wood router, buy or not?

[Sarto]

Hi to all.
I am debating with myself if a wood router (below a link, example only) is a nice tool to have.

https://www.bosch-do-it.com/it/it/hobbisti/utensili/pof-1400-ace-3165140451666-199905.jsp

The times I do something with wood are few, but everytime I would like a tool to
make nice radiuses around things, or some other nice contour.

And then I look on the web and see prices from 40 to 300 euros.

Can you suggest a "middle range" model?

I have yet to find a suitable tool to buy for Christmas.

Thanks to all

Sart0

 

[Alan Reynolds]

I've got one of those . It does Mortices, tenons, edges and radiuses. (radii?) Rebates, grooves. Just don't expect it to fit the cheap router tables as it's 5mm too big. Trying to find the Bosch table seems to only be supplies in the USA. You can use it to make your own table though.

 

[angellonewolf]

i got a cheap lidl one and a old boash smaller one and a hatachi big one

all have there place but for a small diy most will do a job

 

[RichardM]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/KATSU-3-8-...ool-220v-2/6009680146?iid=281944547910&chn=ps

I bought one of these, don't do much woodwork, make a few cabinets for tools, formers to bash pieces of metal over, shelf units and the occasional coffee table!
Basically round corners off, cut grooves in things, etc well impressed with it.

 

[Parm]

I’ve got a 1/2 inch collet Dewalt, about 12 years old

Doesn’t get used much, but invaluable when needed

 

[Bryan Williams]

https://www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-router-&-accessories/p/000000227686400
Sold out online but may be in a shop near you.

 

[TechnicAl]

Ive got a few...all from car boots....a Titan, a Bosch Blue, a Powerdevil, a Ryobi and the best one is an American one with no name but it has a soft start and really fast....it takes all sizes of bits and it has a handle...never seen one like it........had most of them for years and never let me down

I buy them because its easier than constantly changing bits.......one rebates, one rounds over, one does slits for biscuits...

 

[tlovatt]

I have 6 - but I (used to) do a fair amount of woodwork - I made all my own furniture.

The one you linked to is not a great option in my opinions you will either use it for substantial jobs or minor decorative jobs.

Minor decorative jobs such as putting a radius corners - assuming you are looking at reasonable size bits does not require much power and a small light router is much easier / more enjoyable to use.

Larger jobs (mortising, jointing worktops, taking heavy cuts) should be done with a 1/2" router that is man enough for the job - but you can quickly get to the point where the work requires a router table.

I have:
A 2.4kw Triton in a router table (it is too powerful to safely use hand-held) This router is really designed to be used in a table and has some nice features such as through hole bit changes, auto shaft lock and the ability to wind it up and down using the handles / micro adjuster.
A 1kw Triton JOF001 1/2" router for bigger hand held routing such as kitchen worktops - this has only had a few hours use since new. I needed it to do the job but with its size I prefer to use a smaller one if possible, it does have a nice micro-adjustment feature though for slowly changing the bit height using a turn knob on the top of the router.
A Trend T4 - a nice router and small and manoeuvrable - my number 2 favourite.
An old black and decker 710w fixed speed router with a slim body (looks similar to the T4) - my favourite router and the cheapest (£IIRC £27 off Ebay).
A Bosch 'laminate trimmer' nice small palm sized router that had different bases but does not always have quite enough power plus it is more difficult to hold that the B&D - my number 3 favourite.
A cheap Homebase (UK DIY stores own brand) branded 800w router of similar design to the one in the OPs link - not powerful enough for the heavy work but too heavy and cumbersome for a lot of the work done with a 1/2".
(I have a feeling I have another one somewhere as well, another 1/2" I never use?)

Setting aside the Homebase router, the 'likeability' of the routers for doing decorate work is inversely proportional to their cost for my collection. If I were looking for a replacement I would look at something like:

https://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+power...r-with-variable-speed-control-rutlands+xt5000

Rutland also have a nice range of cutters - but again bigger is not always better and a small set that covers the basics is all you need. Trend did some nice sets for around £20 that were very well designed and made.

