I'm considering buying my first router and not having used one much in
the past, I'm unsure what the important features are. I'm sure more
HP means better cutting power. I've seen some that say "fixed speed"
so I assume some are variable or multiple speed. Is a fixed table OK
or is plunge important? Any brands I should run screaming from? (I
saw some poor reviews of CraftsmanRou.)

Chris

"Chris Nelson" wrote in message
...
I'm considering buying my first router and not having used one much in
the past, I'm unsure what the important features are. I'm sure more
HP means better cutting power. I've seen some that say "fixed speed"
so I assume some are variable or multiple speed. Is a fixed table OK
or is plunge important? Any brands I should run screaming from? (I
saw some poor reviews of CraftsmanRou.)

Chris

A router kit with a fixed base and plunge base will give you a lot of bang
for the buck. Consider also a router like the Triton with both features
built in.
Variable speed is handy/a must on larger routers that use larger bits, not
so important on bits 1" in diameter and under. A spindle lock for loosening
and tightening a router bit is a PIA if you are using the router free hand,
while if the router is mounted in a table and stationary it is helpful.
When the router is loose in your hands it is much easier to use two wrenches
rather than hold the router with one hand and work a wrench with the other.

You may want to steer clear of Black and Decker, Skil and most Craftsman
routers. Some Craftsman router are great if they are built by DeWalt or
Bosch, unfortunately many are not.

What ever router you get you want one that will accept 1/2" shank bits.

"Leon" wrote in message
...

"Chris Nelson" wrote in message
...
I'm considering buying my first router and not having used one much in
the past, I'm unsure what the important features are. I'm sure more
HP means better cutting power. I've seen some that say "fixed speed"
so I assume some are variable or multiple speed. Is a fixed table OK
or is plunge important? Any brands I should run screaming from? (I
saw some poor reviews of CraftsmanRou.)

Chris

A router kit with a fixed base and plunge base will give you a lot of bang
for the buck. Consider also a router like the Triton with both features
built in.
Variable speed is handy/a must on larger routers that use larger bits, not
so important on bits 1" in diameter and under. A spindle lock for
loosening and tightening a router bit is a PIA if you are using the router
free hand, while if the router is mounted in a table and stationary it is
helpful. When the router is loose in your hands it is much easier to use
two wrenches rather than hold the router with one hand and work a wrench
with the other.

You may want to steer clear of Black and Decker, Skil and most Craftsman
routers. Some Craftsman router are great if they are built by DeWalt or
Bosch, unfortunately many are not.

What ever router you get you want one that will accept 1/2" shank bits.

I would add that you size the power to your need. A large horsepower router
is heavy and awkward to use and will not have any advantage over a smaller
horsepower in most cases. I like something in the 1 to 1 1/2 hp range for
most work but find the most used router in my shop is a trim router to do
roundovers with. Bigger is not always better in routers my 2 1/2 hp is
seldom used, my two 1 1/2 hp are the ones I go for, for everything except
roundovers and my craftsman has been in its box for 15 years without use,
the dremil plunge router is used about as often as the 2 1/2 hp.

Turns out you will end up with more than one router as
time goes by.

Large hp equates to LARGE weight. Ex: 3.5hp Porter Cable= 14.5lbs.
Leave that in a table.

http://www.deltaportercable.com/Prod...roductID=11099

I would get a "kit" with a fixed,plunge and D-handle(Porter Cable).

The 690 family is old but solid as a rock. Most of the newer machines
come with a 'variable speed' .

http://www.deltaportercable.com/Prod...roductID=16187

I like the dust collection feature very much when mortising.

or

http://www.deltaportercable.com/Prod...roductID=11098


Chris Nelson wrote:

I'm considering buying my first router and not having used one much in
the past, I'm unsure what the important features are. I'm sure more
HP means better cutting power. I've seen some that say "fixed speed"
so I assume some are variable or multiple speed. Is a fixed table OK
or is plunge important? Any brands I should run screaming from? (I
saw some poor reviews of CraftsmanRou.)

Chris

"Curran Copeland" wrote in message
is heavy and awkward to use and will not have any advantage over a smaller
horsepower in most cases. I like something in the 1 to 1 1/2 hp range for
most work but find the most used router in my shop is a trim router to do
roundovers with.

Perhaps a really stupid question, but I was wondering if any trim routers
come with 1/2" collets? Perhaps a trim router just big enough to handle the
smaller diameter 1/2" router bits? It would be nice to use some of the bits
I've already got like the trim bits or roundover bits so I don't have to run
out and start buying 1/4" collet bits again.

I'm guessing the answer is "no" because there's always going to be some
Darwin Awards idiot assuming it would give him permission to run a trim
router with a panel bit, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. Don't laugh
at me too much.

On May 2, 7:57*am, Chris Nelson wrote:
I'm considering buying my first router and not having used one much in
the past, I'm unsure what the important features are. *I'm sure more
HP means better cutting power. *I've seen some that say "fixed speed"
so I assume some are variable or multiple speed. *Is a fixed table OK
or is plunge important? *Any brands I should run screaming from? *(I
saw some poor reviews of CraftsmanRou.)

Chris

I would agree, get a kit with a fixed base and a plunge base if
possiable.
I have two porter cable routers and highly recomend these...
I have a link under tool reviews on my website about buying a
router..it may be helpful to you...

Randy
http:nokeswoodwoodworks.com

Some tips for you: http://patwarner.com/selecting_router.html
************************************************** ************************************8


On May 2, 5:57*am, Chris Nelson wrote:
I'm considering buying my first router and not having used one much in
the past, I'm unsure what the important features are. *I'm sure more
HP means better cutting power. *I've seen some that say "fixed speed"
so I assume some are variable or multiple speed. *Is a fixed table OK
or is plunge important? *Any brands I should run screaming from? *(I
saw some poor reviews of CraftsmanRou.)

Chris

"Upscale" wrote in message
...

Perhaps a really stupid question, but I was wondering if any trim routers
come with 1/2" collets? Perhaps a trim router just big enough to handle
the
smaller diameter 1/2" router bits? It would be nice to use some of the
bits
I've already got like the trim bits or roundover bits so I don't have to
run
out and start buying 1/4" collet bits again.

I'm guessing the answer is "no" because there's always going to be some
Darwin Awards idiot assuming it would give him permission to run a trim
router with a panel bit, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. Don't
laugh
at me too much.


I would love a 1/2 inch for my trim router too. Haven't seen one though and
don't really expect to see one. It would be nice though. I expect that the
trim router would bog down real quick with anything more then a round over
bit, I tried a 3/4 radius in it once and it didn't work as well as I would
have liked.

Leon wrote:
"Chris Nelson" wrote in message
...
I'm considering buying my first router and not having used one much in
the past, I'm unsure what the important features are. I'm sure more
HP means better cutting power. I've seen some that say "fixed speed"
so I assume some are variable or multiple speed. Is a fixed table OK
or is plunge important? Any brands I should run screaming from? (I
saw some poor reviews of CraftsmanRou.)

Chris

A router kit with a fixed base and plunge base will give you a lot of bang
for the buck. Consider also a router like the Triton with both features
built in.
Variable speed is handy/a must on larger routers that use larger bits, not
so important on bits 1" in diameter and under. A spindle lock for loosening
and tightening a router bit is a PIA if you are using the router free hand,
while if the router is mounted in a table and stationary it is helpful.
When the router is loose in your hands it is much easier to use two wrenches
rather than hold the router with one hand and work a wrench with the other.

You may want to steer clear of Black and Decker, Skil and most Craftsman
routers. Some Craftsman router are great if they are built by DeWalt or
Bosch, unfortunately many are not.

What ever router you get you want one that will accept 1/2" shank bits.



Leon's take is probably as good as anyone's here. But I'd emphasize his
last point. I got a router a few years ago and went cheap. The router
itself is ok. It's a plunge, but since I use it on the table most of the
time, I've removed the plunge feature. I'm still glad I have the option
however.

The thing I didn't know when I bought the router was the difference
between the 1/4" and 1/2" collets. I got the 1/4" and have regretted it.

--


Tanus

This is not really a sig

http://www.home.mycybernet.net/~waugh/shop/

Chris Nelson wrote in news:26a76df8-d464-
:

I'm considering buying my first router and not having used one much in
the past, I'm unsure what the important features are. I'm sure more
HP means better cutting power. I've seen some that say "fixed speed"
so I assume some are variable or multiple speed. Is a fixed table OK
or is plunge important? Any brands I should run screaming from? (I
saw some poor reviews of CraftsmanRou.)

Chris

I like my Ridgid router. It came with both the plunge and fixed bases,
and it's not difficult to switch between the two. The fixed base, when
used with a vacuum, does a great job of keeping the dust down.

Here's someone's review of it:
http://benchmark.20m.com/reviews/Rid...dR2930RouterKi
tReview.html

A couple issues I've had:
The wrenches don't fit the nuts tightly, so they slip easily making bit
changes harder than they have to be. Also, when I got mine the collet
and collet nut had seperated, so the bit release did not work properly.
After using a clamp to squeeze them back together, bit changes have been
easier ever since.

Puckdropper
--
Still haven't updated the location of my .sig file.

"Puckdropper" puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com wrote in message
...


I like my Ridgid router. It came with both the plunge and fixed bases,
and it's not difficult to switch between the two. The fixed base, when
used with a vacuum, does a great job of keeping the dust down.

Here's someone's review of it:
http://benchmark.20m.com/reviews/Rid...dR2930RouterKi
tReview.html

A couple issues I've had:
The wrenches don't fit the nuts tightly, so they slip easily making bit
changes harder than they have to be. Also, when I got mine the collet
and collet nut had seperated, so the bit release did not work properly.
After using a clamp to squeeze them back together, bit changes have been
easier ever since.


Loose wrenches can be a real PIA. Have you considered going and buying some
cheap replacement wrenches from Sears or HD? Not Ridgid replacement
wrenches but mechanic wrenches.

On Fri, 02 May 2008 05:57:11 -0700, Chris Nelson wrote:

I'm considering buying my first router and not having used one much in
the past, I'm unsure what the important features are. I'm sure more HP
means better cutting power. I've seen some that say "fixed speed" so I
assume some are variable or multiple speed. Is a fixed table OK or is
plunge important? Any brands I should run screaming from? (I saw some
poor reviews of CraftsmanRou.)

I personally have a medium sized Skill plunge router that I do all non
router table work with. I don't do this professionally so this is a good
router for me. Makes clean cuts and is powerful enough to do anything I
ask of it. Huge deep cuts in hard maple take a couple passes.

My router table router is fixed base, has an extra HP and variable
speed. Large bits need to be used at a lower speed for best results.