...
Model 1617EVSPK
View Product Detail
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductCategory.aspx?catid=527
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
thanks to everyone for their tips...im going to do some research and see what happens
here's a link to a review of the Ridgid that influenced my purchase.http://benchmark.20m.com/reviews/RidgidR2930RouterKit/RidgidR2930RouterKitReview.htmlI forgot to mention... it has a t handle insert for adjusting bit height from above when mounted in a router table.I forget because... well... I don't have a router table. Yet.HIJACK - anyone got a recco for that?
reasearch the company, their service and warrenty while yur in there....
believe you'll find Bosch the way to go...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I used to think like you until I racked that motor up in my router table. The on/off switch is a saw dust magnet. Now if I want to use it free hand it takes damn near an act of God to get the thing turn and stay on.
Its real fun running an edge and having the thing just turn on and off at will.
I contacted Bosch when this first happened. They sent me a "new" switch that mysteriously looked just like the old switch.
For now I just put up with it and wonder how my life would've turned out, had I bought the PC router kit.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
Edited 1/4/2009 7:31 pm ET by MSA1
was at the the router store today....
Bosch... made in North Carolina....
Milwaukee... Wisconsin...
PC... Mexico, China, Malaysia....
The PC's cost less but not by much...
As far as the dust in the switch.... haven't had the problem...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I was making raised panels out of MDF. In all fairness that would clog up alot of things.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
that it would....
don't care for the stuff....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Thats one thing (even outside) that I always wear a mask working with.
That and cutting hardibacker.
I look like a spaceman when i'm milling my raised panels. Hearing protection, eye protection, face mask, and a light covering of mdf dust.:>)
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
I've been interested in the Triton for $200 that keeps winning Taunton's best value. Wish I knew where to go to try these things. Bosch & PC are solid.
The Triton is at woodcraft right now for $200.
Hmm, there's a Woodcraft not far from me. Wife and I have decided January is buy nothing month. But at least I could check it out, I've been meaning to go by Woodcraft for awhile. I can wait a month or two.Thanks.
Edited 1/4/2009 10:56 pm ET by habilis
We have a Woodcraft store in town. They are better for accessories than tools, but its full of nice stuff.
I think they are good for picking up tools and checking them out. They have demos and stuff like that. Go on line and sign up for their newsletter.
I'd like to see some of the Festool stuff put through it's paces. I'd like to have a domino.
I have a brand new (used for maybe 30 minutes) Freud fixed base router that I will give up for $100.
I am upgrading to the Festool router.
The Freud is a good router, but I also have the Bosch and the Ridgid multiple base routers, and three others. I just don't need the Freud at this time.
I have the Dewalt 618 three base kit, the Bosch 2 base kit and the Milwaukee grip router.I'd stay away from the Ridgid stuff as it is is Chinese made and where to go for service? Heard many long wait, no parts stories about Ridgid power tools. Plus - it NEVER goes on sale and the others do frequently.The Milwaukee grip standard base is NICE, and recently HDT and Amazon had the 2 1/4HP two base kit for under $135.The Bosch is very nice - maybe my favorite of the lot and the two base kit is very often sold as low as $150-165 with an edge guide setup.The Dewalt has some great features, but I've found the fine-adjust to be sloppy compared to the others - especially when used under a table.The PC 690 industry standard is a good unit - had one for some time, but the others are so much nicer for the same price. (var speed, fine adjust, above the table height adjust.The 690 plunge base is a huge pita to attach the motor to and the plunging is not as smooth as the others. All of the others the base goes in and out in a second - no tools.Bosch service is second to none and their centers all all over. They had some initial issues with switches and Mag. bases tarnishing, but I think that's all in the past now.Bosch first, Milwaukee second, Dewalt third, PC 690 fourth. The Dewalt plunge base offers thru the tube dust collection, so if you do a lot of surface routing (dados/fluting) that's a great feature. The Bosch dust attachment does a good job too though.Good luck.JT
The 690 plunge base is a huge pita to attach the motor
Actually I found that the plunge base attaches easily to the 690, but is dang near impossible to remove. Eirther way, it's not well designed. But he asked about a fixed base router, so that's why I recommende the 690. I think he needs to get the 690 and then a dedicated plunge router. And a laminate trimmer."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Speaking of laminate trimmers... I'm thinking of getting one of these:http://www.grizzly.com/products/Trim-Router-Hi-Impact-Plastic-Body/H7791For $45 plus S&H... why not?I've tried the Bosch... it's nice, but over 2x the price of this one.
Here's a "why not" for $25.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914
I have it. I've used it enough to say that it's paid for itself... and it still works!
Cool. I would probably do that if the Grizzly didn't exist but I've always wanted a grizzly... something... so the lam router is probably it.Either that or the $3,000 14" sliding table saw.Not!I got the 09 Grizzly catalog the other day. Man, do they make a wide range of stuff. Framing nailers, meat cutting band saws, huge industrial machines, laminate routers, etc., etc., etc.,
"I got the 09 Grizzly catalog the other day. Man, do they make a wide range of stuff. Framing nailers, meat cutting band saws, huge industrial machines, laminate routers, etc., etc., etc.,"Indeed. Lots of stuff from China these days.
We'll be seeing chinese trucks after the demise of the big three, maybe before that.http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/kingstar2004/product-detailfoBEXvOKlaUw/China-XINKAI-Century-Single-Cabin-Pickup.html
Edited 1/6/2009 6:17 am ET by Dam_inspector
I drilled two holes, (just big enough to get the hex key that tightens the screw), in the plunge base for the 690, one on either side of the screw that tightens the little plate that tightens up to hold the motor in. I now just loosen the screw, stick the allen key in so it is touching the plate, and tap it with the collet wrench.
Mild pain in the "a", but it does let you take the motor back out of the base.
I have a herd (4) of 690s, and two of the 890 kits, and probably half a dozen extra bases around bolted into various jigs-n-fixtures.
It would be hard to beat the 690 variable speed for a first router. Brute force simple, but a proven design that has been around essentially unchanged for decades. There are very few after market router accessories around that aren't designed to work with it. And, extra bases, collets, etc. are readily available on eBay.
Edited 1/4/2009 10:34 pm ET by Jigs-n-fixtures
RE: the RidgidIt may be made in China... but it's not a piece of junk.Anymore than the Milwaukee Router that's made in Wisconsin is somehow guaranteed to be crafted like a swiss watch. Where for service? There are plenty of authorized service areas. There are three within 20 miles of my house.http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/Technical-Services/index.htmAnd... it has a lifetime service warranty. What other router offers that?I can't speak about the parts issue because mine works just fine albeit only with occasional use... I also don't beat on my tools... any more than necessary... ;0 The Ridgid forums don't have any complaint threads about parts for the router so I'll take that as a positive sign. Oh, and I bought mine on sale. And then I used a 10% off coupon on top of it. Net price was like... $160?The Bosch combo kit (debated between that and Bosch) doesn't seem to go on sale very frequently either. And it's $220.Take a look at it next time you're in the Despot.... it's a pretty nice tool.
Just go ahead and buy 9 or 10 of em, cuz that's what you will probably end up with. A trim router, small light fixed base, heavy fixed base, small plunge, medium plunge, behemoth plunge, beater router for window cutouts, router that pretty much stays in a router table, router that is set up for the dovetail machine etc.
you gots the plan...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I'd recomend that you consider purchasing one with the ability to plunge, being as this will be your only router.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
being as this will be your only router.
You're not thinking right. he needs to buy a decent fixed base router, then realize how useful a plunge router would be, then he can buy a second one."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
LOL....good point!
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements