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Best Router for Router Table?

20K views 42 replies 24 participants last post by  wapakfred  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
My Triton router finally gave up (never liked it anyhow). What should I replace it with? I kind of like the Bosch MRF23EVS but it doesn't seem to get very good reviews. I want to be able to adjust the height from above the table.
'
 
#2 ·
I'm very happy with my PC 7518 VS motor only, mounted in a Jessem lift. Above the table adjustment is no sweat.
You might think a 3 hp motor is too big but, believe me, it's not.
 
#4 ·
Whatever motor you get, make sure it is compatible with your lift. (Don't ask how I learned this ok?) The Porter Cable units are very popular but do not allow for above the table adjustment. The Milwaukee units are quite popular for table use and I think they do allow for above the table adjustment???
 
#6 ·
For my router table I use a PC 7518 VS motor mounted in a router lift. Rockler sells router lifts that are compatable with the PC 7518. You can buy just the PC 7518 motor only at Rockler too. I like having the power of the 3 hp motor. Iʻm sold on using router lifts.

If youʻre on a limited budget and donʻt want to invest in a router lift and are willing to use a 2.25 hp router, the PC 895PK is another good option. The kit comes with plunge and fixed bases and an adjusting knob. You would mount the plunge base on the router table and use the fixed base for other non-table routing. Removing the motor from the plunge (or fixed) base is quick and easy. It also comes with a knob to adjust the height from the top of the router table.

I have several routers in my shop so I have a dedicated router motor for my router table.

My recommendation would be to get the PC 7518 VS motor with a comparable router lift.
 
#10 ·
I got rid of my router table and got a shaper. I'll never go back to a router table. I love my shaper…... Now that you need to replace your router, seems like a perfectly good time to investigate that option…...........
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
... I kind of like the Bosch MRF23EVS but it doesn t seem to get very good reviews. I want to be able to adjust the height from above the table.

- Albert
Having just purchased the combo kit (MRC23EVSK - it comes with both the fixed and plunge base) I was a little surprised by this comment. I went to Amazon and looked at some reviews and saw a couple of bad ones, not sure what the story is and I would take them with a grain of salt…

Now I will admit, I have not used mine very much - but so far I have been very pleased with it. I like Bosch (I also have their 1617 and the Colt) and I read a Fine WoodWorking review Tool Guide, Winter 2017) where they rated it Editors Choice, Best Overall (actually tied with the Milwaukee 5616-20). What really sold me was it had the best runout - .001"

Image


However, for a router table - as others have mentioned, I would go with the Porter Cable. You can buy just the motor (75182 ) and I would use it with a lift. (I have the INCRA MAST-R-LIFT II) A little expensive all in all, but no regrets

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007SXHXM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.incra.com/router_system_accessories-mast-r-lift-ii.html
 

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#12 ·
I know the entire woodworking world will recommend the PC-7518/9; however, I'll recommend the 2.5hp PC-892 - it's all the power you need, less expensive, quieter, and weighs considerably less than its bigger brother - your table has to support the extra weight.

IMO… no one should be taking a cut requiring a 3.5hp motor - it's just not safe. Also, I've found the 7518/9 to be among the loudest, most irritating routers I've used - the Bosch MRC23EVS - just as powerful and more ergonomic, is much quieter.

If you think you need 3.5hp, I'd go with the big Bosch - effortless power.

MJCD
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
I know the entire woodworking world will recommend the PC-7518/9; however, I ll recommend the 2.5hp PC-892 - it s all the power you need, less expensive, quieter, and weighs considerably less than its bigger brother - your table has to support the extra weight.

IMO… no one should be taking a cut requiring a 3.5hp motor - it s just not safe. Also, I ve found the 7518/9 to be among the loudest, most irritating routers I ve used - the Bosch MRC23EVS - just as powerful and more ergonomic, is much quieter.

If you think you need 3.5hp, I d go with the big Bosch - effortless power.

MJCD

- MJCD
" No one" Is this a fact?
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
When I was putting together my table-lift-router, I noted that the PC 7518 fit into the lifts and a lot of the others needed some sort of adapter…..that was a subtle statement to me. Yes it is louder, but no louder than my DC, and maybe more power than you need, but when is more power a bad thing?

I have a second table and router on a cheaper lift, it is the Bosch 1617. It is a very close second, but then it is not my go to set up either. In reality, you could make either one work for you.
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am inclined to try the 3-1/4 hp Triton. I refer to a new model TRA001.
It comes with a pair of collets. It has a built in dust collection port, and a nice flat base plate accessory. It incorporates a single tool approach to bit removal.

Above in this thread, people wrote of issues with a Triton router, but did not say which one, nor how old. It is clear from even minor web searching that the older ones (say, pre-2015 or so +/-, not sure of exact cut off year) had some plastic worm screws that have been replaced with metal, and some issues with dust getting in the switch.

Conversely, I'd like to see if anyone can find a bad review of the current version of this router. Really, if you can then please post a link before I make a purchase blunder.

AND - it is intentionally designed to have depth adjustment above a router table. It is specifically marketed as a plunge router that is designed to include its own lift in an under-table setup.

