Question on cordless routers

I have the Ryobi and love it. The lack of variable spindle speed is not a concern because I have bigger routers that are corded for that, like yourself. One thing I really like about it is that the body of the router is not cylindrical. This makes it fit better in the hand and I can lay it on its side to get extra leverage when I need to loosen the collet. I even went so far as to build a router table for it (see projects).

All that being said, there are some features I wish it had. For example, the light only operates when the unit is on. It might be nice to be able to turn on the light independently from the spindle, but if you are running the base along an edge guide or using it in a table, I feel this becomes less important. I can’t find a good tilting base for it whereas I believe another brand offers a tilting base sold separately. Sometimes I need to put a precision chamfer on plexiglass for jointing at an angle and a tilting base on a trim router is perfect for that task.

As far as battery life and power to sustain the cut, I tend to use the 4Ah batteries with it and I have 3 of them with one charger. I also have a 1.5Ah battery for lighter duty. I haven’t had a need for a 5th battery and sometimes I run the trim router all day long. I always keep one on the charger and those 4 batteries keeps me running all day long. I have been thinking of picking up their bigger charger that can charge multiple batteries at the same time.

Also, I like how the unit stands upright when you set it upside down. All around a good sturdy unit and it fits in my Milescraft small circle jig, making cutting circles a snap.

-- Devin, SF, CA

DevinT thank you for your reply I am also going to be using it in a small router table which I already purchased one of the Rockler brand that is on sale rite now for $59.95 I do wish the Ryobi came with the edge guide which the Rigid does come with i looked at the Rigid and did not really care for the on off switch type other than that I liked the Rigid but for double what the Ryobi cost I do not know if it is worth the extra $$$

Again I do appreciate your input

Sometime you just need to settle on a battery ecosystem and go with it. Other wise your shop will end up with nests of chargers and batteries. Yard tools I settled on Ryobi. Shop I had several sets of Rigid combo packs the guys didn’t like anymore so I just moved them to the shop for now. I too have been wanting a cordless trim so I am lurking here for a bit.

Personally I wouldn’t put a cordless router in a table. The whole purpose is portability. Use the cordless one for that.

Since I already have Milwaukee tools, I went with that router. I’m very happy with it. I agree, I don’t use the variable speed mostly what I’m doing is flush trimming, light chamfers, etc. But, I am impressed with the accuracy of adjustment and power. M18 batteries are fantastic.

I’ve owned Ryobi tools, they may work for other people, but IMO they aren’t even in the same league with Mil or DW. After I got the Mi18 set, it was very clearly evident how pitiful the Ryobi was.

I totally agree with ControlFreak – at some point I think you should make a decision to stick with the same system. With the poor performance & battery issues I constantly had, I gave all my Ryobi tools away and was glad to see the lime green go bye bye With the exception of a couple DW 12V drills (which I love) I’m in the ‘Red Zone”.

DW is now owned by Black and Decker, and I hope they don’t do what the did to Stanley.

-- Everything is a prototype thats why its one of a kind!!

I really like the ryobi. I do miss the variable speed as it will burn on bits bigger than 1/4” round over.

I want to get the dewalt because of plunge base.

Thanks everyone for your replies

Robert I have not considered the De Walt simply because I have always felt with De Walt you are paying for a name and I have never had good luck with anything cordless De Walt makes I am just not a Dewalt fan I do have the Ryobi cordless 3/8 impact and I love it i carry it with me in my vehicle to remove lug nuts when needed but it’s the only Ryobi product I have

as for mounting it in a table everything I need it for will be on a small table and i hate having to stretch a cord out i do a lot of work out in my front yard just for the fresh air and not having to clean up a saw dust mess in my garage so I want the port ability of being able to work off of a table that I do not have to use an extension cord for power

I like the harbor freight tools like the new Bower cordless drills they are well made and cheap and their batteries seem to hold up well and are also cheaper than all others but they do not make a cordless router i had thought about just purchasing the bower trim router which i have used a friends but i did not care for the bit height adjustment because when you release the locking lever to adjust it the motor literally falls out of the base there is nothing to prevent it from falling out

I do not understand why all the manufactures of cordless tools do not at the vary least include a battery and charger initially for any of the cordless tools but none do which to me is ridiculous especially when some of the batteries are more than the tools themselves.

I like the looks and feel of the Milwaukee but the cost of batteries are ridiculous and i do not care for the fence guide attachment all of them should take notes of Rigid’s fence guide attachment which Ryobi also utilizes

Decisions, decisions I hate making them LOL

Keep dead battery packs out of the environment and leave conflict/import minerals in the ground — buy corded.

An old hippie hath spake.

-- The hump with the stump and the pump!

Keep dead battery packs out of the environment and conflict/import minerals in the ground — buy corded.

An old hippie hath spake.

- Madmark2

well I already have a corded router i want a cordless Router

Conservation is putting global needs above personal wants.

-- The hump with the stump and the pump!

Conservation is putting global needs above personal wants.

- Madmark2

And your point

you obviously have your way of thinking and I have my way of thinking and for me my way of thinking is the only thing that really matters you have given your opinion about purchasing a corded router which if you had read my post from the beginning you would have realized I already have a corded router obviously you chose not to read the whole post from beginning to end, so your comments are pretty much useless and have no point other than to prove you are a tree huger which I have no use for.

and Honestly I could care less about the environmental things that we have no control over, I don’t really need a cordless router but I do want one and that’s all that really matters to me

FWW magazine did a review of cordless routers a number of months ago. IIRC, the Dewalt was picked as tops, but the Milwaukee wasn’t available at test time.

They tested the Milwaukee and the next issue stated that it would easily have been their top choice.

Magazine reviews usually are good references since they can side-by-side test current models, something Joe Woodworker can’t afford to do. Then there is the issue that after “JW” has been using a tool for long enough to appreciate its pluses and minuses, that model has been replaced.

FWW magazine did a review of cordless routers a number of months ago. IIRC, the Dewalt was picked as tops, but the Milwaukee wasn t available at test time.

They tested the Milwaukee and the next issue stated that it would easily have been their top choice.

Magazine reviews usually are good references since they can side-by-side test current models, something Joe Woodworker can t afford to do. Then there is the issue that after “JW” has been using a tool for long enough to appreciate its pluses and minuses, that model has been replaced.

- splintergroup

Thank you
that is the kind of input I am looking for I have watched numerous videos and read many reviews and what I have gathered they all have their quirks each has different features that I like and some I do not like you would think that companies making these tools would ask for those that will be using them opinions
guess i will just have to make an educated guess and live with my decision

@Robert
I said I used all the Rigid tools the guys at my office didn’t like because they were free. What I didn’t say is what they decided was better. Milwaukee is by far the best line of battery powered tools and they are on all my service and installation trucks. So if starting out or making a change go red. IMO

When they start whining about wanting new sets I’ll get the hand me downs again even though I bought them all anyway. I can always be cheap.

@Robert
I said I used all the Rigid tools the guys at my office didn t like because they were free. What I didn t say is what they decided was better. Milwaukee is by far the best line of battery powered tools and they are on all my service and installation trucks. So if starting out or making a change go red. IMO

When they start whining about wanting new sets I ll get the hand me downs again even though I bought them all anyway. I can always be cheap.

- controlfreak

Are the m18 better than m12? I used a few m12 and they were awful. Rather use Ryobi.

what are the differences in the M12 and M18