Which Woodworking Router for a Range of Uses?

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  jan1var on 22/04/2019 - 19:53

  +3

  A few random thoughts:

  No single router is going to excel at all tasks (ranging from laminate trimming to morticing)

  Get a 1/2in router - better off in the long run. 1/4in will be underpowered for morticing but great for light duty tasks like edge-forming, laminate trimming, etc.

  If you're after a table mounted router then get the Triton. Very big and heavy and has plenty of power. Not very good for hand held use, though.

  IMO, best all-round router is the DeWalt DW621. It is 1/2in and 1/4 capable, very good for hand-held use, has good dust extraction and is mid-range in terms of power (1100W). A good compromise in terms of power and hand holdability.

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    [Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 20:32

    +1 for the Triton. Cheap and big.

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    Name on 29/04/2019 - 21:00

    Table mounted router… Googling seems like Triton is the goer but looking at $500-600+.

    Any recommendations for something around $300? There are a few second hand triton table mounted routers on Facebook and eBay for $400/450 but I'm concerned they'll have been smashed.

    Main use for me is finish off some kitchen cabinets and the occasional hobby project.

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  OrderInWrongWordsThe on 22/04/2019 - 20:55

  +2

  I want to do mortice and tenon joints at some stage, so do I need a 1/2 inch router. Are 1/4 inch routers too small for morticing?

  1/4 would limit your choice in bits to a degree but generally is going to mean smaller diameter or shorter bits. I think you could definitely do mortises with a 1/4 router bit if you take smaller cuts. Bits will also be cheaper especially things like solid carbide spiral bits

  Makita and Ryobi make combined 1/2 and 1/4 inch routers, and are the cheapest options for a 1/2 inch router there are various cheap 1/4 inch routers/laminate trimmers so that may be a good place to start is the Aldi router both 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch ?

  I did consider the Robi plunge router for all the above reasons. The Makita Bunnings sells of a similar price lacks speed controls and is a lot less powerful. I own an ALDI one and its been ok. It's super noisy, the spring is way too strong but it was cheap and does the job. It lacks many of the features of my Triton but was 1/3 the price. The Aldi one I have is 1/4" and 8mm. It's hard to find 8mm bits to be honest as most bits are 1/4" or 1/2"

  what range of 3/8 bits are there? any morticing bits?

  I reckon your best bet would be a 1/4 solid carbide upcut or downcut bit. You may be able to find them in 3/8" but that would probably be at a premium. It will just take you a bit longer. The 1/4" solid carbide bits are a lot cheaper than the 1/2" ones.

  Do all modern support 30mm bushings? I'm sure 1/2 inch routers do, but what about 1/4 inch routers?
  I think that depends more on the router then what bit it takes. Cheaper ones are probably less likely as nobody made aftermarket parts for them.

  The range of barrel routers in Australia is limited (some router table designs use them)

  Before my Triton I just bolted the router base to the router table using the holes that attach the plastic base and then used a car scissor jack to push it up. It isn't pretty but it's so much cheap, quick to build.

  Main thing to decide is how much money you have to sink into this. If you have a big budget and will use it a lot go for a big brand, get a small trim and a plunge, get 1/4" and 1/2" bits as they use different bits and all the accessories you could want. If you want to do this more as a hobby and don't want to spend too much get a decent variable speed plunge router like the Ryobi, get a 1/4" or 1/2" bit set and see how it goes. You can make a diy table router setup with basically any plunge router. A trim router may be better at some things but if you only have one router go the plunge.

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    ColonialBoy on 26/04/2019 - 19:34

    I think I will go for a Makita MT series small router and get a big one off gumtree. There are some Ryobi & Triton ones there.

    Thanks for the info everyone. Its confirmed my thoughts.

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  curtturtle on 07/05/2019 - 15:12

  I have the Makita mt series and it is much better than the Ryobi. The Ryobi for some reason has its on/off switch not by your fingers when using it. I have the Ryobi trim router too and am fairly unimpressed with it, but I have plenty of the 18v batteries so it was easier than other brands.