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

bought a 'Pro' brand from B & Q (½inch) for £100 - (not the cheaper £80 one)
use it for cutting kitchen worktops (do quite a few) - it's a beauty!
worth a look.
Hugh

--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
view my philatelic items for sale on ebay at:
http://tinyurl.com/l32i
"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

On Mon, 29 Mar 2004 17:36:03 +0000, Matthew Whyte wrote:

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?

The DW621 is a pretty reasonable machine. I have a DW625, which is
the 12.7mm version - originally an Elu product.

I have a Trend T5 as a 1/4" router (actually the same stable).

If I had to pick one, I would pick the 12.7mm DW625 because you can do
a lot more with it in terms of depth and width of cut and it will take
6.25mm bits anyway. At a certain point, the smaller machines are
not man enough for the job.

If you want to go under the £200 budget, then the Freud 2000 is a good
12.7mm buy at about £170

I wouldn't go below that to any of the DIY shed brand and similar
products that are sub £100 They simply don't have the accuracy and
power.



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

Mainly a question of fashion. I've used one of the American twist
base types and they are nice to adjust to depth, although to be
honest, if you have a decent depth adjuster on a plunge model it is
pretty good.

The other advantage of a plunge type is that it is much easier to
plunge part way across a piece and begin cutting.


..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

On Mon, 29 Mar 2004 22:02:24 +0000 (UTC), "Hugh"
wrote:

bought a 'Pro' brand from B & Q (½inch) for £100 - (not the cheaper £80 one)
use it for cutting kitchen worktops (do quite a few) - it's a beauty!
worth a look.

If that's the 2050W jobbie then my experience was wholly different. I
did one worktop and took it back to B&Q for a refund.

Several issues with it, perhaps the worst being that the router
treated the plunge lock as advisory - and ignored it. As I moved
across the workpiece the router would dig deeper into the wood. When I
upgraded to a Trend T9 I saw what a real plunge lock worked like.

Awful piece of kit. Cost me £99 as I recall (I got the £99 back).

PoP

---
If you need to contact me please submit your comments
via the web form at http://www.anyoldtripe.co.uk. I'll
probably still ignore you but at least I'll get the
message.....

"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

On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 11:22:10 +0100, "RichardS" noaccess@invalid
wrote:




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.

There's an authorised spares company (can't remember the name) in
Isleworth or Brentford or somewhere like that that will ship from
phone orders. If you call DW in Slough they will give you the
details.

Also, a lot of parts, especially collets, are compatible with Trend
and vice versa - The T9 and DW625 have these in common.




..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

"Andy Hall" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 11:22:10 +0100, "RichardS" noaccess@invalid
wrote:




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.

There's an authorised spares company (can't remember the name) in
Isleworth or Brentford or somewhere like that that will ship from
phone orders. If you call DW in Slough they will give you the
details.

Also, a lot of parts, especially collets, are compatible with Trend
and vice versa - The T9 and DW625 have these in common.



thahks Andy. Brentford/Isleworth is just down the road (we're thankfully
just out of range of odours from the mogden lane treatment centre here...),
I was meaning DW service centres in the US. Don't think that the UK can get
hold of them - they're not sold in the EU for the 621.

Will have a look at the trend ones though to see if they are compatible.
I'd rather build up a collection of 1/2" cutters than 1/4" ones, if nothing
else for the strength of the shaft and so I can use them without changing
collets if I ever decide to get a 1/2" router to sling in a table.



--
Richard Sampson

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

On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 13:24:34 +0100, "RichardS" noaccess@invalid
wrote:


thahks Andy. Brentford/Isleworth is just down the road (we're thankfully
just out of range of odours from the mogden lane treatment centre here...),
I was meaning DW service centres in the US. Don't think that the UK can get
hold of them - they're not sold in the EU for the 621.

Ah, OK.

In that case try www.grainger.com

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/rp_parts_home.jsp

They will certainly ship U.S. DW spares to the UK - I've done it.

Type DW621 into the search and you will get a complete parts list and
exploded view.


However, you might want to add some other things to make the shipping
cost worth it.



Will have a look at the trend ones though to see if they are compatible.
I'd rather build up a collection of 1/2" cutters than 1/4" ones, if nothing
else for the strength of the shaft and so I can use them without changing
collets if I ever decide to get a 1/2" router to sling in a table.


I agree. I tend to use 1/4" cutters in my small Trend T5 and 1/2" in
the DW625, although I do have a 1/4" collet for the DW625.


..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl