Fairly Powerful Router wanted

I have a 240 router and a rather weedy 110v 900W DeWalt 615. Now I need something a little more meaty. Any suggestions? An 1/2" collet size would do too. I know I aught to post on a woodwork site but it's all 'rickens on the Google groups.

Maybe something I could use on one of those hinge jigs if and when I get one.

Reply to
Weatherlawyer
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I have a Ryobi R601, a few years old now. Does all I need, with an elderly ELU MOF96E for lighter use.

Reply to
The Wanderer

I have a CMT 1850 (now uprated as the 2000, but I belive otherwise identical) - which is a clone of the DeWalt model (DW625 I think).

Heavy, solid as rock, easily able to cut with large bits with great smoothness and accuracy, speed control, soft start(ish!). As much power as you would want in a handheld tool.

Things I don't like - fine height adjuster is a cheap nut on a big thread affair, although very solid. (I'm told there's a DeWalt accessory that fixes this - a turret, like the bosch). The fence is very solid, but the fine adjust could be better (slacken clamp screw so it's floppy, adjust fine adjuster thread, retighten clamp - so you can't quickly do multiple passes tweaking off a paper thin layer).

Everything else I do like - particularly the power, the solidness, the smooth plunge - there's just no play or wobble anywhere on the main machine - pity about the fence adjustment. It has a two position power switch, none of this hold down the button rubbish (make sure it's off before plugging in - there's no NVR). Very good quality collets. I believe this is a clone of the old Elu 177E, so if you want a real workhorse this is a good choice.

I'd also have a good look at the bosch blue range, and if you're loaded

- festool.

BTW - I'm now looking for the opposite - a high quality, lightweight detail router. Something to cut hinge recesses etc.

Reply to
dom

On Sat, 8 Jul 2006 07:51:46 +0100, Weatherlawyer wrote (in article ):

If you are happy with the DW615, then the DW625 is a very good workhorse - I'm completely happy with mine.

This is based one of the old Elu designs. From the same stable are the CMT and you could also look at the Trend T9 or newer versions.

I've also used a Festool and like everything they make, is superb. If I were choosing, not having anything, that's what I'd go for, without question.

If you want to spend a little less, then the Freud is very acceptable (Screwfix, around £170).

I would regard that as the minimum for worthwhile 12.7mm routers. Certainly I wouldn't consider anything like Ryobi - there's a noticable step from that to the Freud - and not go anywhere near DIY store own brands claiming 2000W motors for £79 etc. The mechanics on these things are rough and the power is the power *input* to a very inefficient motor.

Reply to
Andy Hall

The message from The Wanderer contains these words:

I must get a new lower bearing for my Elu - it was a good router for what it did. Shrieks dreafully now 'cos I had a roof leak onto the inverted router in its stand and didn't notice for ages - there was just one drip and it was falling exactly into the bearing well. I guess the local bearing specialist will have something suitable.

Reply to
Guy King

The message from " snipped-for-privacy@gglz.com" contains these words:

I don't like the turrets half as much as I like the old Elu sleeve-nut with a knob on the end. Real micrometer adjustment and easy to use, but also easy to disengage.

Reply to
Guy King

I popped into Machine Mart this morning and had a quick look at the two they had so fir,mly tied to the counter they wouldn't shift. So I left empty handed. I'll try elsewhere as I don't like buying online.

I also don't fancy paying =A3200 and odd for a router when the job is only worth a thousand between the two of us doing it. But if I got one it would have to be a bench mountable high performance one.

Another nggle is that we just stated this job and are not sure of the people we are working for. It's all a bit in the air at the moment. We'll probably end up doing the job by hand.

It's a matter of cutting some 240 odd door casing heads. It might be just as simple with a power saw to do the shoulders and a chisel for the cheeks. But if the job is a good un it might pay to have a decent router.

Reply to
Weatherlawyer

Freud FT2000E is a reasonble tool. Lots of power (with motor feedback speed control), locking on off switch (handy for table use), good plunge, an nice easy to use fine height adjuster built in.

Reply to
John Rumm

Thanks all who have replied. I will look more closely at the Freud stuff. 2 or 3 hundred isn't all that much is it really. It's just I may never use it again.

Reply to
Weatherlawyer

I needed a powerful router with a good speed range in order to use the large Freud raised-panel door bits so I got the Erbauer 2100W 1/2 inch router from Screwfix for just £60, and it's been doing a great job at it for over a year.

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Reply to
Bob Martin

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