Compact Router

Yeah, the Dewalt and the Bosch Colt are my gotos for compact routers. The battery powered Dewalt is particularly nice for grab and go trimming jobs. A bit top heavy but great none the less.

I was torn on getting the Dewalt 611 combo kit or the newer Bosch combo kit. I was overanalyzing the decision as I always do but finally saw the price drop on the Dewalt to like $20 less than the Bosch so I ran and picked it up. No complaints and have used both bases quite a bit. Although this reminds me i need to order the dust collection adapter…

I have this kit, and love it.

-- WWBBJ: the first to compare a woman´s cheek to a rose was a poet. The second, an idiot. Dali

I started with a Ryobi—but …

I now have the same kit that wildwoodbybrianjohns posted a picture of (in the above comment). I also love it. More powerful than the Ryobi compact router, soft start, and the angle base is wonderful.

I based my decision to get the Makita on the advice of Johnathan Katz-Moses in this video

The rack and pinion depth is kind of funky, but the rest of the router is solid (and few routers have so many base options).

-- Devin, SF, CA

Another vote for the Makita. I have one and am gonna get a second so I can leave one router permanently setup for roundovers. The little plunge base is super for my circle/arc cutting needs.

Does the Makita have a light?

My choice would be DeWalt, it has a light too

-- Alaskan's for Global warming!

I have a number of Makita tools and am generally happy with them. However, the one tool I have been dissatisfied with is the compact router. I was using it recently to rout out a 3/4” groove in a crosscut sled to accept a T-track, and after I started the plunge the bit must have loosened enough to drop down and plough out a slot that ended up 1/8” deeper than I set the depth for. The next time I used the router to cut some dados for cabinetry, I made sure I cranked down on the collet. Nonetheless, the dado ended up being slight deeper as I went from one end to the other. I’m not quite ready to junk it, but I am disappointed.

I I started the plunge the bit must have loosened enough to drop down and plough out a slot that ended up 1/8” deeper than I set the depth for.

- Kudzu

I have found that 1/4” shank bits will pull down when cutting too deep in one pass. I have to limit my passes to 1/4” max.

I I started the plunge the bit must have loosened enough to drop down and plough out a slot that ended up 1/8” deeper than I set the depth for.

- Kudzu

I have found that 1/4” shank bits will pull down when cutting too deep in one pass. I have to limit my passes to 1/4” max.

- BlueRidgeDog

If you are doing a lot of deep cuts, you probably don’t want a compact router anyway. The right tool for the job is alway the way to go.

-- Alaskan's for Global warming!