Which Router for Router table?

3184 Views 14 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Woodrocket, Aug 11, 2014

LeventEryilmaz

Discussion Starter · Jul 31, 2014

Hi,

I just wanted to get your opinion on which brand i should go for router table setup.
I am very new to woodworking and have no experience whatsoever. I am trying to build a router table with incra positioning system. Since I still have a chance to choose the router that will stay on this table, I thought it is better to get experienced ppls opinion.
I narrowed the routers into 3 models based on price, popularity, functionality(above table adjustment etc), power etc.

PORTER-CABLE 892 - Decent power, popular among ppl, above table adjustment seems good, how about bit change while it is mounted on table?
Bosch 1617EVS - Decent power, pretty popular, I am not quite sure on ease of use of above table height adjustment: Can you lock and unlock the adjustment above table as well?
Bosch MRC23EVS: Very powerful, high ratings, same adjustment concerns as 1617. Getting power from its base, it could be a disadvantage if you get a router lift.

So above are what I found on internet.

Could you please share your opinion on router selecting to help me or other ppl as well. If this is covered on another thread here I apologize.

Sincerely
Levent

Reactions: 1

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

Semipro

· #2 · Jul 31, 2014

Levent
Want to welcome you to the router forums lots of good questions,we have a lot of members using the incra positioning system so i am sure helps is on the way

jw2170

· #3 · Jul 31, 2014

G'day Levent, welcome to the forum.

fire65

· #4 · Aug 1, 2014

Welcome to the forum. Any one the adjust from the top and will take 1/2" shank bits. I just got the Triton and love it.

Cherryville Chuck

· #5 · Aug 1, 2014

Welcome to the forum Levent. There have been quite a few comments on the forum about those routers which you can look up by searching the models on our Community Search. You should add the Trtion to your list of possibilities. I just saw it for sale today in a flyer from KMS Tools of BC here in Canada for $199.95. That is a pretty good price for a 3+HP plunge router here.

LeventEryilmaz

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 1, 2014

thank you.

Thank you all for your warm welcome messages. I really feel like home in this forum already.
Fire 65 and Cherryville Chuck; I knew Triton will come up as a suggestion. I live in Chicago area, it is really hard to find Triton TRA001 3 1/4 HP router
Infinitytools.com might?? have it on August 15. and it costs $270+shipping. No cheap deals here in US anymore

I checked KMS tools they sell it @ same price ( couldn't find it on flyer that I found online)
It is not even listed on ebay (except some crazy $$$ buy it now options)
However MOF001 model which is 2 1/4 HP is available on infinity tools @ $220.
I heard a lot of good things about Triton, and you guys are right, you don't buy this kind of tools frequently so it is better to invest on good tools.

I am a hobbyist so I really don't know whether I should wait for 3 1/4 HP model. What do you guys think?

Thank you again.

Levent

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Cherryville Chuck

· #7 · Aug 1, 2014

It all depends on what you want to rout. Until you start using bits 3" and larger 2 1/2 hp routers will work fine. Even those really large bits can be run in the smaller routers with slower feed speed and maybe extra passes.

However, I am admittedly a Tim the tool man Taylor type of person where I usually think more power is better. If you go ahead and buy the biggest router for the table you won't need to change it later and the difference in cost isn't usually that much. That's my personal philosophy but it is not always shared by others. BTW, my advice is for a router you will leave in the table. If you plan to remove it and use it handheld at times that can change everything.

fire65

· #8 · Aug 1, 2014

Agree, unless you plan on making doors there is no reason for the 3.25 HP.
Plus if you want to do hand held with it, you will probably like it better because of the weight.
I got mine off Amazon for around $225.

LeventEryilmaz

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 1, 2014

Thank you Chuck,

Fire65 I was thinking the same,
I am not planing to do raised panels etc, and this router will stay under the table but if i move it for handheld use ... occasionally, I think it is easier to handle 2 1/4 one.
Already ordered one from infinitytools.com.
Levent

RainMan 2.0

· #10 · Aug 4, 2014

Cherryville Chuck said:
It all depends on what you want to rout. Until you start using bits 3" and larger 2 1/2 hp routers will work fine. Even those really large bits can be run in the smaller routers with slower feed speed and maybe extra passes.

However, I am admittedly a Tim the tool man Taylor type of person where I usually think more power is better. .

I'm the same way . I can't see using a huge triton or PC for plunge routing (often) but I can understand going big under a table . I have the smaller PC690 for underneath my table saw extension , but I bought the 7518 for a dedicated RT that I want to build this winter.
Each to own of course , and the funny thing is I have no idea what I'm building yet .Gotta look at the future I guess as I would at some point like to make my own kitchen cabinets and I really want to make boxes with cool joints

MT Stringer

· #11 · Aug 4, 2014 (Edited)

The Bosch 1617 combo kit (and other mfg's also) comes with a fixed base that you mount under your router table. It also comes with a plunge base which is very handy for hand held operations. Easy to swap out the motor from one set up to the other.

I have two of them and at times, I had them both in action.
The routers usually come with two collets, a 1/4 inch and a 1/2 inch. That will accommodate most of the popular router bits on the market unless you have a special need for something metric.

Note: I have used the router mounted in a table to make raised panels for cabinet doors. I slowed the speed to it's lowest setting and made several passes until I got the desired result. That's a big bit (3 1/2 inches in diameter). It can be pretty intimidating.

Recently I bought a Kreg insert plate for my table. It comes predrilled for the Bosch and Porter Cable 690 routers AND it has a hole drilled in it so you can access the bit height adjustment shaft with the hex key that comes with the router. However, it does take two wrenches to change bits. Since I don't screw the plate to the table, I simply lift it out and the bit changing problem is solved.

Hope this helps.
Mike

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LeventEryilmaz

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 4, 2014

I was thinking Bosch too but as many people said here Triton is the king of the king for router tables as far as I understand.

I already ordered Triton 2 1/4 HP and also Incra large offset table. I did receive incra LS positioner last week so, I will build the base for the system in my garage. A lot of work is waiting for me. YAY.
Levent

timbertailor

· #13 · Aug 5, 2014

LeventEryilmaz said:
I was thinking Bosch too but as many people said here Triton is the king of the king for router tables as far as I understand.

I already ordered Triton 2 1/4 HP and also Incra large offset table. I did receive incra LS positioner last week so, I will build the base for the system in my garage. A lot of work is waiting for me. YAY.
Levent

Sounds like fun to me. Any excuse to build something. Especially something that is going to make your router projects more enjoyable to work on.

Good luck.

Al B Thayer

· #14 · Aug 5, 2014

If your going to hang a big router under your table. Plan to beef it up so the table doesn't sag.

My router table has a lift that doesn't hang from the table top. So I change bits without moving the router and don't have to build a big thick router table.

Al

Woodrocket

· #15 · Aug 11, 2014

I have an Incra fence, Woodpeckers PRL V2 router lift and a dedicated PC 7518 router motor mounted in the lift. I have this setup on both of my tables. It took me a few years to get to this point financially, but it was worth the piecemeal buying and the wait. The motor is 3 HP VS so it will handle about any bit that will fit in the table. I have several hand held routers purchase over the years that I use since the PC motors have no bases, but stay permanently mounted in the lifts.

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