Trim Router Recommendations

When you say "trim router" the DeWalt DWP611 comes to mind, and I have one that I use often, but I wouldn't really consider it a "Trim router". The base, even the fixed base, is too large to get into really tight places for trimming.

A better option to consider is a Laminate Trimmer with multiple bases. They are almost as powerful as the DWP611 and the smaller bases will let you do things that even the DWP611 can't do. Mine, a DeWalt DW670 is about 3 trimmer generations old now, but it came with 3 different bases. The present version is a DWE6000. No plunge base is offered for laminate trimmers but you can do things with them that aren't possible with even the small standard routers. I bought a fourth base that was available separately for the one that I have, but I bought the kit with 3 other bases included.

One of the included bases lets you angle the bit, one is straight, much like the fixed base of the DWP611 and one offsets the router bit and has a timing belt between the motor shaft and the bit for really close work. It's handy when trimming laminate up close to a wall or cabinet. This sometimes makes routing certain shapes much easier if you re routing and not trimming. The fourth base is entirely for laminate work and I had to order it separate from the kit. It allows placing and gluing two overlapping pieces of laminate. Then the trimmer with this base lets you cut the overlapping piece off so it perfectly butts up against the end of the underlying piece of laminate, for an almost invisible seam.

I have frequently used this laminate trimmer as a small router before getting the DWP611. The 611 is better balanced and has a plunge base, but it isn't that much more powerful (7/8 hp for the trimmer vs 1 1/4 hp for the 611), and both use 1/4" router bits.

Charley

You really can't go past the Makita RTO700 which is a really precision trim router for which there are several different bases available.