 

[rikrobson]

and don't forget one set up in a table.

 

[bigegg]

yes!!!

they're like lathes though: expect to spend twice as much on tooling.

they have so many applications, it would be silly *not* to have one if you do any woodworking, in my opinion.

I have more routers than angle grinders all my good ones (3x? maybe 4) are Elu. I have a Bosch gof900ace, a couple of black&deckers and an el cheapp unknown make - maybe acouple of them

grooves
mortises.
t+g joints.
rebates
biscuit joints
carving/engraving
planing
edge treatments (chamfers/rounding/ogees)
template cutting/duplicating - want to make a template 12mm smaller so you can cut round it with a plasma? easy.

I have one mounted in a table, a router lathe, a Leigh dovetail jig, a trend sledge (NLA, but probably the best/most versatile router jig). circle cutting jigs, ellipse jig, number and letter carving templates, hinge jig, mortising jig. I have a small router mounted "overhead" with an xy table ready to be cnc'd
I made a horizontal table which can be used like a small milling machine, or a jointer.

if you were feeling ambitious, you could build a pantorouter!

use tct bits (and lots of PE) and you can machine aluminium with it.

I've cut a mitre slot in a cast iron table saw top with one. (VERY carefully! 1mm depth at a time)


they'll also cut perspex etc.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Either of those. Bomb proof. Owned the more expensive one for near ten years and still going strong. Chippie so well used. Would replace like for like on a shot.

 

[bigegg]

if you buy a 1/2" router, get one with speed control - no point being able to mount big (large cutting diameter) bits if the router runs too fast for them.

 

[Hitch]

Couldn't live without either of mine, a Trend T5, and a Hitachi M12V.

Not sure which brands are mainstream in Italy.
Do you have Trend over there? Their stuff is pretty well priced here, much nicer than the cheapo tools, but not the big ticket prices of the likes of Dewalt.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Another vote for any Hitachi M12 I run a couple all day every day in router tables in a production environment, bulletproof industrial tool.

 

[Rig Pig]

I have a Freud 1/2", nice machine.

 

[WorkshopChris]

I have a Freud 1/2", nice machine.

Good machines, but i can't get parts and they don't make them anymore.
Have a 110v still in use and 230v for bits, it eventually died after 10 years of daily use in the router table.

 

[julianf]

I have a trend T4, which I got cheap when someone was selling up, but, if I were buying new, for what I want from a router, I'd go for the t5.

If I wanted one in a table, I'd get a t11 (I think that's the 1/2" one?) but there is advantage in having a lighter unit for hand use. Also a disadvantage too, I guess!

 

[Hitch]

I think a 1/2" machine is overkill for putting mouldings on the odd shelf now and then, a 1/4" machine would be the best bet. Much easier to balance on narrower material etc.

 

[armalites]

I have a Trend T5 and a T11.

The Trend kit is well made, even though the Trend models have equivalent Dewalt models it just seem the Trend ones are better finished and come with a few more accessories.

If you want a table mount then the T11 is probably one of the best units out there given you can adjust the depth from the top and bottom which means when it's in a table you can adjust without getting under the table.

The biggest limit with a router is your imagination and experience. When you first start using one you get results and then realise you could have done it a different way.

 

[WorkshopChris]

I think a 1/2" machine is overkill for putting mouldings on the odd shelf now and then, a 1/4" machine would be the best bet. Much easier to balance on narrower material etc.

I suppose it is what you are used to the smaller palm routers are good for light trimming and rounding over work, but 1/4" shank router cutters are rather fragile for anything more demanding.
A 1/2" router is more versatile and can be just as delicate as a smaller router with the addition of a few easily built work supports and guides.
I probably have 3 draws of various 1/2" cutters and no more than a handful of 1/4".
The most useful addition to any router is a table even just a simple base that can be clamped to a bench top can transform the usefulness of a simple machine.