"Matthew Whyte" wrote in message ...
Firstly, thanks to everyone for replying to my query a while back about
double glazing - I'm kind of a lurker here but I really appreciate folk on
this group taking the time to help out.

Anyway, I currently have a cheapo Power Devil router that has more than
paid
for itself many times over, and although I can't complain for £30, I have
decided to take the plunge (groan) and get a decent one. Criteria:

* Up to about £200
* Must have fine height adjustment
* Decent parallel guide preferable

I've almost decided to stay with a 1/4" - having just seen some 1/2" ones
they just look too darn big for handheld use. 'Use' being general
woodwork,
some furniture making, joint cutting etc. Am I going to lose out by not
having 1/2"? Are they as cumbersome as they look? What kind of work
necessitates a 1/2" machine?

For 1/4" machines, I've sort of got it down to the following shortlist:

* DeWalt DW621
* Bosch GOF900CE
* Makita RP1110C
* Metabo OfE1229

I'm assuming that all of these are pretty good, however, I was wondering
if
anyone has any good or bad experience with any of them? Or any others to
recommend?

Also, having looked around the US sites, 'fixed' routers seem to be as
popular as plunge ones. Looks like they can be height adjusted, but not
plunged via a sprung column mechanism like the ones we're used to. Eg:

http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...productID=5565

I'm not sure if they would be better, perhaps not, but just out of
interest,
anybody got any idea why we don't get them here?

MTIA, Matthew


I have a DW621 and it's a nice piece of kit.

Speed control is good, decent plunge action (excepting the caveat below) and
has plenty of power for a 1/4" router. The dust extraction is excellent
when hooked up to a vacuum cleaner (I use a Henry) or dust extractor.
Height adjustment and fine adjustment is good.

The plunge caveat is that it sticks if you attempt to plunge using the
on/off handle - is very smooth if you plunge with the plunge-lock handle.
They may have sorted this particular problem out - play about with one in
the shop.

One other bugbear that I have with this is that it is not possible to buy
the 1/2" collet in europe. US models come with 1/4" and 1/2" collets, it is
possible to get them but only from DW service centres and I haven't found
one of these that will ship from web orders. According to DW this is down
to their CE rating certificate for the product.

--
Richard Sampson

email me at
richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk