I have two M 12s and love them. I bought them new probably 25 years ago and mounted one to a table (with the handles on) the other I mounted to a plate so that when needed I can simply pop it on the table. I do that when making rail and stile joints. In all the time I have owned the router I can't think of more than two times that I had to take it off the table. Once was for doing mortises for a railing and the other was when I was making a large round tabletop. I bought a mortise machine so I doubt that I'll even remove it for that again. The point is that I would leave it mounted and worry about handles when if ever they are needed. It would be simpler to buy another router and leave the workhorse like it is.