What is Your Favorite Router and Why?
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11,632 Posts
The Festools are the bomb, but very spendy. Dewalt makes a couple
of really fine plungers, esp. check out the dust collection on some
Dewalts.
Fixed-base, the Milwaukee bodygrip matches my style, which is
to grab the router around the body first, not by the handles.
of really fine plungers, esp. check out the dust collection on some
Dewalts.
Fixed-base, the Milwaukee bodygrip matches my style, which is
to grab the router around the body first, not by the handles.
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585 Posts
I'm with loren….. fixed base ..but bosch soft start veryable speed sweet!..also have bosch plunge an pc plunge..1 craftsman an 1 roybi set for dovetail jig only….... 2 old stanleys 1s in my 1980s shopsmith overarm router the other is a 3.5 hp production i have in a table because its to big to be pushing..good panel raiser.
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51 Posts
I own 3 Bosch routers.
The Colt, the D-handle 1618EVS, and the 1613EVS plunge.
I seem to use the Colt for roundovers and chamfers, the plunge I seem to keep a spiral bit in, and for everything else I use the D-handle.
So which one is my favorite? I'd have to say . . . Bosch.
The Colt, the D-handle 1618EVS, and the 1613EVS plunge.
I seem to use the Colt for roundovers and chamfers, the plunge I seem to keep a spiral bit in, and for everything else I use the D-handle.
So which one is my favorite? I'd have to say . . . Bosch.
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2,397 Posts
My favorite tool is the router too. 
I'd probably even go as far as calling it an obsession…
But my take:
By far, my favorite router is the porter cable 690. I have one in a table and that thing is an angry little beast that, no matter how much wood I feed through it, just sits there and begs for more.
My least favorite by far is the dewalt dw618. It's actually a sad story, because I did at one time absolutely love that router. But on both of the 618's I have the magnetic speed control rings broke, so they only work full speed. One of them stopped working all together soon after. It's a sad story, because the 6182 plunge base is the best I've ever used. So now I'm thinking of giving the DW616 a try. It shouldn't have the short comings of the 618 because it's the single speed version. If that works well, it will probably be my favorite router for hand routing (in the plunge base).
I also have the ridgid R2400 (their first trimmer) and I like it, but only for edge details. Removing the base can be tedious. I want to get ahold of the R2401 too; that seems like a good trimmer according to the reviews. If I got that I'd sell my 2400 probably.
I also have the bosch colt, and I love how easy bit changes are and how easy it is to remove from the base, but mine's starting to crap out after about 3 years of very light use. It makes a grinding noise now…
Other router I had:
A ryobi 1 1/2 HP fixed base router; this was my first and I did make some money with it, but one day the height ring seized and I couldn't get it loose. I tossed it since by that time I had a 690 (the ryobi only had a 1/4" shank) and it had more than paid for itself. Rest in piece, friend.
I had the triton 2 1/4 HP plunge router for a bit and it worked well. I kind of miss it. The dust collection was great.
I had the bosch 1716evspk kit for a while and for a while it was my favorite. The fixed base is great, the motor is one of the smoothest I've used and height adjustment was very good. The plunge base worked, but I didn't like the duet collection; it stuck out the back of the plunge base and often got in the way. That's why I like the 6182 plunge base so much, the dust collection is through the column and the hose stays out of the way.
HTH
I'd probably even go as far as calling it an obsession…
But my take:
By far, my favorite router is the porter cable 690. I have one in a table and that thing is an angry little beast that, no matter how much wood I feed through it, just sits there and begs for more.
My least favorite by far is the dewalt dw618. It's actually a sad story, because I did at one time absolutely love that router. But on both of the 618's I have the magnetic speed control rings broke, so they only work full speed. One of them stopped working all together soon after. It's a sad story, because the 6182 plunge base is the best I've ever used. So now I'm thinking of giving the DW616 a try. It shouldn't have the short comings of the 618 because it's the single speed version. If that works well, it will probably be my favorite router for hand routing (in the plunge base).
I also have the ridgid R2400 (their first trimmer) and I like it, but only for edge details. Removing the base can be tedious. I want to get ahold of the R2401 too; that seems like a good trimmer according to the reviews. If I got that I'd sell my 2400 probably.
