Fred wrote:
Hello,

I am looking to buy my first router. At the moment I anticipate only
using it for occasional DIY so I do not want to spend a fortune on it.
I'm sure once I've got the hang of it, I'll be using it all the time
and will want to upgrade to something better

Have a look at the notes he

http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/powertools/router.htm

to get a feel for the class of machine you need for the jobs you have in
mind.

For now though I was looking for an entry level router to learn with.
The cheapest at Screwfix is a Titan router, order code 31965. (Ok,
they actually do a cheaper one by Direct Power, but this is a 1/4"
collet and reading the DIY wiki faq it says 1/2" is stronger).

1/2" *is* stronger, but also much bigger and heavier. Which you need
depends on the job you are doing (in reality you will probably need one
of each eventually)

Has anyone got anything good or bad to say about this model?

Its a tad low on power for a 1/2" router, and the minimum speed is too
fast for use with the larger cutter sizes you may want to use in a
router table.

Unless you have an urgent need to cut worktops, letterbox cutouts, or
stair strings, then I have a feeling you might be better of with a 1/4"
machine of similar power for general purpose work. It will be much
smaller and lighter and generally easier for many jobs.

--
Cheers,

John.

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On Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:12:00 +0000, John Rumm
wrote:

Have a look at the notes he

http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/powertools/router.htm

[snip]
1/2" *is* stronger, but also much bigger and heavier. Which you need
depends on the job you are doing (in reality you will probably need one
of each eventually)

Thanks. I had read the faq but I thought that since the Titan was able
to use 8mm, 1/4", and 1/2" collets it was quite versatile and saved me
buying one of each.

I think the 1/4" model weighs 3.6kg and this one weighs 5kg. Do you
notice the extra weight? Surely it is resting on whatever you are
working on?

Its a tad low on power for a 1/2" router, and the minimum speed is too
fast for use with the larger cutter sizes you may want to use in a
router table.

What power would you expect for a 1/2" router and what minimum and
maximum speeds would you want?

Thanks.

On Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:49:12 GMT, Fred
wrote:

What power would you expect for a 1/2" router and what minimum and
maximum speeds would you want?

Thanks.


Sorry to add to my own post but for that matter what speeds would you
want on a 1/4" router?

Fred wrote:
On Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:49:12 GMT, Fred
wrote:

What power would you expect for a 1/2" router and what minimum and
maximum speeds would you want?

Thanks.


Sorry to add to my own post but for that matter what speeds would you
want on a 1/4" router?

You don't have the clearance for the larger cutters with these, so the
lower speed limit is less critical. Most cuts would be done at 15K or
more. Something like a Trend T5 does 9000 - 27,000 rpm which is quite
impressive. (these have dropped in price quite a bit lately).

--
Cheers,

John.

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| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Fred wrote:

1/2" *is* stronger, but also much bigger and heavier. Which you need
depends on the job you are doing (in reality you will probably need one
of each eventually)

Thanks. I had read the faq but I thought that since the Titan was able
to use 8mm, 1/4", and 1/2" collets it was quite versatile and saved me
buying one of each.

Most 1/2" machines will come with a collet adaptor to take 1/4" bits.
The 8mm is of less use on a 1/2" machine than it is on a 1/4" since
there are larger cutters than are available in 8mm shank but no 1/4".

I think the 1/4" model weighs 3.6kg and this one weighs 5kg. Do you
notice the extra weight? Surely it is resting on whatever you are
working on?

The better 1/4" one are usually 3kg or less. Sometimes it is resting on
what you are working on, and hence not a problem - however the size and
the balance of it can make it harder going for decorative work, or when
using it on vertical edges in situ when you are carrying the full weight.

Its a tad low on power for a 1/2" router, and the minimum speed is too
fast for use with the larger cutter sizes you may want to use in a
router table.

What power would you expect for a 1/2" router and what minimum and
maximum speeds would you want?

If you were looking at high end machines then 1500W would be ok (ish)
but something nearer 2kW would be more versatile. Often the budget
machines tend to dissipate more power in their gearboxes and bearings
etc, so the available mechanical power is less than the numbers suggest.
Having said that, this will only be an issue on work with big cutters
(e.g. panel rasing, or large moulding cutters etc), or on heavy cuts in
things like worktops.

For the largest cutters, the maximum speed can be as low as 9000 rpm. So
a range of 8000 - 20K+ is quite handy.

(Something like the Freud FT2000E is often considered a good general
purpose "big" router, that adapts well for use in a table. The nice big
fine height adjuster being easy to grab etc. - I notice however that not
as many places are stocking that now)


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On Sat, 08 Dec 2007 21:50:59 +0000, John Rumm
wrote:

If you were looking at high end machines then 1500W would be ok (ish)
but something nearer 2kW would be more versatile
[snip]
For the largest cutters, the maximum speed can be as low as 9000 rpm. So
a range of 8000 - 20K+ is quite handy.

I had a quick look at Screwfix, I know other stores exist but it was
handy to look at their web site; it seems that the £30 model is rated
11,000 to 26,000 rpm but the £70 Bosch version is only 10,000 to
26,000 rpm, so I think you have to spend over £100 before you get the
ideal range of speeds.

The Ryobi is £109 and does 8,000 to 23,000 rpm and the Trend (£119) is
"variable to 27,000 rpm", so does this mean it does any speed between
0 and 27,000?

These cost four times as much, and once I use one regularly might be a
sound investment but at the moment, I'm not sure I could justify that
price for the occasional job.

It seems the speed is controlled by a dial numbered one to six on most
of these, so how do you relate the number on the dial to the speed? Do
you just set it to one when using something big and six when using
something small?

Thanks.

"Fred" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 08 Dec 2007 21:50:59 +0000, John Rumm
wrote:

If you were looking at high end machines then 1500W would be ok (ish)
but something nearer 2kW would be more versatile
[snip]
For the largest cutters, the maximum speed can be as low as 9000 rpm. So
a range of 8000 - 20K+ is quite handy.

I had a quick look at Screwfix, I know other stores exist but it was
handy to look at their web site; it seems that the £30 model is rated
11,000 to 26,000 rpm but the £70 Bosch version is only 10,000 to
26,000 rpm, so I think you have to spend over £100 before you get the
ideal range of speeds.

The Ryobi is £109 and does 8,000 to 23,000 rpm and the Trend (£119) is
"variable to 27,000 rpm", so does this mean it does any speed between
0 and 27,000?

These cost four times as much, and once I use one regularly might be a
sound investment but at the moment, I'm not sure I could justify that
price for the occasional job.

It seems the speed is controlled by a dial numbered one to six on most
of these, so how do you relate the number on the dial to the speed? Do
you just set it to one when using something big and six when using
something small?

Thanks.

Go by the wattage and speed factor,if you look at the trend £119 its ony
850w this is only suitable for light work hence it variable 27,000rpm
You want the maximium wattage and variable speed for a variety of woods and
working time.