I've had the 3 1/4 hp triton upside down in my router table for 5 years with thousands of feet of hardwood put through it. It's very powerful and the lift built into it works fine for my needs. You'll see comments about the older ones having dust get into the switches and having to be cleaned a lot to work. That issue was rectified fairly quickly. I believe they are still an Australian company. I don't know if they still are. Customer service is personal and the router has worked for me. My upright router is a Bosch. Works good but changing from stationary base to plunge is a pain. Things just don't fit well. Still, I have several bosch tools and like them.

 

I tried the Triton router in my table, to try and avoid spending the money for a lift. I found it very frustating and finall gave up on it and got the PC 75182 and Incra Mast-R-Lift II for my table. I have been very happy with this setup and would recommend the PC for anyone looking for a lift only router.

 

JackDuren:

You seem to be playing Editor-Police on this thread.

Yes! In My Opinion, No One should be taking a cut requiring a 3.5hp motor. Woodworking can be dangerous if you push your tools, push you processes - you can always take a smaller cut and a second pass. Also, taking too large a cut - that is, asking the cutter to do too much - can lead to a poor cut or a poor finish on the cut: if you've taken all of the cut you need, how do you then repair it? Evidently, you have more experience than the rest of us.

 

Going back just a few years routers had a different pecking order. PC was King for years, however B&D has taken out their guts, leaving only a name, same is happening with DeWalley. Bosch, Milwaukee, and Triton would be the only makes I would consider for router table use today. That FWW article was taking this into consideration.

Another look from FWW

You didn't say what you didn't like about the Triton? I have a bunch of them, beating the daylights out of them, working without fail going on 6 years x 6 routers.

 

I have a Porter Cable 890-series router in my router table. It has above the table adjustment and bit changes, using the fixed base. Great router. No complaints from me. I wanted to avoid buying an expensive router lift. All I needed was the replacement base for attachment to the router, and I had to drill a hole in it for the above the table adjustment tool to fit through.

 

Many years ago, when I was just beginning this journey, I wanted a 3HP router that I could use to build a stair project I was working on, and would eventually become my router table. I bought the PC 7538 3HP VS plunge router. Worked perfectly for the stairs, but, thanks to my inexperience. not so great for a router table. Then, I was at a woodworking show and someone was demonstrating this gadget you could modify a plunge router with for a router table. It has a removable hand crank that turns the plunge mechanism into a perfect router lift.
Now, I won't deny, you still have to lift that beast out of the table to change bits, and you still have to reach under the table to lock/unlock the plunge mechanism so there's no movement. but it works beautifully.
I'm not suggesting anyone go out and buy one of these for a router table, but, if you ran across great deal on one, it is an option.

 

I just remembered, it's called the Router Razer, I think.

 

Thank you all for the insights into the world of routing!
Since my post I ordered a Bosch reconditioned unit from CPO, Good price but it arrived damaged so I returned it and am now leaning toward the Milwaukee 5616, Home Depot seems to have the best price on it of $179.
Interesting to learn that the Triton has improved, I tend not to give them a 'second chance' as they were so unresponsive to my earlier troubles and because of the poor overall quality of the unit I had. Also they have no local network of repair facilities and repairs must be sent to South Carolina, Shipping both ways would make a new router seem more attractive.
I sure appreciate this site, lots to learn from a lot of woodworkers willing to share their experiences!

Albert

 

You didn t say what you didn t like about the Triton? I have a bunch of them, beating the daylights out of them, working without fail going on 6 years x 6 routers.

- therealSteveN
[/QUOTE]
The Triton had plenty of power but the 1/4 inch collet would not grip the bits, After a few ruined projects and a loose bit sailing across the shop and denting the wall I ordered 1/2 inch bits for each project and built up a nice inventory of them. The final straw was the lift mechanism stripped out and would not function any more. I made the mistake of trying to disassemble the thing so I could identify the bad part and ended up with a bench full of screws, pins, plastic parts etc. I got so POed that I just put the whole mess in the trash and decided to replace it.