You can buy this router for less than the price of most of the lifts being discussed.

If you later want to remove the TRA001 and use it as a hand-held router, you can do so. Try that with the PC stand alone motor, for which you will pay circa 50 bucks more than for this full package.
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am inclined to try the 3-1/4 hp Triton. I refer to a new model TRA001.
It comes with a pair of collet sizes. It has a built in dust collection port, and a nice flat base plate accessory.

Above in this thread, people wrote of issues with a Triton router, but did not say which one, nor how old. It is clear from even minor web searching that the older ones (say, pre-2015 or so +/-, not sure of exact cut off year) had some plastic worm screws that have been replaced with metal, and some issues with dust getting in the switch.

Conversely, I d like to see if anyone can find a bad review of the current version of this router. Really, if you can then please post a link before I make a purchase blunder.

AND - it is intentionally designed to have depth adjustment above a router table. It is specifically marketed as a plunge router that is designed to include its own lift in an under-table setup.

You can buy this router for less than the price of most of the lifts being discussed.

If you later want to remove the TRA001 and use it as a hand-held router, you can do so. Try that with the PC stand alone motor, for which you will pay circa 50 bucks more than for this full package.

- jimintx
PC is not Triton. I've not seen a Triton router in the professional world yet. Would this review be amateur or professional?... How long has Triton been in business?
 
#20 ·
One thing you might want to consider is that
onboard speed adjustment may not hold up. I
try to avoid electronic gizmos in power tools
but it's getting harder. You can get an external
speed control for about $40.

I have routers with speed controls as well as
single speed ones. I've never had a speed
circuit go out but I've seen stories and the
proprietary parts aren't cheap.
 
#22 ·
I dont thin its right that the router lift be more than twice the price of the router

... I kind of like the Bosch MRF23EVS but it doesn t seem to get very good reviews. I want to be able to adjust the height from above the table.

- Albert

Having just purchased the combo kit (MRC23EVSK - it comes with both the fixed and plunge base) I was a little surprised by this comment. I went to Amazon and looked at some reviews and saw a couple of bad ones, not sure what the story is and I would take them with a grain of salt…

Now I will admit, I have not used mine very much - but so far I have been very pleased with it. I like Bosch (I also have their 1617 and the Colt) and I read a Fine WoodWorking review Tool Guide, Winter 2017) where they rated it Editors Choice, Best Overall (actually tied with the Milwaukee 5616-20). What really sold me was it had the best runout - .001"

Image


However, for a router table - as others have mentioned, I would go with the Porter Cable. You can buy just the motor (75182 ) and I would use it with a lift. (I have the INCRA MAST-R-LIFT II) A little expensive all in all, but no regrets

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007SXHXM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.incra.com/router_system_accessories-mast-r-lift-ii.html

- John_H
 

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#23 · (Edited by Moderator)
Click the links that John H posted:
The 3-1/4 PC motor is $300 with no collets. The Master Lift from Incra is "on sale" for $350.
If you buy this combo, then you will need to spend more to use it for anything, unless you have a table, because it has to be in a table.

Jack, I appreciate your input, but I wanted to let you know that I did know that Porter Cable and Triton are different companies, and didn't intend to suggest anything else.

Tunes out, I greatly appreciate this whole this thread, because it is on a topic I have been investigating for myself. It is a complex topic due to the wide range of ways to approach it!

I suggest that the very first branch on the decision tree should be to decide on a 2-1/4 vs 3-1/4 HP router in the system.
Then, choose if you want that router to be usable outside of the table.
Next, decide if you want to add the cost of a lift.
With all that settled, the choices are narrowed by a bunch.
 
#25 · (Edited by Moderator)
I would (and did) go with the Milwaukee 5625. It actually replaced a 7518 in my table.
- Fred Hargis
That machine seems a fantastic choice, as well:
It adjusts from above the table if mounted.
The motor is removable, if you did some day decide to buy a router lift.
It is a well known brand that has service shops all over the place.

While it is a bit more cash than I intended to deploy, I might go that way, too, for my own use . I can apply the common shopping logic that putting it on a credit card means I didn't pay any cash at all for the purchase!

.
 
#26 ·
Click the links that John H posted:
The 3-1/4 PC motor is $300 with no collets. The Master Lift from Incra is "on sale" for $350.
If you buy this combo, then you will need to spend more to use it for anything, unless you have a table, because it has to be in a table.

Jack, I appreciate your input, but I wanted to let you know that I did know that Porter Cable and Triton are different companies, and didn t intend to suggest anything else.

Tunes out, I greatly appreciate this whole this thread, because it is on a topic I have been investigating for myself. It is a complex topic due to the wide range of ways to approach it!

I suggest that the very first branch on the decision tree should be to decide on a 2-1/4 vs 3-1/4 HP router in the system.
Then, choose if you want that router to be usable outside of the table.
Next, decide if you want to add the cost of a lift.
With all that settled, the choices are narrowed by a bunch.

- jimintx
The comment wasn't to whether you knew they were two different companies but rather PC is a proven router.. Triton isn't.