Thanks, all, for your comments on my other recent post. I'm afraid I
didn't make myself clear in my question - please excuse me. Let me try
and re-state in another way:

Assuming I cannot and will not buy a new, name brand router (as good as
they are and as nice as that would be), is it better to buy a new
X-brand router for $40 or less, or thould I buy a used, name brand
router for $40 or less?

I hope that helps clarify my question. Note again: a new Porter Cable
router is not an option, no matter how good the sale is at amazon or HD
(unless it's $40 or less). I appreciate your thoughts.

Squank

Under no circumstances would I buy a brand X router on Ebay. It will be a
piece of junk, and you will have no possible way to complain; you will
simply thow it out within a week.
Buying a used router on Ebay for $40 is a crap shoot. It might be okay, or
it might be one that has suffered an accident or abuse. But it is a much
better bet than a brand X, cause it "might" be okay. (I just bought a used
set of hole saws on Ebay for $11 including freight. In the picture it looks
like only one was used, so it should be a great buy. But maybe is is fake
picture and I am getting screwed; won't know for a few days.)

You should try to find a used router locally; either in the classified or at
an auction. Or, if you have a local Harbor Freight, I would buy one there.
It will be crude, but will not be actual junk.

Personally, I would wait until I could afford a better one; but that
obviously isn't an option for you.

"Squanklin" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks, all, for your comments on my other recent post. I'm afraid I
didn't make myself clear in my question - please excuse me. Let me try
and re-state in another way:

Assuming I cannot and will not buy a new, name brand router (as good as
they are and as nice as that would be), is it better to buy a new
X-brand router for $40 or less, or thould I buy a used, name brand
router for $40 or less?

I hope that helps clarify my question. Note again: a new Porter Cable
router is not an option, no matter how good the sale is at amazon or HD
(unless it's $40 or less). I appreciate your thoughts.

Squank

Good info, Toller - thanks. I've been watching the yard sales - at
least there I can plug it in and see what happens.

On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:59:32 GMT, "toller" wrote:

Very good advice indeed. There are honest and dishonest sellers in Ebay, just as
there are honest and dishonest buyers. Last year, I bought an Oldham's carbides
saw blade and the blade does not look like new as advertised. The seller,
immediately send me another one free. After a closer examination, I discovered
the saw blade was indeed new, I compensate the seller for his trouble and
honestly.


Under no circumstances would I buy a brand X router on Ebay. It will be a
piece of junk, and you will have no possible way to complain; you will
simply thow it out within a week.
Buying a used router on Ebay for $40 is a crap shoot. It might be okay, or
it might be one that has suffered an accident or abuse. But it is a much
better bet than a brand X, cause it "might" be okay. (I just bought a used
set of hole saws on Ebay for $11 including freight. In the picture it looks
like only one was used, so it should be a great buy. But maybe is is fake
picture and I am getting screwed; won't know for a few days.)

You should try to find a used router locally; either in the classified or at
an auction. Or, if you have a local Harbor Freight, I would buy one there.
It will be crude, but will not be actual junk.

Personally, I would wait until I could afford a better one; but that
obviously isn't an option for you.

"Squanklin" wrote in message
roups.com...
Thanks, all, for your comments on my other recent post. I'm afraid I
didn't make myself clear in my question - please excuse me. Let me try
and re-state in another way:

Assuming I cannot and will not buy a new, name brand router (as good as
they are and as nice as that would be), is it better to buy a new
X-brand router for $40 or less, or thould I buy a used, name brand
router for $40 or less?

I hope that helps clarify my question. Note again: a new Porter Cable
router is not an option, no matter how good the sale is at amazon or HD
(unless it's $40 or less). I appreciate your thoughts.

Squank

" new Porter Cable router is not an option "

With patience and time it is. It always makes sense to shop around for
a really good price. However, it is not allways a good idea to save a
few bucks from purchasing a no-name brand when it comes to things such
as power tools, where a malfunction can be quite costly.

Given a choice and $40 to spend, I'd rather have a quality hand tool
that works well than a crappy power tool whose output is hit or miss
any day.

On 26 Jan 2005 07:05:44 -0800, "A.M. Wood"
wrote:

" new Porter Cable router is not an option "

With patience and time it is.

I agree. If one has $40 to spend, one can find $100. And both the blue
and orange borgs are carrying the P-C 690 for $99. Next to an Hitachi
M12V for $160 (and I'm not suggesting that in this case), I don't know
how one could get more bang for the buck.