 

I was looking at the bosch WOW! And if you mount it under a table you do not need a LIFT that would cost twice as much

 

JackDuren:

You seem to be playing Editor-Police on this thread.

Yes! In My Opinion, No One should be taking a cut requiring a 3.5hp motor. Woodworking can be dangerous if you push your tools, push you processes - you can always take a smaller cut and a second pass. Also, taking too large a cut - that is, asking the cutter to do too much - can lead to a poor cut or a poor finish on the cut: if you ve taken all of the cut you need, how do you then repair it? Evidently, you have more experience than the rest of us.

- MJCD

Yes, I have been doing it a long time..

"IMO… no one should be taking a cut requiring a 3.5hp motor" Small cuts or large…

 

The Bosch is a great router, but marginal if you do any raised panels. Those big horizontal panel raising bits really need the 3+ HP routers.

 

Thank you all for the insights into the world of routing! ... ...

I sure appreciate this site, lots to learn from a lot of woodworkers willing to share their experiences!
- Albert

I sure agree with the site being the very best place i know of to get knowedlge and insight, to learn som new things, and to have some fun exchanges, as well.

Due to this thread, I have decided to pass on the Triton that had been on the top of my list, and make the Milwaukee 5625-20 my top choice for a table mounted machine.
I am a bit put off by it needing two wrenches - below the table, I think - to change the bits.
However, I will work with that to have a 3+hp router in a table that does not require a separate, costly, lift.

At least in the beginning, I don't think I am not even going to use a commercially-sold, also over-priced, separate plate for it. I will hang it onto a chunk of melamine laminated, thick, MDF and see how it all goes. I'm thinking I will bore some lifting recesses (or holes) into the MDF "plate" I will make, and then just pull the whole thing out to change bits, and to clean up the router as needed.

Thanks to you all for helping with the thinking!

 

Just a quick follow up, I got my Milwaukee 5616-20 yesterday from Home Depot (on line). It is installed in my home made router table and looks like a winner so far. Should be enough power for anything I need and is easy to adjust from above the table. Not sure yet about changing bits, that might be something of a hassle but I can deal with it.
Thanks to all for the advice and council on this, it did help.

Albert

 

Albert, thank you for the follow up. An order from Home Depot is the way I plan to get one soon.

I will hope to see more update after you have used it at different heights, and changed the bits. I hope you will be able to include a photo of your mounting method.

A week or so back I saw a youtube about the 5625 and the guy just unlocked the motor and dropped it out of the mount, then laid it on the table to change bits before putting its back into the fixed base mount under the table. He made it look quite easy to do it that way. I thought that I can do that easily compared to purchasing a nominal 300 dollar lift.
. . .

 

I don't understand why the Triton is not a more popular choice for the table mounted router. I have had a Triton 2 1/4 hp router for about the last 5-10 years and I think it's a great choice for the router table.

-The height can be adjusted from above the table with the included height winder (I didn't have to spend any money on a router lift (which is not cheap) because it already does that).
-The bits can be removed/replaced from above the table with a single wrench (included) (The collect locks automatically when fully extended).
-It has plenty of power (for my needs).
-It has good dust collection.
-It's variable speed.
-It's a plunge router.
-The kit I purchased came with all the bushings you might need for freehand routing, a circle jig, a nice case, and some other odds and ends.

I've never had a problem with the collet (1/4" or 1/2") loosening up or slipping. I've never had any problems with this router-period. About the only negative I can think of is that this router feels a little top heavy when being used freehand and the on/off safety switch is mildly frustrating to activate from under the router table.

I have heard of people who strip the winding mechanism and it will no longer raise lower the router with the supplied winder. I suspect that is because they didn't know (or maybe didn't read the directions) that a spring needs to be removed when you use it in the table. I think the early Triton routers (mine included) have plastic or nylon gears internally (for height adjustment). I think they now make them metal or offer a replacement part. I've never had a problem with mine it moves smoothly and precisely.

 

The 5616 is a very good router for table use, when i mentioned the 5625 above I thought you were looking for the larger model. The 5616 shares the same features as the 5625, at least from a table use standpoint. Congrats!