Buying my 1st router

Dec 30, 2004 6 Replies

i'm relatively new to woodworking and i need advice on what i should look for in buying my 1st router. i'd like to get a router that will do a good job for as little $$ as possible. thanks in advance.


We all would. Cheap routers cause more problems than they are worth though. When a tool is spinning at 22,000 RPM you want it to be accurate, not for the bit to slip and easy to control.

Avid Ryobi, Craftsman made by Ryobi, any low priced brand.

Buy with confidence anything from DeWalt, Porter Cable, Bosch, Milwaukee. Consider one of the multi-based routers and it will do what you need for many years.

You will find a lot of good information, suggestions, reviews at

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Pat may well be the best in the world for routing.

s/b

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not partwarner. To my knowledge he's a full Warner.

He should also consider Hitachi M12VC, last week at Lowes selling for $93. and Amazon also about the same price. Today at Amazon selling $129.99. It's a good solid piece of tool like my Hitachi M12V and it would be safe to say you can't go wrong with Hitachi. See listing below:

I have an article on that very subject on my website (below). It's also reproduced at

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in the Articles section.

A short answer is the Porter-Cable P-C 690 that both borgs seem to be carrying now for $100. I don't think there's a better buy on the tool market right now.

Keep in mind that this is your FIRST router. It will not be your LAST router.

- - LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

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As much as I love my two M12Vs (not "Cs" though; I think they're a little different), I wouldn't consider recommending them (or any other

3½ hp plunger) as a first router. It's sort of like driving brads with a sledgehammer.

Still, at $93...you might as well get your second router for that price after buying another better choice for the first one.

- - LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

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Thanks. The speel cheeker duznt get URLs.

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