- -
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

I am sorry, I do not know how to say this and not offend you. But a
good doze of reality is in order here. If you are unwilling to invest
in the tools of the trade and want to spend $40.00 for a router....stop
woodworking and find another hobby such as bird watching or picking up
cans along the road. Do not tell me that you can afford to own a
computer and have web access that you can not afford the hobby of
woodworking. A $40 router is a waste of time, material, and money.
We are here to help,but you are being penny wise but dollar foolish.
Mike

Harsh words, Mike, but in the context of a dose of reality, probably
appropriate. Something that I haven't seen mentioned in this thread,
though mentioned in many previous threads - the cost of the router
itself is only the start. The cost of bits is the real investment cost
to get anything at all out of a router. If the "break the bank" number
is $40, there's nothing left to spend on bits to even make the first
cut.

Bob

Assuming I cannot and will not buy a new, name brand router (as good as
they are and as nice as that would be), is it better to buy a new
X-brand router for $40 or less, or thould I buy a used, name brand
router for $40 or less?

I hope that helps clarify my question. Note again: a new Porter Cable
router is not an option, no matter how good the sale is at amazon or HD
(unless it's $40 or less). I appreciate your thoughts.

I hope you included some funds in your budget for router bits, of which even
a basic collection will end up costing far more than your $40 limit.

No offense taken at all, Mike. I appreciate your frank honesty.

I'm just gathering some information here, and I'm learning a lot from
you guys (and gals, if appropriate).
Your comments are all very helpful. Thanks.

On 26 Jan 2005 09:03:11 -0800, wrote:

I am sorry, I do not know how to say this and not offend you. But a
good doze of reality is in order here. If you are unwilling to invest
in the tools of the trade and want to spend $40.00 for a router....stop
woodworking and find another hobby such as bird watching or picking up
cans along the road. Do not tell me that you can afford to own a
computer and have web access that you can not afford the hobby of
woodworking. A $40 router is a waste of time, material, and money.
We are here to help,but you are being penny wise but dollar foolish.
Mike


hey, he may get lucky and pick up a used router for that money.
stranger things have happened....

wrote in message
oups.com...
I am sorry, I do not know how to say this and not offend you. But a
good doze of reality is in order here. If you are unwilling to invest
in the tools of the trade and want to spend $40.00 for a router....stop
woodworking and find another hobby such as bird watching or picking up
cans along the road. Do not tell me that you can afford to own a
computer and have web access that you can not afford the hobby of
woodworking.

libraries are free and have internet access

A $40 router is a waste of time, material, and money.
We are here to help,but you are being penny wise but dollar foolish.
Mike

hey charles
you at the library now?

Mike

If I was you, I'd find some way to cut back and save $5 a week or so.
Go without hot water if you have to (just kidding). But try to save a
little on food or something. Continue until you get around $100 or so.

I agree that you are much better off putting off this project for a few
months. If $40 is all you have to spend on a router, it's going to be
darn frustrating to have a big stake in a piece of crap.

wrote in message
oups.com...
hey charles
you at the library now?

Mike

no. can you look over your shoulder and see if the OP is?

heck I do not know what day of the week it is...I sort of live in my
own little world...it is a small world but a happy world.... thanks to
Eli Lilly and drug company........I have good news and bad news: First
the bad news: I am on Prozack .................... the good news? I own
3000 shares of Lilly stock....happily going nutts here in Indiana

Mike

At Harbor Freight, ALWAYS run an electric tool. Quality from one tool to
the next (same item) can be great.

My suggestion... and I'm sticking with your financial criteria...
would be to look for a used, brand-name unit. If you buy on eBay,
check the seller's feedback. Look for someone who has as close to a
100% rating as possible on at least 20 sales if not more.

The benefit of buying a name brand like PC is that you can get it
serviced, get parts, whatever. For the Hong Kong knockoff,,, you'll
be laughed at if it breaks down and you bring it into a tool repair
place.

I understand your situation, and while some folks would rather have a
high-quality whatever, many of the sweaty masses make do with
hand-me-downs, tag sale tools, or used eBay stuff. We'd all like to
have Unisaws in our shops, but the majority of America's home
workshops probably have Craftsman or maybe Ryobi table saws, and you
know what... they cut wood too.

On 26 Jan 2005 05:45:43 -0800, "Squanklin"
wrote:

Thanks, all, for your comments on my other recent post. I'm afraid I
didn't make myself clear in my question - please excuse me. Let me try
and re-state in another way:

Assuming I cannot and will not buy a new, name brand router (as good as
they are and as nice as that would be), is it better to buy a new
X-brand router for $40 or less, or thould I buy a used, name brand
router for $40 or less?

I hope that helps clarify my question. Note again: a new Porter Cable
router is not an option, no matter how good the sale is at amazon or HD
(unless it's $40 or less). I appreciate your thoughts.

Squank