Hi,
To be honest I'm a little lost as to what you are planning to do.... are you saying slopes like tapering the plywoods thickness? If that is the case then you will need some combinations of jigs and fixtures to do that.
Next it is best if you can to get a combo setup with both fixed and plunge base. I personally like the balance and reduced weight of fixed base systems. Plunge routers can feel a little top heavy for some jobs. I would also make sure you have both 1/4" and 1/2" capacity for bits. I also like variable speed as I can slow down the feed rate without burning by slowing the rpm. I also like major name brand equipment like Porter Cable, Hitachi, Bosch, DeWalt, and the like. This is general for any appication or use.
Horsepower wise the 2hp(+) ones are a lot lighter then the 3+ ones and work well for most hand held jobs. Once you start looking at some of these like the Hitachi km12vc at just over 7 lbs verses some of the larger ones at almost twice that weight you can make your own choice but I'm betting on the lighter being more to your liking.
Good question on the number of depth stops... I never even thought of that as a point to look for as I don't often use more then one of them. I'd have to look at my routers to even tell you how many they have but my guess is like maybe 3 or 4????. While fix base routers don't have stops then are do have some form of control of depth and most often easy to read dimensions so you do a 1/4", 3/8, 1/2 etc and get the same results.
Lots of options for doing a series of "lines" with the router, in most cases you can find a method that will be quick and will not require using a ruler. These methods can be as simple as using a stepping block at each end of a board you route against.
If you start with some searches here you will find we have had many many requests for help picking out a router...... I didn't want to go back and rehash all that but after reading some of these you will have a good idea that no one can pick out a router for you except you. Getting a router that feels good in your hands out weighs a lot of options they have or don't have. And if you get hooked like a lot of us that first router will be just that, a first router.... before long you have 2, 3, 4, 5, and on up (some people have as many as 50 or so I have heard).
If you can post some pictures or sketches of what you want to make we might be able to give you some ideas as to how we might do it knowing what we know about routers/jigs/fixtures/add-ons/and general woodworking. We have members who have worked for years in this field, members who have been into routing for 25/30/40 years. We might even have someone who has doing what you're getting ready to do.... and as you might have heard you get what you pay for here at the forum.
Ed
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Last edited by reible; 07-15-2006 at 12:30 AM.
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