Router recommendations

Hello bradleyjere, Welcome to the RouterForums

I will not tell you which router to select. But I will give you some advice. Go to Sears, Home Depot, Lowe's or any other store in your area that carries routers and pick it up and see how it feels in your hands. Try both the Plunge and Fixed Bases. If you find the one that feels good in your hands then you will like it. This is what I did and almost drove my wife crazy from all of my trips to the stores. If you find one you like but it does not feel right then you will hate using it. I bought the Bosch because it felt right in my hands, especially the fixed base. I started out with my dads old Black and Decker router, but I wanted to use 1/2" bits but it would not do what I wanted it too. Then I bought a 2 1/4 HP Bosch 1617 EVS Combo Kit. I used the fixed base in my Bosch Router Table then bought the 3 1/4 HP Bosch 1619 EVS just recently and it went straight into my Router table. So now I have my 1617 to use for any free hand work I want to use it for. I have my Plunge base set up for doing some other things right now but can change it to the original base plate any time if I want too. I use my fixed base now for Dadoes and grooves or Rounderovers in plywood because that is what I am using alot of now. If I had not bought the Bosch 1619 on sale I would have bought another 1617. I now have 7 Routers with 3 mounted in Router tables and 2 of these are trim routers. I received my dads other B&D Router and table recently but have not used it yet.

I would not recommend buying a 3 1/4 HP Router for free hand use to start out with, it will be heavy and bulky for that, but it is your choice.

Once you start using your Router you will find all kinds of things to do with it, and will enjoy using it if you buy the one that feels right in your hands.


Good luck and Happy Hunting. I know how you feel about hunting routers I did the same thing. But liked the Bosch.

I have used many different brands and styles of routers. Perhaps the best thing I can say is my choice was the Bosch 1617 combo kit. I also have a second Bosch 1617 motor so I have my plunge base for all free hand routing and my fixed base is ready to use on my table. (This is the best use of the fixed base) I also own a PC 7518 3-1/2 HP which is set up to drop into my table if the need arises. So far my Bosch has been capable of anything I threw at it. My suggestion is that you buy one of the combo kits with the 2-1/4 HP motors and do not consider buying a bigger router until the need arises. As far as which brand; all the brand names you mentioned will perform well. Even the low cost less power Ryobi units will do a nice job. The new Hitachi 2-1/4 HP model is styled after the Bosch 1617 and many of our members are very happy with it's performance. All of these routers have a different feel in your hands, so the important thing is for you to put your hands on them and see which feels best to you. Remember to turn the unit upside down and try the adjustments since this is how it will be mounted on your table. In my opinion you are better off buying a unit with a regular on/off switch and using an aftermarket speed controller as needed. The aftermarket units are much larger and should last longer than the tiny controllers built into many routers. Mind you many members have had no problem using the built in controllers and this is just my take on the subject. Let us know what you decide.

Wow! I was not expecting the massive outpouring of advice! All who have replied, thank you. I can see some common threads running through the above advice and I think I have a much better idea of what to look for now. I am leaning towards getting one of the 2.25 combo kits since that will give me the most options. Since I am not experienced yet and don't know all the ways I wil be using the router, so this seems to be the most logical choice. I went to the store today and looked at the Dewalt DW618PK, Porter Cable 895PK, and the Bosch 1617EVSPK. One thing I noticed with the Dewalt was that switching the base to the plunge was difficult. The dust collection baffle kept on getting in the way of the motor. If anyone have experience with that setup let me know if that is an issue for them. I also purchased a 2006 Tool Guide book that has a rundown of these routers and rates them. If I was going by that guide I would be looking at the Bosch or the Dewalt for overall all around performance and handling. I feel that the major features I am looking for (since they are all so close in performance) are dust collection system and easy bit changes. I like the fact that the Dewalt has the dust collection through a plunge rod because I think that it will help keep the field of view unobstructed durring operation. But I like the Bosch because it seems to be more comfortable and less money.

Well, another day of research complete! I have to admit that I really enjoy shopping for tools. I love to wander around Home Depot or Menards and look at all the many options. So much to buy and so little money!!!

I would not base my router purchase decision upon onboard dust collection. Here is my reasoning: If you are table mounted (most of the time?) this feature is N/A; If you are free hand routing the hose is small enough that it almost HAS to clog on a regular basis, added to the fact you will be dragging a hose over your project.(As if the power cord wasn't bad enough) There are work arounds available that eliminate the need for an onboard dust collection system, and to me they make more sense. You can purchase these items or build your own versions for a fraction of the cost. A simple table top dust collector that is designed into a portable tool tray and uses a 2-1/2" vacuum hose. (Not as likely to clog as a 1-1/2" hose) A floor sweep attachment can be set on your work surface to catch debris. A down draft sanding table hooked to a dust collection line will catch most all the fine dust generated by sanding and/or routing and it is a simple truth that no matter how you try and collect the swarf you will be sweeping anyways. Granted I have never tried using the $300 Fein system so maybe it works? I feel that the benefits of onboard dust collection for a router being used freehand are minimal at best. Just my opinion.

I am planning on using hearing protection every time I use the router. I'm 29 and I already do enough of the "What? What?" stuff.

To be honest, I am torn now between the Bosch 1617EVSPK and the Hitachi. I did take a look at the Hitachi at the store the other day and it seems to be a very good tool. At least from what I can gather by messing with it in the store. But I also have read some stuff that didn't rate the Hitachi that high. It got a bunch of good and fair ratings on it's features while the Bosch was rated as very good and excellent on most of it's features. It got the readers choice award and the editors best overall pick award. I see a lot of excellent reviews on the Bosch, but I'm having trouble finding much on the Hitachi. Since this is my first router purchase I want to go with a router that has a better established track record. But I am still torn because the price is better on the Hitachi. (I don't see that deal on Rockler's web page. Maybe they will put it up again soon to tempt me!)

Bradleyjere
It was a one day sale only for 150.oo but the links below may help tempt you.

"(I don't see that deal on Rockler's web page. Maybe they will put it up again soon to tempt me!)"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...8016602?_encoding=UTF8&s=hi&v=glance&n=228013

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref...keywords=Bosch+1617EVSPK&Go.x=10&Go.y=9&Go=Go

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=Hitachi+M12V&hl=en&btnG=Search+Froogle

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=Bosch+1617EVSPK&hl=en&btnG=Search+Froogle


Bj

I requested a catalog from Rockler and they gave me the option to subscribe to their email list. Once I did that I immediatly got an email with the deal no deal stuff. Also, I found it is available from their homepage. I'll keep my eyes peeled on what they have there! Thanks!

I have considered the refurbished route but I was not sure if was worth it or not. I am sure that there is product that was simply opened and returned, but there must be ones that were returned because of issues. I am nervous about getting a router to find out there is something wrong with it. Since I am inexperienced I may not know that there is an issue for awhile.

Does anyone know if Bosch does something to distinguish it as a refurbished router? A sticker or case engraving? Again, not a big deal but I don't want some ugly sticker on my router! (Yes, I am a bit anal that way)

bobj3: thanks for the links on the different prices. I am always looking for more resources on good places to buy stuff...