Cordless palm router recommendation

[dashboardpws]

Hi everybody,

I'm ready to buy a cordless palm router for intermittent use in our production and wonder if anyone has a recommendation. A decent dust collection attachment and clear base would be nice features, but the base is not a deal breaker. My only experience with small routers came via an old Bosch Colt that self destructed.

Many thanks for any suggestions,
Rob

 

[Rick Herrick]

I realize you are running a business and may want something more stout but I picked up the Ryobi (from HD) router for $69, partly because I have a ton of batteries already.  But this thing is great for quick work with small flush trimming (dowels, pocket hole plugs, etc), round overs and chamfers.  Thinking about getting another one to keep at the ready.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I have the 18v Makita. It’s okay and the dust collection is good.

It did cause me some consternation when I was making a fixture to hold it for a special application and discovered that the base’s hole pattern is slightly asymmetrical. Also, the base is black.

 

[rst]

Just to make the mix more diverse, I have the Milwaukee and love it.  If you already have a battery platform, that should influence your choice more than anything as all the cordless palms have decent reviews.  I'm really struggling to avoid getting the new 1/2" Metabo as I'm already invested in that platform...

 

[Chainring]

I have the DeWALT, with the fixed and plunge base and I have the dust collection for both bases. The fixed base dust collection actually works well, plus either a 27mm or 36mm Festool hose connects.

 

[dashboardpws]

Thanks for all your input! It looks like the Makita will do the job as I do have a few of those batteries and it seems to get generally high marks. With a little luck on our end this relatively minor problem we have to address with it will go away before long anyway.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[Bob D.]

I know you already made your choice but I will give a vote for the DeWalt cordless also.

Biggest factor for me was I already have DeWalt 20v batteries so I could buy the bare tool with only the fixed base. I have the PC corded compact router (which I got for free when I bought the Unisaw back in 2010) which came with a fixed and plunge base and the PC and DeWalt both use the same base and also share a few other accessories.

 

[dashboardpws]

Thanks, Bob. I plunked my money down on the Makita and will hope for the best.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

One more for the Makita. I have the corded Makita compact as the compete set with multiple bases, when I found out that the cordless model fit those same accessories, I tried one. Since I was already on the Makita battery platform, it just made sense. I was so impressed with it that I bought a second one.
The only thing I don't really like about it is the double switch thing. Having to hit two switches every time I turn it one is a pain. I guess it's supposed to stop accidental start-ups, but seems overboard to me. If you are that concerned, take the battery out or at least make it so that you can over-ride this "feature", but you can't. Every time you shut it off, it automatically locks.

The other thing I would like to see up-dated is a self-releasing collet? Where are we, in the 1990s?

 

[JonathanJung]

Look at the Bosch 12v. I have 4. Works well for up to 1/4" roundovers. Bigger than that I have a Milwaukee 18v.

 

[WastedP]

In the last 2-3 years, I've bought five of the Makita XTR01 routers.  I keep one at home and four at the shop.  They are very well balanced, despite their top-heavy appearance.  We abuse them, definitely pushing them beyond what any design engineer intended.  Three of the four shop routers have gone in on warranty for just giving up.  The lights power on, sometimes the spindle twitches, but when they die, they die.  I've sent them in, they send them back, and they keep on working.  I use the home router much less frequently, and have had no problems. 

The other issue I have noticed, right away from the first month with the first router, is that the membrane switch panel is maybe not so great.  Frequently, when the router is shut off, it will kick right back up.  I'm wary of it, and I totally expect some kind of CPSC response or class action lawsuit over time.  I also have the barrel grip jigsaw (two, actually, one for shop and one for home), and the switch panel is the same.  I've never had the same shutoff problem with the jigsaw.

Despite those issues, I love these routers, as they are better built than most cordless models, the price is a good value, and I am already heavily invested in Makita's batteries.  I recommended them to another shop, but they were holding out for a Milwaukee version.  They bought the Milwaukee routers right away for their laminate work and they have been just as happy with those as I am with the Makitas.

 

[dashboardpws]

Fingers crossed for success with the Makita! The goal here is that it'll be ideal for correcting some minor issues with our benchtops due to fabricator inattentiveness (soon solved by switching fabricators), with the small size compared to our 1400 making it a lot easier to move around the surface.