I also have the bosch colt, and I love how easy bit changes are and how easy it is to remove from the base, but mine's starting to crap out after about 3 years of very light use. It makes a grinding noise now…
Other router I had:
A ryobi 1 1/2 HP fixed base router; this was my first and I did make some money with it, but one day the height ring seized and I couldn't get it loose. I tossed it since by that time I had a 690 (the ryobi only had a 1/4" shank) and it had more than paid for itself. Rest in piece, friend.
I had the triton 2 1/4 HP plunge router for a bit and it worked well. I kind of miss it. The dust collection was great.
I had the bosch 1716evspk kit for a while and for a while it was my favorite. The fixed base is great, the motor is one of the smoothest I've used and height adjustment was very good. The plunge base worked, but I didn't like the duet collection; it stuck out the back of the plunge base and often got in the way. That's why I like the 6182 plunge base so much, the dust collection is through the column and the hose stays out of the way.
HTH
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680 Posts
Willie;
Great question. Kinda depends on job.
In no particular order;
PC 690 in router table with Woodpeckers lift. Have yet to find that 1 3/4 HP is insufficient, but still thinking about upgrading to an PC 890 motor at some point.
Dewalt 618 kit with fixed, D-handle, and plunge base. Caught kit on a close out at Home Depot a couple of years ago for $150. This is my universal go to router for hand routing projects.
Bosch Colt Palm router. Wish I had another one so I could keep 1/4" round over bit in one and trimmer bit in the other. Other than router table probably use the Colt most.
1971 Craftsman 1 HP router. My very first router that got me through the rehab of my first house, built in 1890's. Used it to recreate a fair amount of damaged /missing trim, moldings, etc. Sits on the shelf but, will never get rid of it.
Great question. Kinda depends on job.
In no particular order;
PC 690 in router table with Woodpeckers lift. Have yet to find that 1 3/4 HP is insufficient, but still thinking about upgrading to an PC 890 motor at some point.
Dewalt 618 kit with fixed, D-handle, and plunge base. Caught kit on a close out at Home Depot a couple of years ago for $150. This is my universal go to router for hand routing projects.
Bosch Colt Palm router. Wish I had another one so I could keep 1/4" round over bit in one and trimmer bit in the other. Other than router table probably use the Colt most.
1971 Craftsman 1 HP router. My very first router that got me through the rehab of my first house, built in 1890's. Used it to recreate a fair amount of damaged /missing trim, moldings, etc. Sits on the shelf but, will never get rid of it.
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5,244 Posts
Nitewalker -
Sorry to hear about your bad luck with the Dewalt. Lowes offers a 5 year extended warranty if you ever want to try again. That router feels so good in the hands, I couldn't turn it down. I figure if it lasts 5 years, it probably won't break. I have had it a couple years with good results.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Sorry to hear about your bad luck with the Dewalt. Lowes offers a 5 year extended warranty if you ever want to try again. That router feels so good in the hands, I couldn't turn it down. I figure if it lasts 5 years, it probably won't break. I have had it a couple years with good results.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
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2,397 Posts
I didn't know that about lowe's extended warranty, thanks for pointing that out. Perfect timing too, as I'll be getting my planer from there.
Yeah, that's why it was so heartbreaking; no other router I've used feels as good in my hands.
My guess is that it had something to do with both of them being used in the router table, as they worked fine until then.
I never abused them either; always light passes and never a lot of "on" time.
So I'm trying the DW616. Same as the 618, just no variable speed or collet lock, which is fine as I prefer to use two wrenches anyway.
Yeah, that's why it was so heartbreaking; no other router I've used feels as good in my hands.
My guess is that it had something to do with both of them being used in the router table, as they worked fine until then.
I never abused them either; always light passes and never a lot of "on" time.
So I'm trying the DW616. Same as the 618, just no variable speed or collet lock, which is fine as I prefer to use two wrenches anyway.
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125 Posts
I own two. A PC 895 or 893 or something. The fixed base with the vac through handle is pretty nice, but the plunge base sucks heavy. See my video on this base to answer any questions. I also have a Festool OF1400, which is wicked awesome. Hey it plunges straight if nothing else, right? I realize that the Festool costs a lot more and so it may not be fair to compare them, but if you did it would be like comparing apples and donkey manure.
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2,397 Posts
Pete, there's a new plunge base for the 890 series; it's almost identical to the dewalt 6182 plunge base.
One of the best designs made. No slop, through column dust collection and it has the right amount of spring when plunging.
One of the best designs made. No slop, through column dust collection and it has the right amount of spring when plunging.
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