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Andy Hall

On 2007-06-01 18:23:43 +0100, (Peter Ashby) said:

George wrote:

"Andy Hall" wrote in message
...
On 2007-05-31 22:05:39 +0100, "Arthur" said:

Might do someone.
Challenge Xtreme 1500W 1/2in Plunge Router £27.49

Arthur

For doing what? Far too fast for stirring paint unless your name is
Bean.

Oh come now MrHall if the tool is for the occasional use it is worth the
money the only time a more expensive router should be bought is...when it
has to earn its keep.

If the person who is not fussy on accurate cuts then its for them to decide

On the point of a router, if the rotation is so sloppy that it cannot be
accurate then it will not only shake itself to bits it will be
dangerous. The main input as to accuracy is the quality of the bit [1]
and how sharp it is.

That's one factor. Another, in terms of both safety and outcome is how
well the plunge mechanism works. If it isn't silky smooth then the
motor will tend to jump in height during plunge and release causing
defects to the cut and the user not being able to prevent slight
movements in the wrong direction as it jumps.

Issues of fine height adjusters and micro
adjustable fences are more time savers than true accuracy aids. The
argument for buying a cheap router is the necessity of getting a job
done within a budget. Which is why my first and second routers were
Power Devils, I sunk my money into reasonably decent bits (Trend
largely). The first one still runs, it has been permanently in my table
since I bought the second one. When the second one died (blown upper
bearings which wrecked the bushes etc) I had enough to get a T5.

But the money spent on the Power Devils could have gone towards the
cost of the T5 and the overall investment would have been less.

I do agree about getting decent bits such as Trend, CMT and Freud.

If I had an urgent need to run a half inch bit (panel raising is
probably the most likely use), I might be tempted by such a router,
provided I could fit it on my table. Especially since decent 1/2" panel
raising bits aren't cheap ;-)

[1] Caveats about pushing the motor too hard notwithstanding.

I think you would be disappointed. The mechanical watts output of
this class of router is poor for the input power. It's the same
marketing as laser guides on tools. Claim a power of 2000W vs. the
proper router's 1800W and it looks as though the former is better.
Tick in the box. The fact that it is misleading and that laser guides
are mainly ornamental is pure marketing.