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Time to re-evaluate router-table routers?

After several postings to the thread "Triton Router - she no start" I began to think that we need to re-open the oft discussed topic of routers. I've posted many times to this news group asking about router lifts. However, I must confess, I never bought one. Now progress has delivered routers with built-in above the table adjustments.

So

  1. Are router lifts a dying breed? If so we should see prices drop soon. ;-)
  2. What's the new "best under the table router?"
  3. It used to be conventional wisdom that a fixed base router under the table was best, but Fine Woodworking (FWW) just selected the Triton
3.25 HP plunge router as the best of the "new breed" of above the table adjustment routers. What are the reactions from the rec?
  1. I wonder what's in the works from Porter-Cable, Milwaukee, Festool, etc.?
  2. For us old guys that bought routers before all the above the table adjustment ideas materialized, would it be better to buy one of the new breed or buy that long lusted for router lift? I hear router lifts still have superior precsion.....

Cheers!

Reply to
Never Enough Money
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Reply to
Never Enough Money

Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about. When I had a plunge router mounted in my table, I longed for a router lift. That little bitty adjustment knob needed lots of turns to get the collet in position to change bits. And it was hard to turn.

Then I bought a PC 7518 and put it in my table. A quick spin of the motor gets the collet in whatever position I want. The adjustment is plenty precise for woodworking. It's quick, simple, precise. Life is good, what more could you want? Oh, to do it all above the table. Unless the collet itself will rise above the table, you still have to get down there to tighten it.

I keep a mechanics roll-around stool under my router table. When I pull it out and sit on it, my eyes are right at the table top to check bit height. And I can tighten the collet and adjust the height without stooping to look under the table. Life is good.

I've heard that the electronic speed control on the 7518 is obsolete and allows the speed to fluctuate too much at low speeds. Since 95% of my routing is at top speed anyway, it hasn't been a troublesome issue. Life is good. I'll give up my 7518 when they pry my cold dead fingers from around it.

DonkeyHody "Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate."

Reply to
DonkeyHody

My preference is a fixed base without a lift. I currently use a PC 892. It does have above table adjustment but I don't use it. The reason for fixed base and no lift is that there are times when it is convenient to change router bits without disturbing the rest of the setup. With standard base, you can drop the motor out the bottom. With a plunger or a lift, you can't.

Reply to
CW

Fri, Dec 29, 2006, 4:21pm (EST-3) snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com (Never=A0Enough=A0Money) dothclaimeth: I began to think that we need to re-open the oft discussed topic of routers. So

I don't think so.

So:

  1. I don't know. I don't care.
  2. I don't know. I don't care.
  3. I don't know. I don't care.
  4. I don't know. I don't care.
  5. I don't know. I don't care.

JOAT It's not hard, if you get your mind right.

- Granny Weatherwax

Reply to
J T

Fri, Dec 29, 2006, 4:24pm (EST-3) snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com (Never=A0Enough=A0Money) doth query: BTW, is the venerable Pat Warner critique at

formatting link
still valid?

I don't know, but possibly Pat Warner might.

JOAT It's not hard, if you get your mind right.

- Granny Weatherwax

Reply to
J T

That metal casing certainly gives me a better initial impression than the day glo plastic Triton, but when you pick one up, you feel a little more sure of its strength. I am pondering the "lower" hp brother to the Triton also. Wish I had your breadth of choices though.

Mike

Reply to
Mike Richardson

Reply to
Never Enough Money

I guess you have never used a lift. roll-around stool?!?!

Reply to
Toller

Right. It's the simple things Son. You'll understand when you're older. :)

DonkeyHody "Be not the first by which the new is tried, nor the last to lay the old aside."

Reply to
DonkeyHody

He's an ass, just ignore him.

Reply to
Locutus

They do call him "Jerk Of All Time" for a reason.

Reply to
CW

I think so.

I have the big Triton and it replaced a large Bosch. The Triton has been doing very well of almost 3 years.

IIRC the Milwaukee has had a couple of models out a bit longer than Triton. PC has recently gotten into the game.

The router lifts are very precise but in 30 years of woodworking I have never needed to be that precise. It is easy enough to eye ball the settings. The built in models are precise enough IMHO, past that it gets a bit AR.

Reply to
Leon

There is no doubt about it, the Triton is Butt ugly.

Reply to
Leon

There are a couple of ways of looking at this. Routers, lifts, most any woodworking tools is a lot like cameras, golf clubs, sports cars, etc.

Most of us can do 95% of our driving in a Ford Pinto. Everyone still driving one, raise their hand. OK, I don't see any.

I bought a Benchdog lift. I like it a lot. I'm not about to part with it. Do I need the precision? Do I need the ability to run it up and down fast (with my cordless drill) to change bits? Do I need to do everything from above the table? It does not matter, I'm using it and enjoy using it.

I've not used any of the new routers but I'm confident they can do everything I "need" but they still do not have the sex appeal of a good lift. If you want to own and use the "best", get a lift with the biggest router available. If you are a minimalist, get a modest priced router that offers above table adjustment.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

Why hasn't any manufacturer produced a really workable router lift able to raise and lower a spiral bit into a mortise for loose tenon joints? I know about converting a drill with a plunge router and foot switch to do this. Would rather buy one if made by Woodpecker or Jessem and not have to play with parts until it worked.

Reply to
rmeyer1

I have the little triton in my table and have to say that I never ever adjust the bit height from above the table. You've got to go under the table to release and relock the plunge lock lever (I did forget and leave it unlocked once with nothing bad happening, but wouldn't trust it) so it really doesn't make sense to release the lever, then get your wrench, get the wrench to engage, adjust, relock the lever and put the wrench away when there's a knob right next to the lever that does the same thing. You're probably bending down to get at eye level with the bit regardless too.

However, being able to change bits with one wrench (and no button holding either) above the table is the cat's meow and worth every penny.

Perhaps with a lift you don't need to lock anything so you don't have to go under and therefore above the table adjustments would make more sense. I don't feel there's any lack of precision in my setup.

-Leuf

Reply to
Leuf

Hey Locutus ... are you also posting over in the IT Toolbox site?

Bill

Reply to
Bill in Detroit

Well, claimed to be progress. Different anyway. On Saturdays I watch the woodworking shows on PBS, including The Router Workshop, where bits, heights, fences and jigs are changed regularly and easily, and "microadjusting" comes from a hammer. Talk about your minimal outlay!

Oh yes, before someone jumps in, I've never used an above the table height adjustment on the router. Or my shaper, tablesaw, jointer ....

Reply to
George

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