Need some help to decide between Porter-Cable 2.25 hp router (
Thanks
I have 2 PCs and no Hitachi, happy with all both. and last year got a
2.25 Bosch combo, I can not say enought about this > Need some help to decide between Porter-Cable 2.25 hp router (
I use Hitachi TR-12 for continuous production. They last about 6 months and then I throw them away. At that point they cost more to repair than get new.
Not sure if that answers his question about the viability of Hitachi routers. 'Continuous production' will quickly wear out most any consumer router, Porter Cable included.
I've got a Hitachi and been using it in my shop for about 25 years of trouble free use. It was a TR-8. My only regret is not buying a TR-12 to accept up to 1/2" shanks for the router bits.
Many brands are good, and the excellent ones are so expensive that you can buy two Porter Cable routers for the same money. Personally, I'd stick with the PC brand--it is reasonably priced, good quality, and parts/accessories easily available. Makita and Hitachi are decent brands.
I;ve had a TR-12 for over 10 years of light duty, the posts need to be lubed once every six months for smooth plunging. BUT I know of no one who has bought and used the latest Hitachi routers. They are on sale at Lowes and I am thinking of getting them and a woodhaven adapter to use on a router lift I bought.
Alan
Jimmy wrote:
I'd not buy the Hitachi. It's ugly. No other reason.
I used PC production routers for years and years. And as I was replacing them, they went to a smaller motor body and quality just went down from there. I could no longer justify the cost of the PC production units and started looking for a high horse-power alternatives. I tried a M12V Hitachi and did everything I could to kill it. To no avail. It (and I have bough many since then to expand capabilities) still runs like a top today. Huge power, quiet (for a universal motor) and these days, they're cheap as dirt. Its down-side is that it is a bit top-heavy, the base a bit small (I put bigger feet on them). I have said it before and will say it again... best bang for the buck. For "all-day" trimming and shaping, I use the Milwaukee 2.25 HP routers. Just love those red puppies. I own Fein and Festool equipment as well... so 'cheap' isn't the overriding factor. Performance is.
rSo far Ed's given you the best advice...that Hitachi's just butt ugly, and self-respect plays a role in the shop. I'll start buying Hitachi again when they're done with their NASCAR phase.
My two-cents: Get the Bosch Duece 'n a Quarter. I had the opportunity to use a PC at a woodworking school a month ago, and the dominant feeling I walked away with was "what a piece of shit that was." Couldn't hold a candle to the Bosch. Couldn't even hold the matchstick.
I agree with the ugly. I'm not to fond of Hitachi's new tennis shoe inspired look. The thing that struck me about the router though was that it only comes with a 1/4" collet. Is a half inch available? How hard is it to find?
CW wrote: > The thing that struck me about the router though was that it only > comes with a 1/4" collet. Is a half inch available? How hard is it to find?
Looks like 1/4 & 1/2 are standard.
Lew
I'm thinking many of the folks who tout PC today haven't been around long enough to remember what they once were. The last two I have "acquired" have not stood up to hard use, not abuse, to the point that, on the plunge model, I have to keep a 1/2" socket driver handy because the plastic adjustment parts keep breaking/falling off.
That must be why B&D was so interested in purchasing Delta & PC. The PC was becoming the new B&D. :~)
Exactly! We have found that the Hitachi is the best deal per dollar/hour. I think that should translate to whatever duty-cycle with me being at one end and the hobbyist being at the other end. A hobbyist might never wear it out and it's cheap so, it logically follows that a more expensive unit wouldn't have a pay-back to justify the additional expense. Sorry, I'm not a good communicator, but do you see what I'm getting at?
So what you're in effect saying then, is that you feel the Hitachi is a good purchase for the end user.
I realize it wasn't in the subject line, but what about Dewalt? I did a pretty thorough survey of routers a couple months ago in preparation for buying one and it seemed like the Dewalt was a pretty well reviewed model.
There is a 2hp or so model with a 3 base form I was go> Need some help to decide between Porter-Cable 2.25 hp router (
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