Half inch routers

[Mark 2]

Not something I use much, though I might more if I had a decent one.
Not bothered about being cordless so looked at the Bosch 1617 and the Trend T7 but the Hikoki M12 is looking like it might be all I need.
Any thoughts from you good people.

 

[sako243]

I bought a JCB branded one (corded) back in the day and it's been bloody good although not seen much use. Unfortunately I don't think they're newer offerings are anywhere near as good from what I hear.

 

[Dapph2]

Chose carefully if you are going to use extra long cutters . I had an expensive Trend set of parallel 2 bladed 1/2" cutters .

Best to have a router that needs two spanners to tighten the collet clamping nut . I've killed two different ones that had a silly plastic push in button to lock the spindle . They frequently cammed /rode up out the clamping grove , so were not going to allow a good tight secure fit.

One of the compression locating sleeves actually split inside the retaining nut which didn't help .

I've now got an old second hand variable speed heavy duty 1/2 " Ryobi 6000 , which I fully stripped , fitted new bearing , serviced and fitted a new Chinese collet and collet nut & am now able to route out to 3 inches deep in 1/4 " steps with ease. Also got a second collet and nut for the future at the same time just incase this one shatters . Waiting for them to come from China in 6 days was shorter than waiting for them to come from within the UK & at a fraction of the price too .

 

[Dozzer]

Not something I use much, though I might more if I had a decent one.
Not bothered about being cordless so looked at the Bosch 1617 and the Trend T7 but the Hikoki M12 is looking like it might be all I need.
Any thoughts from you good people.

Have the Bosch 1617 combi unit, its been brilliant, have 3 routers and it is my go to.
did a lot of oak stop chamfers on one of my previous house projects. 17off 6"x6" 5ft long. it was so nice to use.
Solid wood block kitchen worktops with it. door fitting, Ogeed and channel about 70mtrs of larch for bespoke fascias & soffits
it has done a lot of work and still works & looks like new.
The quality of the collects, depth mech and lift & lock function are a world apart from my trend router.
The body swap function is really easy to use, the speed control is very good.
If there is anything you want a pic of let me know.

 

[Bornfree]

Not something I use much, though I might more if I had a decent one.
Not bothered about being cordless so looked at the Bosch 1617 and the Trend T7 but the Hikoki M12 is looking like it might be all I need.
Any thoughts from you good people.

I've got a Hitachi which I guess is the same as hikoki. Absolute solid bit of kit with good power.

 

[Mark 5]

In a plastic container box I have a ELU 1/2 inch industrial router I have never used which I purchased some 20 years ago, then forgot I had.

I found it when moving, I was so surprised, still have, it, still not used, cable still folded with its tie.

I keep waiting for my Bosch to die or beyond reasonable repair and then I'll resurrect it,--still waiting.

 

[Seadog]

I had a Dewalt for a few year. It was a copy of the Elu/Trend and a good router in my opinion.

 

[Mark 2]

Thanks, the Trend wasn't fairing well in reviews and I'm not quite seeing any benefits on the non plunge base.

 

[Mark 5]

I had a Dewalt for a few year. It was a copy of the Elu/Trend and a good router in my opinion.

I think ELU in the very early days was part of the Black & Decker industrial arm, they let ELU go, ELU sold tools in their own right, then taken over by Dewalt who killed the name and most of its products, taking just a few power tools and rebranding and closed all of ELUs factories.

 

[Dozzer]

Thanks, the Trend wasn't fairing well in reviews and I'm not quite seeing any benefits on the non plunge base.

The only advantage is for things like stop chamfers if you want it to be 100% the same every time on lots of parts.
The only down side is, you have to remember to switch it of before putting it down.

 

[EBME2]

Interested in this thread, also looking at a 1/2 inch router, also no interest in cordless. I have a green Bosch 1/4 inch one but would like one with a bit more grunt for bigger jobs. I was looking at the Makiita RP2303, I have not been a Makita fan boy but bought a track saw and was impressed. Probably along similar lines the Trend T7/T8 or Hikoki M12 but how do some of the budget options e.g Screwfix Erbauer 2100 compare?

