Cordless Makita Router

[SAB]

Hi,
Has anyone tried fitting a cordless Makita trim router into a Bosch compact plunge base?  Bosch has only come out with a 12 volt trim rig that I don't believe it will fit. I have not picked up a Makita to try yet. It looks pretty close with the base disconnected...
I wonder if anyone has the Bosch trimmer with the compact base and a wireless Makita 18v rig. And can try to see if it will operate ok.
Thank you,
Steven

 

[FestitaMakool]

I cannot help you with the Bosch (Without visiting a store and measure it and checking it’s physics)

But, Makita has a diameter of the body of 64,80/85 Millimeters. I didn’t have my digital calliper, but I think it’s fairly close to these numbers.
And, the Makita’s body has none protruding elements that can interfere with another base, if it’s a clamping holder and close to the diameter of the Makita’s body.

 

[SAB]

Hi FestitaMakool,
I will measure my Cult and get the point for the  up/down cog device.
At least we can figure if we are in the same ballpark...

 

[FestitaMakool]

Probably we can figure. Don’t know how those cogs will fit..

Is there something special about the Bosch plunge base?
- I see that almost world wide the kit price of the Makita palm router w/o batteries are fairly low.
The Dewalt with the plunge base is almost double, also bare tool w/o batteries.

 

[SAB]

I already have the Bosch wired Colt that also came with the additional compact plunge kit. Bosch has not come out with a wireless Colt. They have been trying to sell a 12 volt system that I don't believe it will fit into the compact frame. The Makita style of 18 volt routers match other non- professional names. Just looking at the two the Makita is the closest to the wireless Bosch.

 

[Bob D.]

The DeWalt cordless is larger than the Makita, I have both.

 

[SAB]

Hi Bob,
So your 20volt DeWalt is bigger than your wireless Makita? I am trying to find a wireless router that will fit the Bosch colt compact flush mount base. I want to use a wireless rig in the base. Bosch does not make a 18 volt router. They just came out with their 12 volt unit.

 

[Kevin D.]

I'd start maybe with contacting Makita NA and ask them about what options they may have.

Typically though, router attachments from one brand to another are not compatible.

I have the 12V Bosch router, but no optional bases for it as that is not why I own it.  I have an arsenal of corded routers to do what it can do, so it doesn't matter to me. 

For those looking for optional Bosch stuff, Bosch EURO has a host of peripheral stuff for their NA offerings you can't get here in NA.  Try importing from Axminster in the UK if you are intent on that possible route for Bosch accessories.  I've never used them at Axminster myself here in Canada, but I've read of other happy US and CAD campers who have and didn't get overly gouged for what they were looking for from the Bosch EURO line of accessories. 

Caution with buying anything powered though.  They run off of 50 Hz versus our 60 Hz - or is that the other way around - and may pooch your tool over time albeit most say it doesn't really matter?  Not so sure about that.  Better comments on that aspect with the Hz welcome...

 

[Bob D.]

Hi Bob,
So your 20volt DeWalt is bigger than your wireless Makita? I am trying to find a wireless router that will fit the Bosch colt compact flush mount base. I want to use a wireless rig in the base. Bosch does not make a 18 volt router. They just came out with their 12 volt unit.

Yes, the diameter of the DeWalt router motor is greater than the Makita motor. The Makita is 65mm, I don't recall the DeWalt diameter. I think it's 69mm, but working from memory. I know it's slightly larger as it will not fit the mounting collar on my CNC for the Makita RT0701C.

If you want something to fit the Bosch base why not get a Bosch router?

If you buy some other router it will come with a base, why create some hybrid by mixing tool parts. I don't see anything special about the Bosch Colt base. Maybe you have some jigs you built to work with that base and don't want to duplicate that effort. Otherwise I don't understand the need to stay with the Bosch base and mount some other brand tool in it.

 

[notenoughcash]

dewalt router is more like 75mm wide.  dont have one on hand but it is significantly larger than the makita

 

[Bob D.]

I go out to the shop and measure later today once it warms up a tad.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Makita makes a plunge base that comes in the kit of the corded model and everything is interchangeable between corded and cordless.
I have several of the corded Bosch Colts, in every base configuration.....except the plunge. In all of the years I have had Colts, never a plunge base. There is no real reason, not like there is some feature to them I don't like or something, I just never bought one. Once the Makita came out, it wasn't a priority, plus I had the Porter Cable compact kit, which had both bases. Those are NLA, PC has killed off a lot of stuff.
That said, I don't push the cordless Makitas very hard. I have the small 2 amp batteries for the weight/balance and just use them for light tasks. I step up to corded or to the OF1010 for real cutting, other than laminate.

 

[Bob D.]

"Those are NLA, PC has killed off a lot of stuff."

The PC and the current DeWalt and almost carbon copies. I got a PC compact router kit with both bases for free when I bought my Unisaw in 2010. I bought a DeWalt 20v compact with the fixed base last year. The bases are identical and interchangeable between the two routers. DeWalt makes a plunge base for their router, it is identical to the PC plunge base. The only difference between the PC and DeWalt besides the PC being a corded tool is the DeWalt is variable speed and the PC is fixed.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

"Those are NLA, PC has killed off a lot of stuff."

The PC and the current DeWalt and almost carbon copies. I got a PC compact router kit with both bases for free when I bought my Unisaw in 2010. I bought a DeWalt 20v compact with the fixed base last year. The bases are identical and interchangeable between the two routers. DeWalt makes a plunge base for their router, it is identical to the PC plunge base. The only difference between the PC and DeWalt besides the PC being a corded tool is the DeWalt is variable speed and the PC is fixed.

Back when I bought the PC version, there was another difference. The Dewalt had a light that projected toward the cutter and PC didn't. IIRC there was a $10 price difference too, I assume for that light? Otherwise they were the same but for color/logo branding.

 

[Bob D.]

You're correct, I forgot about the light which is a nice feature. Something I was surprised the OF1400 doesn't have even to this day. Plus the electronic braking. The DeWalt stops immediately, less than 2 seconds.

 

[Bob D.]

"dewalt router is more like 75mm wide.  dont have one on hand but it is significantly larger than the makita"

Finally got my butt out to the shop and measured
my DeWalt DCW600 router motor as 68.5 mm.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I'm not so sure that it would do any good? which is probably why they don't have a light.
The dust extraction shrouding around the bit keeps you from being able to see in there anyway.
For template style inlays, you don't really need to see anyway, so the light wouldn't help.
Festool does their best to cover the bit for dust removal and if the bit was "exposed", dust would be too.

 

[Bob D.]

"I'm not so sure that it would do any good? which is probably why they don't have a light."

I find that it helps me see when getting started before all the chips start flying, and that is
worth something to me. When you're some place with not so ideal lighting it makes a difference.

I wish they had a momentary push button within thumbs reach so you could put the light on
before you get the bit spinning. That would make it even better for checking you're dead on
the mark.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Sure, it might make a difference in a free-hand routing situation. I almost never do that though. Most of my routing is edge-work of some kind, template following, or dado/groove with a guide rail.
Then there is the real luxury of Shaper Origin, but that is waaay beyond the scope of this discussion  [scared]

That said, all of my Makita cordless routers have edge trimming bits in them. I use them almost exclusively for laminate trimming. That is where the beauty of the cordless lies. Unrestricted movement and no worrying about cutting into a cord with the sharp edges after the cut is great. I use the smallest batteries because the balance is more important to me than power or run-time.