 

[Mark 5]

Interested in this thread, also looking at a 1/2 inch router, also no interest in cordless. I have a green Bosch 1/4 inch one but would like one with a bit more grunt for bigger jobs. I was looking at the Makiita RP2303, I have not been a Makita fan boy but bought a track saw and was impressed. Probably along similar lines the Trend T7/T8 or Hikoki M12 but how do some of the budget options e.g Screwfix Erbauer 2100 compare?

There are other brands but I can't see you going to far wrong with the Makita or Hikoki as the alternative, good routers.

Not sure if Bosch make a 240v industrial router any more.

The Erbauer doesn't compare imo, having used one as a SiL has one.

It's a perfectly capable machine but is what I refer to as a brute force tool, it will do the job for you but it isn't a smooth machine.

His one is noisy and I found uncomfortable to hold.

It's good value however but no finesse and certainly not one I would want to be using as my go to if you do a lot of routing.

But as a stand by or a tool that will do a job for you, nothing wrong with the Erbauer router.

Whatever you go for buy a 240v version.

 

[julianf]

Ive got three routers -

A little trend t4 (i think) - smaller shank
A triton somthing or other - about £250. Lives in a router table. Nice device.
A hitachi half inch - £25 off fb market place.


I use the triton in the table (obviously), the t4 for light duty delicate work, where the lack of weight and kick is nice.

The hitachi is a monster. I used to use it in a sketchy router sled, but it gave me the fear. Its a brutal machine.

If you want fancy rise and fall for a table, the triton is great. If you want to hack through stuff, then a second hand hitachi will do that just fine.

 

[dholdi]

I bought a JCB branded one (corded) back in the day and it's been bloody good although not seen much use. Unfortunately I don't think they're newer offerings are anywhere near as good from what I hear.

Not sure how long ago the day would be but my experience of JCB is also good.
This was approx 8 years ago and my pal bought one to do his kitchen worktops and I borrowed it shortly after to do mine.

 

[premmington]

Ive got three routers -

A little trend t4 (i think) - smaller shank
A triton somthing or other - about £250. Lives in a router table. Nice device.
A hitachi half inch - £25 off fb market place.


I use the triton in the table (obviously), the t4 for light duty delicate work, where the lack of weight and kick is nice.

The hitachi is a monster. I used to use it in a sketchy router sled, but it gave me the fear. Its a brutal machine.

If you want fancy rise and fall for a table, the triton is great. If you want to hack through stuff, then a second hand hitachi will do that just fine.

I got a green "monster" Hitachi one - I inverted it and made a table with a fence for it - spent hours making the table - then never really used it!

Got and early 1/4" ELU one - used this allot of the years...

 

[Hitch]

I use a Trend T5 for lighter stuff, but for bigger cuts and very hard timbers I break out the Hitachi. Its a bit of a no frills powerhouse. Doesn't get masses of use but had it maybe 20 years.

 

[Mark 2]

Looks like Hikoki is the winner and still change left over for a palm router and a bag of chips.

 

[oldbikedavey]

Got a couple of Bosch POF50 units, rather bought as an adjunct to my patternmaking activities, such as they are.
Have only really used them to whizz up some peculiarly deformed cuts in scrap wood, but they clearly have great potential for light work.
Any thoughts on whether there is an adequate router table setup for those units, for light work ?
The fixing nose diameter is 43mm .....

 

[Smallfry]

Got an oldish Triton one, used it while I was working, making and restoring furniture, so used it a lot. No problems at all, except of my own making !

Have also used it for trimming 20mm alloy plate

 

[Robotstar5]

Any thoughts on whether there is an adequate router table setup for those units, for light work ?
The fixing nose diameter is 43mm .....

I have a Bosch router table bought in the 80's and still in the box!, can't rush these things I'll look it out if you're interested?.